Rees-Dart

Nyz Zeeland
7 days in January, 2011

A very nice trek in Mount Aspiring national park, not far from Queenstown on the South Island.


Day 1: to Kea Basin

 

From the bus ride
 
 

Wading the river, Mount Earnslaw in the background
 
 

Nice waterfalls below Mount Earnslaw
 
 

The old Earnslaw Hut.

We reached Kea basin and pitched our tent.
 
 
Day 2: Daytrip from Kea Basin
 
 

Woke up with a nice view
 
 

Breakfast at Kea basin
 
 

We walked up the slopes of Mount Earnslaw, until too much snow made the path unsafe.
 
 

 
 
 

The red circle is the location of our tent.
The Rees valley in the background is where we walked the day before.
 
 

Day 3: Kea Basin to Rees Hut

 
 

Preparing for wading again
 
 

Day 4: Rees Hut  to Dart Hut
 
 

The uppermost part of Rees valley
 
 

The upper part of Dart valley
 
 

Lunch
 
 

 
 
 

Glacier with a waterfall
 
 

Day 5: Daytrip to Cascade Saddle
 
 

There were plenty of Keas below the pass,
and some of them came pretty close to us.
 
 

The foot of the Dart Glacier.
It looks like rocks, but it is ice covered by dirt and gravel.
 
 

Dart Glacier
 
 

The amazing view from Cascade Saddle
 
 

Day 6-7
 

During the following two days we walked down the Dart valley,
and camped on two meadows near the river.
 

 
 
 

We were tormented by millions of sandflies at our campsites.
 
 

Anti-sandfly suit
 
 

 
 
 

Speedboat