Wanaka Off The Beaten Path Tips by Robmj Top 5 Page for this destination

Cascade Saddle Trek

This is a hard alpine route that is in the Mt Aspiring National Park.

The best way to do it is to start form the Aspiring Hut which is some 9kms or 2 hours in from the Raspberry Creek Car Park. From the hut, you climb quite steeply upto an area 1800 meters high known as the pylon. From here you are in alpine territory thru to the Cascade Saddle which then flattens out onto the Dart Hut. From Aspiring Hut it will take you 4-5 hours to get to Cascade saddle and in all around 8-10 hours from hut to hut. Do not do this track in bad weather, there have been a number of tragedies here with river crossings and the steep parts adding to its difficulty. Don't be put off though, the views are tremendous.

Best to check conditions with the DOC (Department of Conservation) office in downtown Wanaka before you leave.

To get there take the road from Wanaka on the west side of the Lake past Glendu Bay, down the Matukituki valley to the Raspberry Creek Carpark which is along an unsealed road around 1 hours from Wanaka,

Crown Range Road

its not off the beaten path, as its the most direct route between Wanaka and over to Arrowtown or Queenstown. It is a very high road and susceptible to ice and snow during winter months, but the views are stunning.

Its only 56kms long with Cardrona skifield and town at the mid point. The other way round (SH 6) takes about 20-30 minutes longer through the gorge.

Cardrona Valley & Cardrona

Its not really off the beaten path as its the quickest road from Wanaka to Queenstown but most tour buses and people travel around the gorge rather than up over this road, especially in Winter.

Its the highest tar-sealed road in Australasia and takes around 1 hour. Make sure you stop at the Cardrona Hotel which is around 15 minutes from Wanaka.

Its a great way to spend half a day or day exploing this valley and there are many activities at Cardrona itself from skiing, horse riding, snow farm and alpine cross country, quad bike adventure and monster trucks. All for a town with a population of 150!