Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Otago > Wanaka > Makarora Valley Track
Makarora Valley Track
- Location
- Located in Mount Aspiring National Park, from the head of Lake Wanaka to Haast Pass/Tioripatea.
- Description
The upper Makarora Valley opens out into long grassy flats that lead to an impressive basin at the foot of Mount Brewster. Cross the river at Davis Flat to the steep climb beside Stewart Falls or gain access via the ‘high river’ track on the true left of the road bridge.
Above the falls, the track sidles above the gorge – slippery when wet – before descending to a small river flat. Continue through small open flats and forest to the main valley flat. From here the track is unmarked to the four-bunk Makarora Hut, about 50 minutes away. It’s on the right at the northern end of the flat, close to the bush edge.
A three-hour day trip, from the hut to the basin at the head of the valley is recommended. It’s an unmarked track that’s normally partially covered in ice, coming down from Mount Brewster’s upper slopes. Accessed along the river, two gorges must be by-passed – take the true right to sidle around the first gorge, and the true left for the second.
- Distance
- 10.5 km
- Duration
- 7.0 hours
- Level
- Hard
- Amenities
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- Birds
- Historical
- Huts
- Plant Life
- Tramping
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk