Named after Mt Aspiring, one of New Zealand's highest peaks. The park is a dreamland of mountains, glaciers, river valleys and alpine lakes.

In the past, Maori trekked through the region on their way to the pounamu fields of the west coast; Europeans visited to map, name and explore geographical features of the area; settlers attempted to farm and mine some of the valleys - the relics have blended into the stunning scenery.

In summer, it's possible to walk from one valley to another over spectacular mountain passes. In straddling the 'great divide' of the Southern Alps, the Mount Aspiring National Park presents a breathtaking range of landscapes.

At its heart is a massive area of wilderness - glaciers, snowfields, mountains, valleys and wildlife habitats that require days of hiking to reach. To the west of the divide, where rainfall is plentiful, the beech forest comes with a sound track of birdsong and waterfalls. Deep in the glacier-gouged valleys of the east, grassy river flats are hemmed by imposing mountains. And above the tree line, subalpine gardens of tussock, lichens and dainty flowering herbs survive against all odds.

Rock forms are an unforgettable feature of the park. From the curiously coloured slopes of the Red Hills to the brittle grey schist of the alps, ice ages and huge tectonic upheavals have created beauty with a hard edge.

Rob Roy Glacier Walk would be our recommendation which is an exceptional day walk taking you into the alpine zone in just a few hours. Starting from the road-end, the track follows Rob Roy Stream through beech forest with a rich understory of ferns and mosses to the tree line. Here the bush gives way to low alpine vegetation and spectacular views of the hanging glaciers beneath Mt Rob Roy. Waterfalls line the jagged cliffs and keas (alpine parrots) fly overhead. The track is 7 miles (11kms approx) out and back.