Gaige's Pages

Day 11-Rob Roy Glacier Walk

Date: 11.11.2003
Start Location: Aspiring Campervan Park, Wanaka
S: 4° 42.331' E: 169° 5.418'
End Location: Aspiring Campervan Park, Wanaka
S: 4° 42.331' E: 169° 5.418'
Distance Driven 109 (2481km)

Summary:
Time: 8:50
Location: Aspiring Campervan Park, Wanaka
S: 4° 42.331' E: 169° 5.418'
Name: Left for Rob Roy hike
Description:
We left the campervan park at about 8:50 to head over to town, get fuel, grab breakfast, and check out the trail information at the DOC (Department of Conservation). Indications were that our intended hike (Rob Roy Glacier Walk) was in pretty good shape, so we saddled up by 10:30 and headed out to Mt. Aspiring National Park to hit the trail.
Time: 10:54
Location: S: 44° 39.220' E: 168° 58.430'
Name: Roadside prelude shots
Description:

On our way to Mt. Aspiring NP, we stopped to take a couple of preliminary photos looking at the surrounding mountain ranges. In this photo, the mountain on the right (Treble Cones) is home to a ski resort during winter.
Time: 12:02
Location:

Raspberry Creek Car Park

S: 44° 39.351' E: 168° 45.648'

Name: Rob Roy Glacier Walk
Description:

The Rob Roy Glacier Walk was marked by the signs to take about 4 hours return (round-trip). Our experience basically agreed with that. According to my watch, I returned 3 hrs 58 minutes form the time I set foot on the trail.

The hike itself was spectacular. We had a beautiful mountain stream:

The aptly named swinging bridge (especially with 65-75kph winds):

Native undergrowth:

A glacier shrouded in mist and clouds:

Sometimes-soggy trails:

Waterfalls:

And a close-up picture of the glacier:

The walk took just under 4 hours and involved a 400m ascent and descent. Not bad for half a day's work.

Time: 18:00
Location:

Raspberry Creek Car Park
S: 44° 30.351' E: 168° 45.648'

Photo stops:
S: 44° 34.289' E:168° 54.017'
S: 44° 39.165 E:168° 57.467'
S: 44° 39.845' E:168° 59.573'
S: 44° 40.114' E:169° 02.099'
Name: Return from the walk
Description:

After a hard day of walking, we settled in to the campervan for the 50km drive back from the park. Along the way, we stopped for the obligatory shots of waterfalls and the Aspiring range falling off in the distance.