Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Transport
Shuttle bus
Summary
Besides the obvious physical splendours, the beauty of the Matukituki Valleys is
the range of tramps that can be completed, often as day walks, from the homebase of Aspir-
ing Hut.
An hour's drive from Wanaka, the West and East Matukituki Valleys offer enjoyable day
walks as well as access to a number of demanding tramping and climbing routes in Mt
Aspiring National Park. The valley walks cross private farmland (with grazing stock) and
beech forest flats and the higher-altitude routes negotiate alpine tussock grasslands and
snowfields.
The East Matukituki is well worth exploring, and can in fact be traversed through to the
Wilkin Valley over the 1430m Rabbit Pass - a challenging five- to six-day route.
However, it is the West Matukituki that is the star of the show. An easy tramp up the val-
ley leads to the splendid Aspiring Hut, a fantastic base from which to head off on myriad
other return tramps - you could easily while away a week here day-walking and just soaking
up the spectacular mountain scenes. Aspiring Hut is also the first stop en route to Glenorchy
via the challenging Cascade Saddle, a somewhat notorious alpine crossing. A hut warden
will be present from November to mid-April, jollying everyone along and providing updates
on conditions and sterling advice.
