Nearby

Snow Bridge Gorge

Snowbridge Gorge

Snowbridge Gorge

Permanent snow remains in the gorge that the South branch of the Wilkin river flows.   More ▶︎
Haast to The Divide

Haast to The Divide

Andrew Barker's traverse 2009. From Pleasant Flat in the Haast to The Divide via Mt Aspiring National Park.   More ▶︎

Picton to Aspiring

An aborted alpine traverse. Picton to West Cape, but aborted at Aspiring due to real world emergencies back home. Posted ...   More ▶︎
Top Forks Hut (Wilkin)

Top Forks Hut (Wilkin)

Top Forks Hut, in the Wilkin Valley. The last hut north of the infamous rabbit pass.   More ▶︎
Where do rivers come from?

Where do rivers come from?

Wilkin North Branch toward upper lakes   More ▶︎
Top Forks hut

Top Forks hut

Top Forks hut   More ▶︎
Track to North Branch lakes

Track to North Branch lakes

Shortly before reaching the Disappearing Tarn   More ▶︎
Wilkin Valley Track

Wilkin Valley Track

This stunning track is commonly tramped in conjunction with the Gillespie Pass Circuit or with the Rabbit Pass/East Matukituki traverse, ...   More ▶︎
Disappearing Tarn

Disappearing Tarn

Go see it before it disappears   More ▶︎
Rabbit Pass - Wilkin to East Matukituki

Rabbit Pass - Wilkin to East Matukituki

A fair weather route linking the upper Wilkin valley to the head of the East Matukituki. Two dangerous climbs are ...   More ▶︎
Top Forks Hut (Wilkin)

Top Forks Hut (Wilkin)

There are two huts at Top Forks (total 16 bunks, stove / fireplace, firewood available, tank water). The smaller is ...   More ▶︎
North Wilkin from Top Forks Hut

North Wilkin from Top Forks Hut

Wilkin River north branch, from the verandah at Top Forks Hut   More ▶︎
Tramping in the Wilkin Waterfall valley

Tramping in the Wilkin Waterfall valley

Approaching the dreaded 200m Wilkin Waterfall face, we're dwarfed by the 400m waterfall tumbling off the North slopes of Mt ...   More ▶︎
Waterfall Flat

Waterfall Flat

Looking over the South branch of the Wilkin towards the Wilkin Waterfall Face and Mt Taurus.   More ▶︎
The Wilkin Waterfall Face

The Wilkin Waterfall Face

The route to Rabbit Pass climbs up the cliff to the right of the falls.   More ▶︎
Closeup of the Wilkin Waterfall Route

Closeup of the Wilkin Waterfall Route

Hard to get a good angle of this! The route initially goes up the middle of the 2nd to the ...   More ▶︎
The Disappearing Tarn and Apollo Peak Reflections

The Disappearing Tarn and Apollo Peak Reflections

The first mini lake encountered is the small Disappearing tarn.   More ▶︎
Waterfall Flat from above

Waterfall Flat from above

Scungy weather continues to obscure the views, topped by a raging wind....   More ▶︎
Waterfall Face, Wilkin River

Waterfall Face, Wilkin River

Misty rain obscures the infamous Waterfall Face   More ▶︎
Upper Wilkin South Branch

Upper Wilkin South Branch

Taken from above the Waterfall Face looking South West towards Pickelhaube. Pearson Saddle is the low grassy bit beneath Pickelhaube ...   More ▶︎
Waterfall Flat from ontop of the Waterfall Face

Waterfall Flat from ontop of the Waterfall Face

Having made it to the top you are gifted views such as this.   More ▶︎
Lake Diana Reflections

Lake Diana Reflections

The lower slopes of Mt Betsy Jane and Mt Pollux reflected in Lake Diana.   More ▶︎
Lake Diana Reflections 2

Lake Diana Reflections 2

The Snow Bridge Gorge gap between Mt Twilight and Mt Betsy Jane reflected in Lake Diana.   More ▶︎
Lake Dianna

Lake Dianna

The 1st of the three main lakes of the North branch of the Wilkin it is perhaps the least stunning ...   More ▶︎
Lake Lucidus Morain Walls and the Upper Wilkin Valley

Lake Lucidus Morain Walls and the Upper Wilkin Valley

Mts Juno and Vesta tower over the massive morain which conceals Lake Lucidus.   More ▶︎
Descent of the Matukituki Cliff

