Wow - is all I can say about Wanaka and Mt Aspiring National Park. Our first day in Wanaka we went to the DOC (Department of Conservation), which are located in virtually every town of NZ, and asked for a recommendation for ‘the hike’ to do. Without question the woman said the ‘Rob Roy Trek’ to the Upper Hut plateau.
So, we headed out of town the following morning (a 90 minute harrowing drive) to the literal end of the road; all gravel (insert large rocks - not sand), cow gates galore (actually 20 to be specific), and ‘Fords’ (divers in the road that are so deep water is captured in them, along with rocks from slips, and it makes is hazardous to drive through - as you do not know what’s under the water - 5 of those in the last mile to the ‘end of the road’. Well, we made it and shockingly, the parking lot was full. Clearly, a highly recommended hike!
We were NOT disappointed. It is a 3 1/2 hike straight up (but at least what does up comes down) after you cross a 100 meter suspension bridge over raging rapids. The kiwis love their suspension bridges - me less so …. Several spots on the hike up are signs warning about avalanches (snow or rock) and/or parts of the path have already been washed out, so be careful. They were not kidding: there were two spots a slip obviously happened and brought down a massive tree that blocked the track, but you can duck under it and walk ‘what was left of the path’ for about 10 feet and be back on the path. Of course, the other side was a sheer drop, so one had to be careful.
Throughout the 90 minutes or so up the terrain was rocky, hilly, you manoeuvred around boulders, but the moss covered trees and the roar of waterfalls was every present. It felt like you stepped back in time - it was truly amazing.
We reach the Upper Hut, which opens upon a large, flat, pleateau and the view in front of you is awe inspiring; 10 waterfalls, peaks as high as your eyes can rise, and glaciers … it was absolutely stunning … this was our first full day in Wanaka and we LOVED IT!
More to follow
Robert and Ted
