Off the Beaten Track

Beyond the famous pathways of the Milford and Routeburn tracks there is a whole world of adventure hidden away in New Zealand’s mountains. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

Siberia Valley


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If you are looking to get into the wilderness but do not have too much time to spare, then a trip into the Siberia Valley is a great way to go. Thanks to a grass airstrip installed by deer cullers back in the sixties, this amazing spot can be accessed by light aircraft, getting you into the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park in swift and thrilling style.

Once on the ground you can choose to relax and explore around Siberia Hut, take a day trip to the iceberg filled Lake Crucible, or for the more intrepid, set off on the three day Gillespie Pass Circuit.

Whichever way you choose to go, when it comes time to return to civilisation, the locals have devised an equally adrenalin charged exit from the wilderness, thanks to a regular jet boat service on the Wilkin River.

Hump Ridge Track


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This track started as an idea in 1988 aimed at bringing visitors to this forgotten corner of the lower South Island. Ten years later the Hump Ridge Track was a reality - and what a stroke of genius it’s proven to be.

The Hump Ridge Track follows historic logging and forestry trails through towering native conifer, alpine wetlands and windswept beaches. At times the going can be quite challenging, requiring seven to nine hours of hiking each day, but the rewards are more than worth it.

Would you like to make the hike a little easier? For a fee you can have a bag of gear delivered by helicopter to the next hut each night. This means you can hike with a tiny pack of essentials, but have all the creature comforts waiting for you at the end of the day.

Angelus Circuit


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Tucked away in the Nelson Lakes National Park, this trail is a brilliant introduction to tramping in New Zealand. There are enough facilities to be user-friendly without losing the secluded feeling that makes the region so special.

Over three days you will experience tolkienesque beech forests along the shores of Lake Rotoiti, pristine mountain streams, alpine meadows and the stunning alpine amphitheatre of Lake Angelus. This lake is a spectacular location for one of the huts on the trail and a refreshing spot for swim if you are feeling bold.

On a clear day the Robert Ridge, between Angelus Hut and St Arnaud, can deliver some of the most impressive ridge walking the country has to offer. This section of trail tiptoes along a moonscape ridge, past alpine tarns and rock outcrops, all overlooking two glacier carved lakes. Keep the camera handy here - it doesn’t get much better than this.

Cascade Saddle Route

Be warned, this trip is not for those faint hearted. However, if you are well prepared and reasonably fit then the Cascade Saddle is a must.

From near Wanaka, this route leads you through the picturesque Matukituki Valley to the historic Aspiring Hut. It then takes a sharp - and steep - left hand turn towards Glenorchy, where you will be climbing vertical for more than a kilometre to the trails high point.

The view from here is truly jaw-dropping with Aspiring Hut barely visible below. Mt Tyndall and Plunket Dome rise from either side of the saddle, beckoning you to try for their summits, while in the distance the shattered ice of the Dart Glacier creeps towards the valley floor.

On the far side of the valley Mt Aspiring dominates the skyline, draped in a flowing white gown of snow and ice. The peak seems close enough to touch, close enough that on a quiet day you could probably hear the chattering teeth of climbers on the summit.

Fly into the Siberia Valley - click for more.

Fly into the Siberia Valley to begin your journey

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THE 9 GREAT WALKS OF NEW ZEALAND

There are no walks on earth quite like the nine Great Walks of New Zealand. Find out which walk is best suited for you and see highlights of other visitor's walking experiences.

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Off the Beaten Track

Siberia Valley

Hump Ridge Track

Angelus Circuit

Cascade Saddle Route