Mt. Aspiring National Park

Roads only skirt the edge of this huge park, which compels you to hike, boat, and fly to see it. Only a winged, hoofed super-creature could possibly see the majority of Aspiring's wilderness. Daunting yet tantalizing: that's the magic draw of this unspoiled landscape.

At 355,000 hectares (877,224 acres), Mt. Aspiring is the country's third-largest national park. The park's namesake mountain is only one of numerous geological wonders. The area has yielded much pounamu or greenstone, and the famous Otago schist featured in the architecture of the gateway communities. One unusual stretch of peaks is known as the Red Hills, where the toxic minerals in the soil rendered the landscape barren (and a deep rusty red). Most of the park is marked by cool green beech forests and wildflowered valleys. The park is home to the famous Routeburn Track, a three-day Great Walk, and dozens of shorter hikes. Gateway communities include lively Wanaka which offers a multitude of choices for lodging, dining, shopping, and those rewarding post-hike pints.

BEST TIME TO GO

Late spring and summer (November through April) mean great walking weather and plenty of birds and flowers to see. Autumn in this part of the country is glorious for fall foliage. Weather is changeable in the park so check with the DOC before hitting the trail, or planning a long hike.

Fun Fact

In 1994, a once-in-250-year storm bamboozled the park with insane amounts of rain. The resulting floods and landslide wiped out a dozen bridges on the Routeburn Track and it was closed for two months for repairs.