I'm not kidding when I say NZ is a hiker's paradise. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of amazing hikes ranging from family friendly hikes that take an hour or two, or day hikes that can be completed in within a day like The Tongariro Alpine Crossing.Then there's multi-day hikes that are part of NZ's Great Walk network like The Routeburn Track right through to off-the-beaten-track advanced hikes that might take a week (or maybe even two!) to complete. And let's not forget Te Araroa Trail - a 3,000km long-distance hike that takes you from the tip of the North Island to the very bottom of the South Island!
If you're travelling around New Zealand you might be short on time, so of course you want to experience the best bang-for-buck when it comes to epic scenery and an enjoyable experience. I was so impressed with the Rob Rob Glacier Track that I rate it as one of NZ's Best Day Hikes, and here's why:
We drove through here on a stunning autumn day and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I felt like I could reach out and touch the majestic peaks that towered on each side of the valley on the drive up. You do need to consider what vehicle to take out to Rob Roy Glacier - there are quite a few fords on the way out - luckily when we went it was after a dry autumn spell and they were low if not non-existent. However, quite a few rental car and campervan companies put this road as off-limits so make sure you check the fine print before taking the 1 hour journey out there, we specifically hired a 4WD that was allowed on this road so we could do this hike as well as drive into the Nevis Valley.
About halfway up to the glacier the trail runs down beside the Rob Roy Stream and there is a beautiful spot where we found a giant rock reflecting light around the canyon - it was so magical. Like so many other places in NZ with amazing water, the glacial melt here creates a stunning vivid aqua colour. It was pretty hard to tear ourselves away from this spot to continue the walk.
The hike to the Glacier is not a walk in the park but it's not too difficult either. You'll definitely feel like you've earned the view when you finally reach the amphitheatre to see the glacier laid out before you. Don't be tempted to stop at the first lookout - you only get a tiny peek from here and it's definitely worth continuing on.
The volume of waterfalls you'll see at the end of the walk will depend somewhat on the season that you visit and whether there's been recent rainfall or snow melt to increase the flow. We visited when there were only a couple of waterfalls flowing to speak but even so they were pretty impressive, some catching the afternoon light just beautifully. The tallest one in the amphitheatre drops over 200 metres - simply mind boggling!
Walking up the narrow and hearing the rumbling of an avalanche on the glacier was quite the sound! It echoed around the valley like thunder and made us stop in our tracks to listen. A friend had told us she'd been on this walk when a severe 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Wanaka region in 2015 and that was a pretty sobering thought - she said she really did fear for her life and it's certainly not a spot I'd want to be in if a big one hit.
That being said, earthquakes are an inevitable fact of life here in NZ, and for the most part we just get on with life and don't give them a second thought. It would never stop me from travelling or wanting to travel around our amazing country!
You have the lovely drive back down the valley to enjoy the scenery all over again!
Distance from Wanaka: 51km (over half of this is on a gravel road and there are about 10 fords to cross, check with the local information centre if you're not sure on the state of the road and check your rental agreement allows you to drive on this road)
Time to drive there: 1 hour 10 minutes (without stopping for any photos!)
Track info: 10.3km return, 400m elevation gain, out and back route on an intermediate walking track
March 2021 update: Erosion temporarily closed the track from mid-2019 to February 2021 but it has now reopened- keep updated with the latest information here.
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