Rees-Dart Track

	Note: A large slip in the Dart Valley between Daleys Flat Hut and Chinamans Bluff has made the full Rees–Dart circuit impassable. DOC says the Dart Track is closed until at least December 2026. Trampers can still walk some sections from either end, but should check current DOC alerts before setting out and should not attempt to bypass closed or unstable sections.
	(Information last updated 18 Jun 2026)

The Rees-Dart Track is a Department of Conservation Major Track on New Zealand's South Island with portions of it in Mount Aspiring National Park.

This is a moderately demanding circuit track taking 4-5 days of 6-8 hours of walking per day. The fifth day is added if an extra day trip to the Dart Glacier is taken. Mt. Earnslaw (Pikirakatahi) and Slip Stream (Te Koroka) are Töpuni (sacred) sites of the Ngāi Tāhu Maori tribe. This track can also be linked to the Cascade Saddle track, but is suggested only for very experienced trampers.

Just like any multi-night tramping excursion, plan in advance and check a packing list before leaving; preparedness is key for wilderness emergencies. Pack wet-weather, warm-weather, and extra clothing, as your hiking gear will get wet. Bring insect repellent for the abundant sand flies and a small, absorbent towel.

You must carry all your own food; there are no shops. Prepare a high-energy, low-weight menu and always carry an extra day of emergency rations. You must also provide your own cooking equipment (pots, etc.) and utensils; a single spork is recommended.

Water is available at huts from rivers or rainfall, but it is not tested for giardia—treatment (filters or tablets) is recommended. Carry water in an accessible bottle or bladder to maintain hydration during activity.

Huts with mattresses are spaced a day apart, but they lack linens and heating; bring a warm sleeping bag and earplugs for shared bunkhouses. You may tent near huts, but campers cannot use hut facilities. There are no showers; use hut toilets or bury waste far from the track and water.

Expect to get wet due to the environment. Proper preparedness with warm and waterproof layers is essential for survival.

Throughout the Great Walks peak season, daily transport to the track is provided by Info&Track.

• -45.031303168.6595631 Info&Track (Services are available from nearby towns of Queenstown or Glenorchy to either Muddy Creek or Chinaman's Bluff.), ☏ +64 3 442 9708, adventure@infotrack.co.nz.  

The route described here goes up the Rees Valley, crosses Rees Saddle, and then descends the Dart Valley towards Chinamans Bluff and Paradise. This is an advanced tramping route rather than a formed Great Walk, and conditions can change quickly. River crossings, slips, snow, avalanche paths and flooded side streams can all delay progress.

Muddy Creek – Park boundary

 12 km 5 hr

Starting from -44.696168.46991 Muddy Creek, the route follows a vehicle track before continuing across boggy ground, guided by marker poles, to the park boundary. This first section crosses private farmland on Rees Valley Station, so stay on the marked route, leave gates as you find them, and do not camp before the national park boundary.

The walking is not difficult in a technical sense, but it can be wet underfoot and slower than expected. After Arthurs Creek, the valley opens out into broad grassy flats with the Rees River nearby and mountains rising on either side. In poor visibility the marker poles are useful for keeping to the correct line across the flats and avoiding unnecessary river travel.

A side trip towards Kea Basin branches off on the opposite side of the Rees River north of Lennox Falls, but this adds time and requires suitable conditions. The main route continues up-valley to the swing bridge and the sign marking the boundary of Mount Aspiring National Park. This is the first place where camping is permitted on the route.

Park boundary – Shelter Rock Hut

 7 km 2-3 hr

From the park boundary, a marked track winds through bush to -44.5587168.50891 Shelter Rock Hut. Soon after entering the national park, the track crosses to the west bank of the Rees River and passes through beech forest. Compared with the open farmland below, this section feels more enclosed and sheltered, with roots, mud and short climbs typical of a backcountry bush track.

The route passes the Clarke Slip area before emerging near the upper bushline. Above the forest the landscape becomes more open, with tussock, scrub, side gullies and increasingly alpine views. Several gullies in this area are avalanche paths in late autumn, winter, spring and sometimes early summer, so conditions should be checked carefully before committing to the climb.

Shelter Rock Hut sits above the Rees Valley and makes a logical first night for parties travelling up the Rees. Water at the hut should be treated or boiled. The hut is also a sensible place to reassess the weather, as the next stage over Rees Saddle is more exposed and committing.

Shelter Rock Hut – Dart Hut

 10 km 6 hr

The narrow, steep track from -44.5587168.50892 Shelter Rock Hut climbs towards -44.5509168.56312 Rees Saddle (1471 m). The upper Snowy Creek bridge is removed in winter and may not be replaced until Christmas. The route continues to -44.5218168.55453 Dart Hut.

