Rob Roy Valley - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
A moderately easy 4 hours 10 km return climb to a spectacular viewpoint. There is no shade at the viewpoint. Bring an umbrella and stay all day.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

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ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
The walk begins at the Raspberry Flat carpark which is about an hour's drive (54km) from Wanaka. The first 24km of this drive is sealed. The next 20km is gravel - and the last 10km is a fine-weather-only gravel road with numerous fords which flood in heavy rain.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
The track begins with an easy walk up the valley.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
After about 15 minutes we come to this swingbridge over the Matukituki River.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
Looking upstream from the swingbridge.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
A seat with a view of the Matukituki Valley.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
Warning - Rockfall possible. No stopping for the next 50 meters.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
Yep... That's a pretty big rock. We wouldn't want that landing on our heads.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
A tiny little side track leads to this beautiful river view, just meters from the main track.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
This is the view from the Lower Lookout. It's very beautiful and some people probably consider this view to be enough and never go to the Upper Lookout... But this view is nothing - nothing at all - compared to the view at the Upper Lookout.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
And here it is... A gobsmackingly spectacular view. One of New Zealand's best. We sit in the sun for as long as we can handle it - and watch for avalanches. What fun...

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
If we can possibly tear our eyes away from the stunning view, there are information panels to read.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
Nah... We'll just photograph the info panels and keep staring at the view... We can look at the info panels later on NZNationalParks.com

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
Time to head back down the valley.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
Nearly at the bottom. It's a lot easier walking down.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
The Matukituki River. Looking downstream.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
The last kilometer can be challenging in the baking hot sun.

ROB ROY VALLEY - Mount Aspiring National Park
And spectacular though this walk absolutely is, it's hard not to smirk at the walkers just starting out on this journey under the hot midday sun. It'll be nice getting into an air conditioned car.