Colin Todd Hut (1799m)
This is the hut from which many climbers attempt to summit Mt Aspiring. Despite being able to see the summit from the hut, you are still separated by 1200m+ of vertical elevation.
But just getting to the hut is already a trip worthwhile 🙌
To get there, you need to walk right to the end of the West Matukituki Valley. From there, you climb a steep section that leads you up to the slabs below Bevan Col—some route-finding is required here.
From Bevan Col (in good weather), you’ll be able to see Colin Todd Hut. But at this point you still have to cross the Bonar Glacier and climb up the rocky slabs/loose rock to reach the hut.
#mountaspiring #colintoddhut #alpinehuts
Mt Sefton (3151m) 🏔️
Sunrise on the more-rock-than-snow slopes of Mt Sefton. But, if you look closely you will see The Footstool (2764m) right in front of it.
I took this photo during our (second) Ball Pass trip this summer. We camped on Kaitiaki Peak from which this photo is taken.
#mtsefton #nzmountaineering #aorakimountcooknationalpark
Liverpool Hut (1071m)
This hut sits in Mount Aspiring National Park. It’s been on our list for a long time, but we’d never quite put in the effort to get up there.
After coming down early from our Mount Aspiring attempt, we found ourselves camping at the base of the track leading to Liverpool Hut. Waking up the next day, we decided to head off early and have breakfast at the hut.
With light packs, we made it up in just over an hour, which felt quick! Having done steep tracks to huts like Brewster Hut and French Ridge Hut, this one might be the roughest yet.
The 10-bunk hut sits in a basin with incredible views over the West Matukituki Valley and many of the region’s bigger peaks. You can really see the potential here for trips up to Mount Barff, Mount Liverpool, or Arawhata Saddle.
We’ll be back to try some of those missions :)
#mountaspiring #nzhiking #backcountryhuts
French Ridge Hut 🏔️
The trick for French Ridge Hut is to go when it’s winter and snowy. We had the whole hut to ourselves with this amazing terrain around it.
#frenchridgehut #mtaspiringnationalpark #nzhuts
Mt Earnslaw from French Ridge Hut 🏔️
That time I brought a 600mm lens with me up on the climb to French Ridge Hut 📸
#mtearnslaw #frenchridgehut #nzbackcountry
Mt Armstrong 🏔️
A summit from last winter. We’d stayed the night in Brewster Hut and went up and down the next morning.
A grade 1 mountaineering trip which is a great one for if you are just starting out. Plus you have the comfy of the hut 🙂
We’re looking forward to more trips like this over the next few weeks ❄️ 🙌
#nzmountaineering #mtarmstrong #nzbackcountry
Conditions Mueller Hut and Sealy Ranges 🏔️
📅 April 25/26, 2026
A snow dump a few days earlier had given the area quite some fresh snow. Initially our plan was to hike up to Barron Saddle Hut, but the travel through the snow was not fast enough. We wish we had taken our snowshoes or skis!
We had to bootpack through ankle to knee deep snow and it made us get to the Annette Plateau by mid afternoon.
With the warmer weather the last couple of days, the snow might melt quite a bit.
#muellerhut #sealyranges #nzmountaineering
Tasman Glacier Lake and Lake Pukaki
Our second morning of the Ball Pass trip where we had camped on Kaitiaki Peak and got to see this in the morning.
You’re looking straight into the valley that you drive up when you get to Mt Cook village.
As I’m writing this we’re in the car again, headed to Aoraki / Mt Cook. We’re excited to spend another few days in the (snowy!) park 🙏🙌
#tasmanglacierlake #lakepukaki #mtcooknationalpark
Sunrise on Kaitiaki Peak 🏔️
Waking up on our overnight trip of the Ball Pass in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
When you do this trip, you should aim to pitch your tent at the summit of Kaitiaki Peak. You’ll be rewarded with 360 degree views seeing some of the highest peaks New Zealand has to offer 🙌
Ball Pass has been my favourite (overnight) alpine hike I’ve done 🙏
#aorakimountcooknationalpark #alpinehiking #trampingnz
Mueller Hut in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park 🏔️
This was from one of my first trips up here—a place that never really looks the same twice. For a few months each year it’s snow-free, but when winter starts, everything transforms. With snow, the mountains just feel better 😄
We’ve had the first dustings of snow again this week in Wanaka, and it’s a reminder that winter’s on the way. Can’t wait for it to properly settle in 🙌
#muellerhut #mtcooknationalpark #nzhuts
The Remarkables Grand Traverse (GT) 🏔️
We ticked it off! Last weekend we did the full GT in about 7 hours.
A 7am start from the carpark saw us walk up the sloped around Lake Alta. From there we gained the ridge to make this a counter clockwise loop.
Neither Tom, Phil, Emi or myself had done it before, so it was a nice adventure figuring out the exact route. When things got too hard we saw that as a sign that we were off track and that there should be an easier way, which there always was.
The crux move for us was a steep exposed ledge that saw us get in between the col of Double Cone. Only to find out that we could have taken an easier route.
We pitched one short section going up the second peak from Double Cone and for the rest scrambled our way on the rock.
Having turned around on Mt Aspiring due to exposure, this trip was a great stepping stone. While I still was focused in the more exposed sections, I was feeling good and had fun!
Thanks Tom, Phil and Emi for making it an unforgettable trip 😃
#remarkablesGT #nzmountaineering #queenstownclimbing
Route description for our variation on the Ball Pass 🏔️
GPX line in the last photo 🧭
While the “original” Ball Pass route is not possible at the moment (due to bridge workings), there are other variations you can do. Regardless the variation, snow can be encountered all year round and everything is unmarked with some formed tracks here and there. Strong navigation and route finding is required. But if you’re up for it, you will experience one of the best overnight alpine hikes New Zealand has to offer 😃
Photo descriptions 📸:
1. Going up Cove Stream towards Mabel Col
2. and 3. At around 1800, early spring this was all snow for us. Same route, but now we had a rock scramble.
4. The last bit to Mabel Col
5. On the col looking into the Hooker Valley
6. First sight of Ball Pass and just to the right is Kaitiaki Peak
7. and 8. Last steps to Ball Pass
9. Our campsite just 10m shy of Kaitiaki Peak
10. The descent down Ball Ridge. We follow the original route for the first three “peaks”and then traverse down and back towards the 1750m countour line above Husky Stream. You then sidle towards Cove Stream
11. and 12. sidling high above Husky Stream towards Cove Stream in the next valley
13. Coming over from the Husky Stream valley and back down into Cove Stream
14. GPX line of our trip
#aorakimountcooknationalpark #ballpass #trampingnz
