New Zealand Alps

Rees Valley

At the beginning of the Rees Track the valley is wide and flat and serves as pasture with boggy patches in places. The Mt Aspiring NP starts further up when the flats end and the track enters forest.

Ferns

Different fern species give the forest a unique and alien look when compared to European woodlands.

Inside NP Never mind the rainy weather, there's always a chance of catching a good photograph in a wild area.	Above treeline The Rees Valley near Shelter Rock Hut, where the alpine part of the track begins.

Upper Rees Valley

Rees Saddle

The 1471 m high saddle invites for a break. The view goes into the upper valley of the Snowy Creek with the 2510 m high Headlong Peak.

Rees Saddle

Snowy Creek Following down Snowy Creek we catch a first glimpse of the Dart Valley in the distance.	Hut The Dart Hut again is located in forest. Hut and campground are separated by a river and linked by a bridge.

Bridge The bridge between Dart Hut and campground.	From bridge Looking down from the swinging suspension bridge.

Inside Dart Valley

A heap of ice marks the presence of a hanging glacier above on the walls.

Inside Dart Valley

Dart Glacier

The dirt-covered melting terminal of Dart Glacier shows the usual signs of global warming. Higher up the mountain, ice falls over a cliff.

North-West

The flanks of Mt Edward (2620 m) contribute most of the dirt on Dart Glacier. From Cascade Saddle (1524 m).

Dart Glacier from Cascade Saddle

South-East

The other, steeper side of Cascade Saddle leads into the Matukituki Valley.

Kea Attacks

Keas roam the alpine parts of the mountains. Their entertaining qualities soon become harassing when they keep you alert till last light. Anything left outside the tent is subject to inspection, disassembling/destruction, and relocation/vanishing.

Kea on Cascade Saddle

Right under my nose this Kea peeks into the camera bag and searches my pack like a customs officer. Their respect for the human race is low.

Mt Aspiring

This is the mountain range that gave the national park its name: Mt Aspiring (3033 m).

Mt Aspiring Range

Glaciers The southern slopes of Dart Valley are all covered with glaciers, among them the Hesse Glacier.	Dart River At a point not far from the Dart hut and just above the tree line.

Kea again This exemplar was raiding the Dart hut campground and has a guilty look in its eyes.	Robin More curious birds live in the New Zealand woods. The curiosity of the South Island Robin borders on craziness.

Dart Valley

Before the territory became a national park, flat places of the valley were used as pastures, hence the name Cattle Flats.

Dart Valley

The long Cattle Flats again, easy going for the most part, but up and down across the many small tributaries. On the left a more substantial one.

Landslide Mechanical failure, earthquake, whatever the cause, the ground slipped down the slope. Once the stabilizing vegetation is gone, erosion continues over a long period.	Dead trees A lake has formed behind the debris. The rising water level has killed many trees.

Dart Valley from Sandy Bluff

Opposite to the landslide is a rock called Sandy Bluff with a nice view over the valley.

Dart Valley from Sandy Bluff

Blue on blue

Directly before the natural dam another river flows into the Dart. The clearer water produces a darker shade of blue, greeted by the opaque Dart laden with glacial silt.

Lake caused by landslide

End of Dart track

The wide flats before Chinaman's Bluff are perfect for a last camp.

Next Just a short drive away, our next track, the Routeburn, starts with a bridge across the river.	Routeburn Flats Already higher up, we are looking down at the Routeburn Flats, after having bypassed the hut.

Routeburn River

This track is a so-called Great Walk. Despite the high price, the huts are crowded. Thanks heaven everything is managed at a high level.

Routeburn River

Routeburn Falls

Our objective of day one was the Routeburn Falls Hut. Here the weather got inspired by the waterfalls.

From falls One last view from above the hut in sunny weather...	Flower ...and on the next day the only remembrance of the sun were the Daisy flowers.

Lake Harris Located before Harris Saddle (1255 m), here in a misty drizzle.	Lake Mackenzie The fog just lifted a bit and revealed this beautiful lake.