Featured Activities
No signal, no phone, no people, no nothing. Just you, Mother N, and a whole lot of mountain goodness. Whether you opt for the overnight hike, Gillespie Pass or the daytrip fly/hike jetboat adventure we recently experienced, you are in for an absolute treat. Getting dropped in Siberia felt like getting dropped into a movie set, Jurassic Park-esque – if you will. Apart from the solo hikers we passed en route to the jetboat, there was literally nothing around for miles.
We are quick to rush to the more road-accessible National Parks, but I tell you something, Mount Aspiring stole a little piece of my heart and certainly got my attention just after one day of being there. Stretch your legs, get your adventure on, and feed your soul in this hiking paradise. Think towering mountains, native forests, birds, rivers, and beautiful vistas at every turn. It really is magical.
Named for one of New Zealand’s highest Peaks, Mount Aspiring National Park is a dreamland. Our short walk in the bush can be extended to overnight or a three-day tramp. There is plenty more adventures, accessible with the team at Wilkin River Jets. The heart of the national park holds glaciers, snowfields, mountains, and long, deep valleys. The native bush surrounds you and the call from native birdsong will walk you home. I am such a lover of Mother N’s creations and here she did good, real good.
Just a handful of people and the odd fantail greeting you on the tree branches. In fact, we were pretty lucky and also got sight of a Tui on the flax during our hike. Who doesn’t love an off the beaten track adventure? I do! I also love talking about it letting everyone know that there are hidden valleys and landscapes that only a few have clapped eyes on, waiting to be discovered. There was a real sense of adventure and accomplishment after our time in Siberia and I can’t wait to return.
Thanks to legends Harvey and Patsy Hutton, who have a long family history in this area, starting way back with the early settlers and their commitment to delivering ecotourism products into a region that is so meaningful to them, we now have Wilkin River Jets. Operating since 1968, these guys are pioneers of shallow water jetboating wilderness exploration in New Zealand.
