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Key facts
- Distance
- 6 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 5 hr return to bush edge
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Mount Aspiring National Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
A good, steep bush walk to the uplands of the McKerrow Range. Great views of the Makarora Valley below and the alps beyond.
This DOC directory entry covers Mount Shrimpton Track in Otago, within Mount Aspiring National Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 6 km return via same track
- Walking time: 5 hr return to bush edge
- DOC grade: Advanced
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
From the carpark follow the nature walk through the forest of silver beech and podocarp species: matai, miro, kahikatea and rimu. Keep an eye out for the birdlife too, including kārearea/New Zealand falcon, kererū/wood pigeon and kea.
A sign indicates where the Mount Shrimpton Track branches off. From here on the track climbs steeply to the bush line. Beyond the bush line, it is possible to follow the ridgeline and ramble around this special upland environment for great views of the Makarora Valley and the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.
Getting there
The carpark for this track and the Makarora Nature Walk is just north of Wonderland Lodge on SH6, Makarora.
Know before you go
Bad weather
The weather can change rapidly in New Zealand. Hypothermia is a real risk even in summer. Be prepared by having warm, waterproof, windproof clothing and the appropriate footwear. Whiteout conditions caused by snow or low cloud may be present. Check the Mount Aspiring National Park weather forecast – NIWA website.
Avalanche risk
This area has terrain that can produce avalanches that cross the track, usually from May into November. View avalanche information.
No visitor centre in Makarora
Contact the Awarua/Haast or Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park visitor centres instead.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
