Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
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| A View of Mount Aspiring National Park |
Mount Aspiring National Park, is the third largest of New Zealand's 13 national parks after Fiordland and Kahurangi. It lies in the Southern Alps of the South Island, north of Fiordland National Park. The Southern Alps stretch along the entire length of the South Island.
The park covers an area of 3,562 square kilometres (1,375 square miles). It was established in 1964 and was the country's 10th national park at the time.
Mount Aspiring / Tititea (in Maori) gives its name to the park rises to 3,033 metres and is the highest peak in it. Various walking tracks cross the area including the well-known Gillespie Pass circuit.
The park is part of Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes several other protected areas in the South Island.
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| The alpine scenery of Tititea / Mount Aspiring National Park |
Attractions
The park is renowned for its dramatic, glacier-carved valleys, pristine rivers, waterfalls, and spectacular alpine scenery. The landscape includes beech forests, tussock grasslands, and rugged mountains.
Home to a wide range of native New Zealand flora and fauna, visitors can find native bird species such as the kea, New Zealand falcon, and parakeets. The native forests include silver beech, red beech, and mountain beech trees.
A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, Mount Aspiring provides opportunities for tramping, mountaineering, rock climbing, fishing, kayaking, and photography.
In addition, the park contains an intricate system of limestone caves and sinkholes that create a captivating underground landscape for adventurous explorers.
One of the park's highlights is the Rob Roy Glacier, a popular day hike destination. It offers breathtaking views of the glacier, waterfalls, and also the surrounding landscape.
The main Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre with information on the park is in Wanaka.
1 Ballantyne Road
Wanaka 9305
Tel: (02) 726 96871
Queenstown Visitor Centre
50 Stanley Street
Queenstown
9300
Tel: (03)
442 7935
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| The Matukituki River drains into Lake Wānaka |
Accommodation
Some places to stay include the Wanaka Hotel, a 1-minute walk from the lake and town centre.
The luxury Edgewater Hotel offers beautiful lake views, spas, a sauna, and a tennis court.
The Alpine Motel provides self-contained units with free off-street parking and free WiFi. In addition, there is satellite TV and a well-equipped kitchen.
Find accommodation in Wanaka.
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| The peaks of the Matukituki Valley |
Access - Getting There
The town of Wanaka serves as the main gateway to the park.
The nearest major airport is Queenstown Airport, which is approximately 68 kilometers (42 miles) from Wanaka. You can fly into Queenstown from major New Zealand cities like Auckland Airport (AKL), Wellington International Airport (WLG), and Christchurch. From Queenstown, you can rent a car and drive or take a shuttle to Wanaka, which is about an hour's journey away.
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| Edgewater Hotel |
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