MAKARORA & MT ASPIRING NATIONAL PARK
11.11am Wilkin River Valley, Makarora
Rich in hidden gems of history and natural beauty, Makarora is a must do for anyone with a real sense of adventure
Situated on the Haast Pass Highway between Wānaka and the West Coast, Makarora offers visitors easy access to Mt Aspiring National Park just 50-minutes from Wānaka.
Choose a scenic flight in a plane or helicopter, or take a jetboat up the Makarora and Wilkin Rivers – whichever way you choose to enter the World Heritage Area, you can do so easily from Makarora.
A popular hunting and fishing area, many outdoor enthusiasts utilise the transport resources available to reach the more secluded parts of the park.
A significant stop on your onward South Island journey, Makarora offers a multitude of short walks right off the main highway - including the popular Blue Pools Track.
The many and varied walks and hikes available from Makarora include the famed Siberia Valley and Gillespie Pass Circuit, and – not for the faint-hearted or the afraid-of-heights – Rabbit Pass.
There are plenty of places to stay and eat in Makarora so you can explore this region for a day or a week – the choice is yours.
Discover the best of our region by following the scenic highlights photo tour.
Drag the map to show more of the surrounding areas.
Driving on the South Island roads of New Zealand is a great way to experience the region, with relatively quiet roads and some of the most amazing scenery right outside the window.
Major car and campervan hire companies are all located at Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown airports. There are also a number of rental car companies based in Wānaka.
Wānaka is unique and captivating; it inspires you to discover, and gives you the freedom to explore.
Located in the stunning alps of the South Island, New Zealand, visitors from around the world are drawn to the Wānaka region by its outstanding beauty.
Getting to Wānaka is easy - click on your city to see how close you are to Wānaka. It’s a short, scenic 60-minute drive to Wānaka from the closest international airport, where you will find all major rental car companies and scheduled bus services that provide transport to Wānaka throughout the day.