The park in brief
Mount Aspiring National Park was established in 1964 and spans both sides of the Southern Alps, in north-west Otago and South Westland. DOC places the Blue Pools in the park, in Otago, with access from SH6 and the Haast Highway. The park is part of Te Wāhipounamu, South West New Zealand, which UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1990 under criteria vii, viii, ix and x.
Sources differ on its size. The 2011 management plan gives 355,543 ha, and DOC's park page gives 356,181 ha. This site is independent and not run by DOC. Most of the park is backcountry, and the Haast Highway stops are only its easiest edge.
Three ways into the park
They are separate trips, not stops on one road.
The Haast Highway
The Blue Pools, Fantail Falls, Thunder Creek Falls and the lookouts are all short stops from SH6. This is the easy way into the park.
Haast Pass →Rob Roy
A separate access from Wānaka up the Matukituki Valley. It is not a stop on the Haast Highway.
Wānaka →The Makarora backcountry
The Wills Valley Track and the Siberia area need experience, good weather and planning.
Makarora →Our picks: Mount Aspiring area
Two ways to hike to Rob Roy Glacier and a helicopter flight with a glacier landing.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private guided Rob Roy Glacier hike
A guided hike for your own group with transport from Wanaka to the start of the trail, lunch and snacks.
Check availability →Helicopter flight with a glacier landing
A scenic flight with a glacier or snow landing, a window seat and live commentary from the pilot. Flying depends on the weather.
Check availability →
Rob Roy Glacier hike with lunch
A local guide, a scenic drive, national park entry, lunch and the transfer from your accommodation are included. Walking poles are available if you need them.
Check availability →Tours in and around the park
Guided Blue Pools walks, scenic flights and jet boats in the Mount Aspiring area, with live prices and availability.
Rob Roy Glacier track access
The Rob Roy track starts at Raspberry Creek, 54 km west of Wānaka. The drive takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. The last 30 km are gravel, and there are fords on the last 10 km.
- Fords: can be impassable after heavy rain, even for 4WD vehicles. The road can wash out.
- Avalanche paths: they cross the track between the lower and upper viewpoints. DOC advises turning around at the lower viewpoint from May to November, and a snow-free track does not rule out avalanches from above.
- Kea: do not feed them.
DOC's advice is not a blanket closure for the whole year. It is a risk warning for the months with avalanche danger.
Siberia Hut and camping nearby
This is the Siberia Hut in Mount Aspiring National Park, not the one in Marlborough.
The hut has 20 bunks. From October 22 to April 30 you must book. From May 1 to October 21 no booking is needed, but the fees are still due. From October 22, 2026, camping outside the hut also needs a booking, at NZ$10 per night for adults 18 and over and NZ$5 for ages 5 to 17. Children under 5 are free.
| Period | Adults / youth, per night | Note |
|---|---|---|
| May to September | NZ$28 / NZ$14 | Fees due, no booking needed |
| October to April, weekdays | NZ$32 / NZ$16 | See the booking dates above |
| October to April, weekends | NZ$34 / NZ$17 | See the booking dates above |
| December to February, weekdays | NZ$36 / NZ$18 | Also listed by DOC |
| December to February, weekends | NZ$38 / NZ$19 | Also listed by DOC |
DOC lists both the October to April rates and the higher December to February rates, and the periods overlap. Children under 5 are free. Booking by phone or in person at a visitor centre carries a NZ$10 service fee. Online same-day booking is possible until 20:00 if places remain. No beds are held for unannounced arrivals.
Rules and weather in the park
What applies on the highway stops.
Drones
At Fantail Falls, Thunder Creek Falls, Roaring Billy Falls, Cameron Lookout and Haast Pass Lookout, DOC says drones are allowed only with a permit.
Campsites
Cameron Flat and Pleasant Flat are DOC campsites in the park. In 2026 each costs NZ$15 per adult per night, NZ$7.50 for ages 5 to 17, and is free for ages 0 to 4. Book online first. See camping.
Rainfall
DOC gives about 3,800 mm a year at Haast, 4,500 mm at the pass, 2,000 mm at the head of Lake Wānaka and over 8,300 mm on the lower western slopes. The values come from different places and are not a single series. See weather.
Not everything near the lakes is part of the park. Kidds Bush, for example, lies in the Hāwea Conservation Park. See Lake Hāwea. If you plan to continue to the West Coast, the Franz Josef Glacier guide covers the route north of Haast.
Mount Aspiring National Park: frequently asked questions
Are the Blue Pools inside Mount Aspiring National Park?
Yes. DOC places the Blue Pools Track in the park, in Otago, with access from SH6.
How big is the park?
The 2011 management plan gives 355,543 ha, and DOC's park page gives 356,181 ha. That is about 356,000 ha either way.
Is Rob Roy a stop on the Haast Highway?
No. It starts at Raspberry Creek, 54 km west of Wānaka, with gravel road and fords. It is a separate trip.
Do I need to book Siberia Hut?
Yes from October 22 to April 30. From May 1 to October 21 no booking is needed, but fees are still due. From October 22, 2026, camping outside the hut needs a booking as well.
Can I fly a drone in the park?
At the DOC stops on the Haast Highway listed above, only with a permit.