Located on the Haast Pass Highway between Wānaka and the West Coast, Makarora is a hikers’ hub and an access point for the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Makarora is located at the head of Lake Wānaka on the Haast Pass Highway between Wānaka and the West Coast. It’s is an ideal base for exploring the wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Area.
A spectacular 60km scenic drive from Wānaka, Makarora is surrounded by vast alpine scenery and river valleys of lush temperate rainforest. Hiking access to the National Park, including the magnificent Siberia Valley, is made easy by jet-boat(opens in new window), helicopter or airplane(opens in new window) scenic flights with a variety of fly-walk-jetboat combos available for day trips. It is also a popular area for hunting and fishing.
For experienced hikers, the Gillespie Pass Circuit(opens in new window) is one of the best multi-day walks in the region or for those with less time or experience, the Haast Pass Highway has numerous short walks to explore, including the crystal clear waters of the famous Blue Pools.
