"A walk in the park" Top 5 Page for this destination Wanaka Things to Do Tip by TheWanderingCamel

Mt Aspiring National Park that is - a wild and wonderful world of wide meadows and rushing streams in the Matukituki Valley all leading deep into the mountains that surround Mt Aspiring itself, the highest peak outside the Mt Cook National Park.

To begin your walk in the park, head out of Wanaka to the east along Mt Aspiring Road. You'll come to the end of the tarmac but the road continues and is usually in a reasonable enough condition for ordinary vehicles though there are several fords to be crossed. If you don't have your own transport there are buses that make the 55km run out to the start of the main trail - ask at the Visitor's Centre in town for information on these.

The trail begins at the Raspberry Creek carpark, taking you out into the park along a gently rising grassy track beside the Matukituki River. From here, an hour-long walk will give you good views of the Avalanche and Rob Roy Glaciers. If you're looking for something more challenging, you can go on to tackle the Rob Roy Track, 10km long and quite demanding in places - it leads off from the swing bridge over the river.

There are any number of tramps in the park, from a few hours to several days. Some, like the one described here, are an easy stroll, others are very demanding. The Mt Aspiring Visitor's Centre can provide you with all the information you need to plan your hike successfully and safely.

Directions: There's a loo at the car park and an information board but no other facilities.
Website: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=36561