Mount Aspiring National Park
Mount Aspiring is a national park located in the Southern Alps of the South Island in New Zealand. Founded in 1964, Mount Aspiring is New Zealand's tenth national park. It is the third largest national park in New Zealand after Fiordland and Kahuranga, covering 3,555 km2.
The Maori once mined jade in these parts, a stone from which they made their most durable tools, as well as jewelry. Today, the park is a paradise for climbers and walkers of various levels of difficulty. Hiking trails start near Lake Wonaka and Queenstown. Aspiring Mountain is the only peak outside Mount Cook National Park that exceeds 3,000 meters. In ancient times, the Maori passed through this region on their way to the Paunamu fields on the west coast; the Europeans explored the geographical features of the area; the settlers tried to farm and some of the valleys blended into the stunning landscape.
This National Park is named after one of New Zealand's highest mountains, Aspiring Peak, and is one of the best places to explore New Zealand's unique alpine nature. Deep in the glacial valleys in the east, full-flowing picturesque rivers are buried in majestic mountains. And above the tree line, subalpine gardens, outlandish plants and herbs bloom despite everything. Amazing rock shapes are a distinctive feature of the park. The colorful slopes of the Red Hills, the fragile gray slate of the Alps, the ice Age and the huge tectonic shifts have created such beauty. From the west, the mountains are bordered by beech forests filled with the sounds of waterfalls and birdsong. The mountainous Makarora River with crystal clear water flows through the park and is located among beech trees. With a calm current, the water in the river is absolutely transparent.
There are many hiking huts along the routes, including two huts on the Rutburn Trail. Camping sites are available on most of the tracks. Reservations are required in summer, during peak season. The settlements of Makarora, Haast and Glenorchy serve as entrances to Mount Aspiring Park. Macarora has the following types of accommodation: cottages, chalets, family-type hotels and campsites. Accommodation in Haast and Glenorchy includes motels, hotels and holiday homes. Due to the elevated water level in the park, most walks are best done between November and March.
