Mount Aspiring National Park

Mt Aspiring National Park straddles the southern end of the Southern Alps. The closest towns are Wanaka, Queenstown, Glenorchy and Te Anau. It is one of New Zealand's larger parks at 355,543 ha and it lies alongside the largest, Fiordland National Park.

In the northwest the park is traversed by SH6. Good tramping tracks and short walks can be accessed from the small settlement of Makarora between Haast and Wanaka.

Roads also lead to main access points from Wanaka, Queenstown/Glenorchy and Te Anau. Local transport services run to most of these access points, including a boat service from Glenorchy to the Greenstone Valley, and the following services from Wanaka:

Bus services to Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau are frequent. Queenstown has an airport with regular services and Wanaka airport services domestic flights.

If you use the track system in the park for overnight trips, make sure you are properly equipped and well prepared.

Make sure your group has a capable leader and that everyone is carrying a sleeping bag, cooking utensils, sufficient high energy food (with some extra for emergencies), a waterproof raincoat and overtrousers, gloves, a hat, and several layers of warm (wool or fleece) clothing.

There is avalanche danger during winter and spring (June-November) on the Rob Roy Track, Cascade Saddle Route and Pearl Flat to the head of the valley.

Check in at any of the local DOC offices for the latest information on weather and track conditions. 

Follow the outdoor safety code. 

Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.