Gillespie Pass- Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand 2016
A walk that has been on our bucket list for far too long. As soon as we got time off work we headed out rain or shine. Starting from Makarora we crossed the river (use the blue pools bridge when the river is too high) to young hut. The next day we walked up and over the pass to Siberia hut. Woke up nice and early on the third day and headed to the beautiful lake crucible for a swim. We then splashed out and jumped on a helicopter in the evening. Narly track but well worth it. Meet some fantastic people along the way :)
Gillespie Pass - Young/Siberia Hut -Mt Aspiring National Park - New Zealand
Young Hut, Siberia Hut.
Mt Aspiring National Park - New Zealand
Gillespie Pass Circuit
I wanted for a little while to try shooting something with just the GoPro Hero 8. A New Years eve trip seemed a good opportunity. I feel like it turned out pretty good - this little camera is pretty impressive.
The Gillespie Circuit is a spectacular two to four day route that traverses the Young and Siberia Valleys in Mount Aspiring National Park. A climb over stunning Gillespie Pass joins the two valleys, and an optional side-trip to Crucible Lake makes for a truly remarkable tramp.
Gillespies Pass Circuit 2019
Easter weekend 2019, I set out to tackle the famous Gillespie's Pass circuit solo..
Starting off from the Blue Pools carpark at 9.30 am with a fully loaded pack set for up to 4 days.
Once I reached the confluence of the Young and Makarora Rivers, I soon Realised that I would not be able to cross the Young or the Makarora in that vicinity.
I then changed plans to cross South of Makarora and walk the road back to my vehicle.
Day 1 , I started off at 9.30am, I got to Young Forks campsite at 1pm, and decided to set up camp.
Day 2 , I started off early, 5am at the track junction and fired off up the track towards Young Hut, arrived here at 7am without a sign of life, I carried on to the pass.
I hit the pass at around 10.30-11am. Had an early lunch before heading to Siberia Hut. I arrived at Siberia Hut for a water refill at 1.30pm.. I origially planned to stay at Siberia for the night, but a quick calculation meant that I had approx 4.5hours to make it to the Makarora River before it got too dark to cross safely solo.
Could I make it in time?
with 5mins to spare..
As I reached the State Highway, I managed to hitch a ride with the 3rd car that past, right on dark oclock..how lucky was that..
So a very awesome fast gallop through the hills, total approx 62km covered 32.5 hours.
Subscribe to my channel to see more missions I plan to do starting off after winter.. Hopefully I can get in a few snow trips this year too.
Cheers
Gillespie Pass: Mt Aspiring National Park NZ
Over 70km in 5 Days
Day 1: Makarora to Young Hut
Day 2: Young Hut to Siberia Hut
Day 3: Siberia Hut to Lake Crucible day trip
Day 4: Siberia Hut to Kerrin Forks Hut
Day 5: Kerrin Forks to Makarora
Music: Halycon - Hybrid Minds
Shot on GoPro 4 Silver
Gillespie Pass, Mt Aspiring National Park, NZ, 2013
Where there's a will there's a way! A must watch video clip by the very talented Ross @Stash Media Worx
2013 Mt Aspiring National Park, Gillespie Pass. 3days, 58km, 1610m high. My first attempt at tramping at this level. Balance, patience, determination were all put to the test. Nothing like a challenge!
---. oke-survivors-by-miek-deuninck/
Exploring the outstanding wild and remote landscape of New Zealand through the lesser-travelled corners of Mt Aspiriring National Park, challenges many, even more so for me personally! And a challenge is just what I am after= Gillespie Pass. Nearly 60km covered during a 3 days tramping adventure with the highest point being 1610m above sea level. We will be surrounded by stunning New Zealand scenery. It starts in dense native rain forest and steadily climbs into wondrous spectacular alpine paradise which consists of challenging steep climbs, high peaks, spectacular waterfalls, roaring canyons, hanging snowfields, open meadows, breath-taking views of the southern alps/ Mounts Alba, Awful, and Dreadful, testing river crossing, unusual geographic wonders carved by the glaciers, ancient Beech forest and open river flats.
Having never taken part in any tramping before, this experience will test both my survival and physical skills through strength, energy and ultimately my lack of balance. This challenge will take place
Gillespie Pass
Gillespie Pass Circuit
Gillespie Pass on the Wilkin-Young Circuit Track, New Zealand
Some footage of going over the Gillespie Pass on the Wlkin-Young Circuit Track in New Zealand
New Zealand; Hiking the Gillespie Pass Circuit, Mt Aspiring National Park
Hiking/Tramping the Gillespie Pass Circuit Mt Aspiring National Park New Zealand
Wilkin-Young (Gillespie Pass), New Zealand
Feb 2006
Gillespie Pass Slideshow
I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (
Gillespie Pass Crossing
Gillespie Pass Crossing
Lake Nerine, Three Passes (Mount Aspiring National Park, Feb 2014)
Four day tramping trip with OTMC: Routeburn North Branch Track, North Col, Lake Nerine, Park Pass, Rockburn Track, Sugarloaf Pass. All photos are available in high resolution from my website - - Music: Stefano mocini - Half Moon Ball (pianosolo version), available from - Licence: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 - - Created using free libre program Kdenlive -
List of photographs as they appear in the slideshow:
1. Sunlit snowy peaks of Humboldt Mountains
2. North Col from distance
3. Trampers on meadow part of Route Burn Valley North Branch
4. Trampers resting near boulder field
5. Route Burn North Branch
6. Route Burn Valley North Branch
7. Steep climb in early morning shade
8. Climbing on leftover snow
9. North Col, looking back to Routeburn Valley
10. Hidden Falls Valley, Hollyford Valley, and Darran Mountains
11. Sidle to Lake Nerine
12. Panorama of Lake Nerine
13. Rock, mountains, and clouds
14. White gentians
15. Amphion Peak, Minos Peak, and Rock Burn Valley
16. Theatre Flat
17. At the campsite
18. Long shadows by Lake Nerine
19. Small lakes between Lake Nerine and Park Pass
20. Small lake and Park Pass Glacier
21. Party leader
22. Rest above Rock Burn Valley
23. Walking down to Rock Burn Valley
24. Rock bivvy in Rock Burn Valley
25. Bivvy rock
26. Helping hand
27. Spaniard in the valley
28. Forest, tussock, and shrubs in Rock Burn Valley
29. Tramping across grassy flat
30. Rock Burn meadows, Park Pass, and Amphion Peak
31. Crossing a swing bridge
32. South Island Robin and a plant
33. Rapids on Rock Burn
34. Cloud forest near Sugarloaf Pass
35. Dart River from Sugarloaf Pass
36. Crossing boggy section
37. Small mossy waterfall
Photos can be found in album
Tramping Track New Zealand
4 days Tramping Track, Gillespie Pass Circuit, Lake Crucible, crossing Makarora river, with good music!
Young Wilkin Expedition - HD
Filmed over the course of a week during a recent trip to Mt Aspiring National Park in the South Island.
The trip involved walking up the Young Valley, over Gillespie Pass into the Gillespie Valley, down Siberia Valley (with a detour to the rather icy Lake Crucible), across the Wilkin River, up the Wilkin Valley, around to Lake Diana and Lucidus Lake, then back out the valley to Makarora.
West Matukituki Circuit.
Reece and Matt go for a walk. South Island NZ. Up the West Matukituki valley to French Ridge - quarterdeck - Bonar Glacier to Colin Todd hut - Aspiring - Bevan col - home.