Mt. Aspiring National Park
Your first overnight hike, into Mt. Aspiring Hut, is designed to ease you into the overnight hikes. It’s a three hour hike
(10 kilometres / 6 miles) to Mt. Aspiring Hut, your humble home for the night. Here you’ll be treated to a candle-lit
dinner - mountain style whilst looking up at New Zealand’s second highest peak! The following day you return the way you came, and you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the glacier.
Copland track to Welcome Flat
After a few days of creature comforts your next overnight hike is designed to be a bit more of a challenge. You’ll be
carrying a slightly bigger pack (more clothes and food) and we’ll be hiking greater distances (17 kilometres / 11 miles).
You’ve got all day to make your way up the Copland track to Welcome Flat hut - and the rewards are well worth it! Be sure to pack your bathing suit as only five minutes from the hut door there are natural hot pools – the perfect antidote for weary muscles! You’ll spend the following day hiking further up the valley, soaking in the pools or reading a book in the hut while we cook up a storm for you! On the third day we retrace our steps down the valley.
While on the overnight hikes you’ll be sleeping in Department of Conservation (DOC) owned mountain huts. These unique huts are open to the public and are warm, dry and comfortable. They’re located in very remote areas (with amazing scenery) so they don’t have private rooms, electricity, hot water, phones or flushing toilets - and the view from the outhouse is second to none! This really is New Zealand’s wildest country and because it’s not possible to book these huts, you’ll meet and share the experience with other mountain adventurers and explorers.
You’ll be carrying a large backpack of around 60 litres (3500 cubic inches) in volume - strapping things to the outside of your pack is not recommended in New Zealand. Your other gear will be stored securely for you. Your guides will give you a gear list to check over prior to both overnight hikes.