Mount Aspiring National Park is a beautiful park located in the south of the South Island, with the nearest town being
Haast on the West Coast. The park forms the border with Fjordland National Park and Mount Aspiring is one of the highest peaks in New Zealand (3,027m).
Maori people traveled through this area in search of pounamu (greenstone), a much valued material for tools, weapons and ornaments. After European settlement began, many of the valleys were farmed and exploited for minerals such as scheelite. There are many activities on offer in and around the park but the most popular is walking. The
Routeburn Track, the Rees-Dart river circuit,
Greenstone and Caples Tracks and the Wilkin Valley Walk are wonderful excursions, with options to go on over higher mountain passes and into alpine areas. In summer these tracks are suitable for people of average fitness and experience. In winter however, a much
higher level of fitness is required and it is a good idea to engage a local guide for any hiking activities. Many native animals and a varied birdlife can be enjoyed when leaving behind towns and villages; this is a
nature lover’s paradise.