Descent of the Matukituki Cliff

Taken from the top of the cliff the route zigzags steeply down on the left of frame for about 20m ...   More ▶︎
Rabbit Pass from under Lois Peak

Rabbit Pass from under Lois Peak

Looking West along the cliff top towards Rabbit Pass, Pickelhaube and the Beauty Ridge above, the East Matukituki waterfall below.   More ▶︎
East Branch Matukituki visible through the rain

East Branch Matukituki visible through the rain

Demon descent in the conditions   More ▶︎
East Matukituki Cliff Route

East Matukituki Cliff Route

Not a good picture of the route, but the best I have! The descent down starts in the sunny bit ...   More ▶︎
Lake Lucidus

Lake Lucidus

Located beneath Mt Caster and Apollo Peak, Lucidus is a great example of a lateral morain lake.   More ▶︎
Rabbit Pass from Pearson Saddle

Rabbit Pass from Pearson Saddle

Looking from a great spot for lunch on the saddle towards the pass.   More ▶︎
View from Pearson Saddle

View from Pearson Saddle

Looking West into the Pearson River valley with a distant glimpse of the Waiatoto valley.   More ▶︎
Lake Lucidus from Atop the Morain Wall

Lake Lucidus from Atop the Morain Wall

After reaching Lake Lucidus its well worth fording the outlet stream and scrambling up the South morain for a stunning ...   More ▶︎
Rabbit Pass

Rabbit Pass

A view of Rabbit Pass from just below the drop off point. In the distant is the route from Waterfall ...   More ▶︎
The East Matukituki from Rabbit Pass

The East Matukituki from Rabbit Pass

From just past the pass looking South over the valley from some 600 metres above the valley floor.   More ▶︎

The East Matukituki from Rabbit Pass - a video

Shot on my point and shoot digital camera, hopefully gives some idea of the amazing view from this spot!   More ▶︎
Birthplace of Rivers

Birthplace of Rivers

From such humble beginnings does the South branch of the Wilkin start.   More ▶︎
Wilkin River

Wilkin River

A 3 day tramp from Kerin Forks hut to the Wonderland Valley. Following the Wilkin River upstream. We took a ...   More ▶︎
Olivine Wilderness Area

Olivine Wilderness Area

Remote country in the Olivine Range. The wilderness area includes the Red Hills, the Olivine Ice Plateau, and the Joe ...   More ▶︎
Rabbit Pass is up there

Rabbit Pass is up there

View from the East Branch Matukituki River of the descent from Rabbit Pass   More ▶︎
Mt Betsy Jane

Mt Betsy Jane

The Top Flats of the Wilkin valley are dominated by this mountain which towers about Top Forks hut. Named after ...   More ▶︎
Frosty Morning in the East Matukituki

Frosty Morning in the East Matukituki

Taken from near the rock biv at the top of Ruth Flats looking North towards Rabbit Pass in the clouds.   More ▶︎
Ruth Flat Bivy

Ruth Flat Bivy

Found at the North End of Ruth Flat this bivy provides easy accomodation for those not wanting to carry on ...   More ▶︎
North Ruth Flat Rock Bivvy

North Ruth Flat Rock Bivvy

Good rock bivvy formed by an overhanging rock cliff located north of Ruth Flat in the East Matukituki. On topo ...   More ▶︎
Lake Castalia

Lake Castalia

Completely ringed by rock walls, numerous waterfalls tumble off the towering Mercury Peak glaciers to feed Lake Castalia, the North ...   More ▶︎
Lake Castalia

Lake Castalia

Upper Wilkin Mar 05   More ▶︎
Head wall of Wonderland Valley

Head wall of Wonderland Valley

Taken in Mar 2006 after bush bashing up the true right of Wonderland stream. No trail just picking a way ...   More ▶︎
Lake Castalia from the North

Lake Castalia from the North

Sidling around the Eastern shore of the lake takes you into the upper reaches of the Castalia valley, a sea ...   More ▶︎
Camping in the Jumboland

Camping in the Jumboland

After 8 hours slogging up the True left side of the flooded Wilkin it was time to stop for the ...   More ▶︎
Mt Jumbo from Wonderland

Mt Jumbo from Wonderland

View of Mt Jumbo from Wonderland valley   More ▶︎