Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park, near Wānaka, showcases classic Southern Alps scenery: glacier-carved valleys, beech forests, turquoise rivers, and the pyramidal peak Tititea/Mount Aspiring. It’s a hub for tramping and mountaineering, with options from short walks (Blue Pools, Rob Roy Glacier Track) to multi-day routes like the Gillespie Pass Circuit. Wildlife includes kea and whio (blue duck). Access is via scenic valleys such as the Matukituki and Makarora; roads can be rough and weather changeable. Visit for uncrowded alpine landscapes, serious backcountry adventure, and rewarding day hikes within a protected UNESCO World Heritage area.