Mount Aspiring Day Walks

Day Walks around Aspiring Hut

A day walk to Aspiring Hut takes you along the verdant river-flat of the west branch of the Matukituki River. It is possible to do this as a day trip but even better if you book to stay overnight at the recently refurbished hut that accommodates 32 people.

Department of Conservation Map of the West Matukituki river area of Mt Aspiring National Park.

Day One Walk

To enter the Mount Aspiring National Park, you must drive about two hours northwest of Wānaka to the Raspberry Flat carpark. From here, in sensible hiking shoes, the walk to Aspiring Hut, over the grassed river-flats, takes around 2 – 2.5 hours. In December 2024, I hiked into the Aspiring Hut with my daughter, Alice. Our plan was stay for 2 or 3 nights at the hut and attempt several day-walks, leaving backpacks behind.

Aspiring Hut sits at 470m above sea level on a long, verdant river-flat of the western branch of the Matukituki River. It sleeps 32 people and has cooking facilities and water. You can book accommodation online in advance.

Inside Aspiring Hut

Bunk room

Gas is available for cooking but you need to bring your own equipment and wholesome food.

Dining at dusk, with hiking boots drying out along the ledge.

Aspiring trees

The Matukituki River valley, like all the river valleys of this national park, are flanked on both sides by native forests. There are multiple tracks that climb up steeply from the valley floor into the dense beech forest. 

These tracks are a living carpet of fallen branches, tree roots, mosses and lichen that force the walker to clamber over to progress. Walking down hill can be even more challenging as the living carpet provides multiple tripping hazards!

At the lower levels, red beech Nothofagus fusca  or tawhai raunui dominates and is easily identifiable as it has the largest leaf. As the altitude increases black beech also known as mountain beech Nothofagus solandri and silver beech Nothofagus menziesii  or tawahi dominate. Silver beech has small serrated leaves while black beech has small, smooth-edge leaves. See photo above.

Day Walk Cascade Creek

Leaving by 7am to make the most of the fine weather, and carrying a day back, we headed up the Cascade Track which climbs steeply out of the valley and is maintained to a basic level with slips and fallen trees along the way.

This photo is looking back through the grasslands where we had walked on Day One.

Alice and Celia Hay with Mount Aspiring/Tititea (3033m) in background.

Filling drink bottles in the mountain creek - yes, we drink the water.

It took around three hours (with stops) to clear the beech forest and into the steep, sub-alpine zone of grasses, tussocks and occasional flowers.

Mountain daisy Celmisia verbascifolia flowers in December/January and is found in the sub-alpine regions between 600-1400 metres.

Looking up the valley towards Mount Aspiring, concealed by clouds. Also in the distance are the grasslands of Pearl Flat

The track now became a route of orange poles with steep rocky outcrops to clamber over. At this point we weighed up the benefits of continuing, knowing that we had to walk back down through this difficult terrain in the full summer sun.

At around 1500m and 11am we turned back towards Aspiring Hut.This walk was not without its challenges, manoeuvring over the rough track and jagged rocks that we had just traversed and once we re-entered the trees, progress was slow and concentration needed to avoid tripping.

Once back at the hut, after 7 hours, it was time to cool off by sitting in the Cascade Creek.

Day Walk to Pearl Flat

From Aspiring Hut, you can continue up the valley, over the Cascade Creek bridge and on to Pearl Flat (5 km). 

At Pearl Flat, hikers may choose to walk up through the bush to Liverpool Hut (sleeps 10) at 1,000 metres to the west, or French Ridge Hut (sleeps 20) at 1,500 metres in the subalpine zone. Both hikes involve challenging terrain.

Day Walk up Rob Roy Glacier Track

Another options from the Raspberry Creek carpark is to walk to the swing bridge and up to the Rob Roy Glacier Track (approx 4 hours return) with views of the glacier. This has better formed tracks.

Why do it?

Perhaps for that hit of pain and pleasure? Perhaps for the tranquility of being in a natural environment and the challenge of getting there. Perhaps because this is on our doorstep and an opportunity to test our stamina. Perhaps because of the natural therapy of taking one step at a time, listening to the birdsong and the rushing water, and breathing the pure mountain air. 

Celia Hay

December 2024