Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track

July 11, 2019 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Otago → Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track

Location: Mt. Aspiring National Park, Otago, New Zealand

Time Required: 3-4 hours hiking time + driving time

Distance: 10 km/6 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain/Loss: 460 m/1300 feet

Red Tape/Notes: Best done from Wanaka (it’s a really long drive from Queenstown) – Raspberry Flat carpark is about 1 hour from Wanaka (but it’s a very scenic drive!)

What’s Nearby?: Lake Alta and the Remarkables, Mt. Aspiring Packrafting, Robinson Creek Canyon, Wilson Creek Canyon, Cross Creek Canyon, Bendigo Ghost Town

This is a very popular track, and on a clear day the views are beautiful, particularly if you go early enough to get noon or earlier sun – after around 1pm the sun is moving behind the glacier. If you arrive early enough and hike quickly, you won’t feel too overwhelmed by the crowds. The hike starts off from Raspberry Flat carpark and follows along the Matukituki for around 15 minutes before branching off from the West Matukituki Track (which heads to the Aspiring Hut) at the swing bridge. Take the bridge across the river and continue up the Rob Roy Valley, accompanied by the rushing whitewater of Rob Roy Stream below, shady trees above, and occasional peek views of the glacier ahead. We actually preferred the view of the glacier from the lower viewpoint (or other random spots we were able to find), since from the upper viewpoint you’re essentially looking up the nose of the glacier. But the upper viewpoint has a different kind of appeal – it’s essentially an open amphitheater with the glacier in front with loads of waterfalls pouring off of it, a thousand foot waterfall dropping over a cliff to your left, jagged peaks all around, and a grassy meadow spread below. Another really cool (but kind of depressing) thing about the upper viewpoint is seeing the old maps of how far down the glacier used to come. Footpaths lead around the area, including over to the tall waterfall, and it’s a great place to have lunch or take a quick snack break while savoring the views.