Cascade Saddle - Rees -Dart Track

There is a campground less than 5 mins from Mt.Aspiring Hut. There is a small flat spot i used once at about 1100m on the descent from the Pylon(near Cascade saddle). The only real danger in the descent is when there is some snow. Some have died after slipping. It's not that long a day as i have also gone from Mt.Aspiring hut to Daleys Flat hut in a day and in daylight all the way. That was summer when daylight hours are long. You can camp near Shelter rock hut on the Rees. You could camp near to Rees Saddle but a little off the track toward Snowy Ck. It is nice camping on Snowy Ck itself but that is a little way from the track, maybe 500m with 100m descent. There is also a campsite before crossing back over Snowy Ck to Dart Hut. Good luck. Enjoy the walk.

Lets be clear on this. The only restrictions on camping in National Parks is that you are not within 500m of a Great Walk Track. Neither the Rees-Dart or the Matukituki are Great Walks so you can camp anywhere you like.

Thanks all. Does anyone know if there is a track between Chinaman BLuff to the Rasberry Car Park?

How many days are you planning for the tramp, Mieng? and what is your experience level with NZ tramping? (what other multi-day tramps have you done?) Answers to the above questions will help others on this site give you the advice you seek. The descent from the Pylon to Mt Aspiring hut is quite steep but OK in good weather - but this is NOT a good route in poor weather. So, if you are planning to tramp from Chinamans Bluff to Dart hut and then over Cascade Saddle and down, you need to have an alternative plan (eg. return to Glenorchy via Rees River) if the weather is bad when you get to Dart Hut.

Hi bernieq Thanks for your reply. I will follow normal route from Shelter Hut to Dart Hut. Then a day from Dart Hut to Mt Aspiring Hut. A day walk to French Ridge Hut. then going down to Rasberry car park the next day with a detour to Rob Roy. I'm asking about route from chinaman's bluff to Rasbery car park because i want to go up Mt Aspiring Hut in case weather is bad from Dart Hut. I've not done any tramping in NZ...actually January next year will be my first time.However, I've done the Everest Base Camp, and in Europe Alps fully support though. several long walks in Tasmania, Australia that including 3 days fullpack to Frenchman Cap, 7 days fullpack to the Western Arthurs.

OK, I walked the Western Arthurs in 2010 - it's a fabulous walk - if you walked the length of the Western Arthurs (beyond Lake Oberon through to Moraine K) then what you have planned for NZ will be OK. However, you do need good weather for the descent to Mt Aspiring hut (really, I'd recommend doing it in the other direction - snow-grass in the wet is very slippery). Yes, there is an obvious track from Chinamans Bluff through to Dart Hut (an easy 2-day) - have a look at http://tramper.co.nz/?210 and http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/queenstown-wakatipu/rees-dart-track/ I've uploaded a couple of gpx files that might be of use to you : Rees - Dart http://tramper.co.nz/?6987 and Aspiring - Rees http://tramper.co.nz/?6988

Sure it's true there are no restrictions on camping on the Rees-dart or the Matukituki however it usually depends on where you could put a tent and perhaps access water. Recent times in summer the water in the upper Rees is underground and therefore none available until over the saddle and into Snowy Ck. An alternative route would be via Lochnagar. That means going via Pine Ck basin after ascending a spur in upper Snowy Ck.

thanks bernieq and aardvark Yes, I went up Moraine A and down Moraine K. We had really bad weather, raining , misty, snow for almost the duration of the walk. By looking at the map, i can see that only about the first 1km going from Pylon to Mt Aspiring hut is may along edge of cliff with big drop, the second part of the is also steep but it's going through beech forest so it is less exposed.Is that right? I can see the colour in the map changing from orange to green. IF it's too steep can I just go down on my buttom? :)

The forest begins at about 1300m when descending from the Pylon. Once in the forest i don't believe you will have as much difficulty because the track switches back and forth to deal with the steepness. I know a few others who have descended it too without any difficulty.It's snow and rain that presents the biggest obstacle . Perhaps you only need to consider staying at Dart hut until you're sure of a good day to tackle the crossing.