Custom Treks

Custom Treks can come in all shapes and sizes. We usually meet at our office in Wanaka at 4:30 pm the evening before your start day. Here you will meet your guide and do any last-minute equipment and food organizing. Through our correspondence, we will likely have a plan (for example, as Albert Burn Trek), but there is a chance for last-minute changes if the weather looks like it would be best elsewhere. This trip allows for flexibility.

Aspiring Guides location in Wanaka is your secret weapon. We have easy access to our local Mnt. Aspiring National Park as well as Mnt Cook National Park. With a wide variety of venues to choose from, we can design a trip to take advantage of where the weather and conditions are best.

Access to the start of the track is by jet boat or helicopter. Then you make your way to Albert Burn Hut, which will take approximately 6-8 hours. From here, you'll walk to the head of the valley, camp out the night. This track is rugged and remote and a true kiwi tramping experience. 7-8 hours. Day three takes you up over Albert Burn Saddle, over into the East Matukituki Valley, where you set up camp for the night. 7-8 hours. The last day heads down to the valley floor winds through tall beech forest with Mt. Aspiring dominating the view. Gradually the track opens out into farmland just before we meet our waiting transport back to civilization and a hot shower. 5 hours

Starting at the Earnslaw Burn trailhead, it's time to tramp 4-6 hours to camp near Earnslaw Rock Biv. The next day we have a few options; we head up to the head of the valley to view icefall and/or up towards Lennox Pass (if keen for a bit more elevation gain). Return to camp. There is scope for shorter or longer day here. On the last day we walk back out to the trailhead. 4-6 hours, likely faster on the way out due to dropping elevation.

A spectacular area, where we head to the Birchwood road end, in the Ahuriri. From here, there is the flexibility to make this an overnight trip up to Canyon Creek, or you could hike up to Top Dingle Hut for a night too.

Rabbit Pass is located in Mount Aspiring National Park, part of the Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. This four-day alpine crossing links two of the region's major river valleys. This area is spectacular, surrounded by high glacier covered peaks, waterfalls, and lakes. This is home to many other rare and endangered species including the Kea, the World's only alpine parrot.

This remote and seldom visited area is suitable only for experiended trampers. The crossing of Rabbit Pass is a challenging alpine crossing requiring good conditions to safely ascend and descend steep and exposed terrain. Prolonged periods of bad weather may prevent the crossing in which case the time is utilised exploring the alpine scenery of the Upper Wilkin area.

This 3 Day Hut based trip will make you feel like you are miles from anywhere in this stunning, seldom visited valley which features jaw dropping views of Mt Brewster's SE face. You'll be based out of the quaint 6-bunk Makarora Hut and be walking through some classic South Island terrain.

4 Days. This is our most exciting new guided trek and we think it has all the hallmarks of a classic - technical off-track terrain, summits, remote valleys, glaciated peaks and gorgeous rivers. One for those looking for a proper challenge! Start with the grueling 1000m vert to Brewster Hut on Day 1 (3-5 hrs) which just gets you warmed up for the actual challenge on Day 2 - The Armstrong-Kaye Traverse (9-12 hours). Waking up early we head for the lofty summit of Mt Armstrong (2174m) before making the traverse towards Mt Kaye (1998m) upon which we drop a huge 1300m vertical to reach the sublime Makarora Valley. On Day 3 (6-8 hrs) you'll make an intrepid side trip up the head of the Makarora Valley to admire the SE face of Mt Brewster. On Day 4 we complete the route by weaving through the wide open river flats and lush beech forest to the trailhead (5-6 hours).

3 Days of camping, guarded by Minos, Nox and Chaos, Lake Unknown is an absolute dream destination for the experienced tramper! Days 1&3 (6-8 hours). Theatre Biv used as basecamp. Day 2 to Lake Unknown (9-12 hours). The added bonus of day 2 only requiring you to carry day packs.