This is the highest and most alpine stage of the route. From Shelter Rock Hut, the track sidles above the Rees River, climbs through scrub and tussock, and enters the upper basin below the saddle. The final climb to Rees Saddle is steep and lightly marked in places, so take care in poor visibility and do not drift away from the marked line.

Rees Saddle gives a dramatic change of scenery, with views into the Dart catchment and across to rugged mountains and hanging valleys. From the saddle, orange marker poles lead down past tarns and across open alpine terrain towards Snowy Creek. This section has steep slopes, loose ground and exposed drop-offs, and it can be dangerous when wet, icy or snow-covered.

The upper Snowy Creek crossing is a key hazard. When the bridge is out, crossing may be unsafe or impossible, especially after rain or during snowmelt. Even when the bridge is in place, side streams in this section can rise quickly. If conditions are poor, waiting at Shelter Rock Hut is usually safer than pushing on.

After crossing Snowy Creek, the route sidles broken slopes and descends sharply towards Dart Hut. -44.5218168.55454 Dart Hut is reached by a swing bridge near the Snowy Creek and Dart River confluence. It is a useful base for experienced trampers considering side trips towards the Dart Glacier or Cascade Saddle, but these are serious alpine routes requiring good weather, navigation ability and appropriate experience.

Dart Hut – Daleys Flat

 18 km 5-7 hr

From -44.5218168.55455 Dart Hut, the track descends before continuing through beech forest to -44.5481168.37446 Daleys Flat. The route begins near the upper Dart River/Te Awa Whakatipu and gradually loses height through a wide glacial valley.

The first part of the day is generally easier than the crossing of Rees Saddle, but it is still remote country. The track sidles and descends through forest before reaching more open flats. Cattle Flat is a broad, open section where the route is marked by poles across river flats and terraces; in mist, rain or fading light, keep a careful eye on the markers.

As the valley opens, there are views of the Dart River, surrounding peaks, waterfalls and the steep sides of the glacial valley. The track then returns to beech forest, crossing terraces and gullies before reaching Daleys Flat. Birdlife is often noticeable in the forest, and sandflies can be abundant around damp flats and hut areas.

-44.5481168.37447 Daleys Flat is set on a flat above the Dart River. It is a good place to stop before the rougher lower Dart Valley section.

Daleys Flat – Chinamans carpark

 16 km 5½-7½ hr

The route from -44.5481168.37448 Daleys Flat to -44.65454168.315283 Chinamans carpark includes narrow, sometimes steep sections and requires strong backcountry skills. The lower Dart Valley is dynamic terrain, where slips, washouts and river changes can alter the route.

From Daleys Flat, the route initially follows a more defined track before becoming rougher as it approaches the lower Dart Valley. Around Dredge Flat and Sandy Bluff, the track has historically been forced away from unstable or flooded ground, and some parts climb high above the Dart River. Stay on the marked track and keep out of the riverbed and lake-edge areas, where soft sediment and quicksand-like conditions may be present.

The Sandy Bluff area gives impressive views over the lower Dart Valley, but the track can be narrow, steep and exposed in places. After this, the route passes through beech forest high above the river before descending towards Surveyors Flat. Lower down, it follows easier river terraces and gradually climbs over Chinamans Bluff before reaching -44.65454168.315284 Chinamans carpark.

Chinamans carpark – Paradise

 6 km 2 hr

From -44.65454168.315285 Chinamans carpark, follow the road to -44.733333168.3666676 Paradise. This section can often be driven, but walking may be necessary. The road is unsealed and crosses a remote valley landscape of river flats, beech forest edges, farmland and mountain views.

Although this is a road section, it should still be treated as part of the trip plan. The road to Chinamans Bluff is a fine-weather road and may be affected by washouts or flooded creeks, so pick-ups should be arranged with some flexibility. Transport is commonly organised from Glenorchy or Queenstown, and parties finishing on foot should allow enough time for the road walk and any delays.

Paradise is a small locality rather than a town, so do not expect shops or services at the end of the route. Most walkers continue by arranged transport back to Glenorchy or Queenstown.

Be sure to register with the Department of Conservation (DOC) office in Glenorchy before heading out. Your check-in and subsequent check-out with the DOC will insure your safety in the wilderness. If you do not check-out by the date you've specified during registration a search will commence shortly thereafter.

• Milford Track (about 4 days), which runs from Lake Te Anau through the McKinnon Pass in the Southern Alps, leading out to Milford Sound.
• Routeburn Track (about 3 days), which starts at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown in Glenorchy, coming out at The Divide on the road to Milford.
• Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park.
• Rakiura Track, on Stewart Island
• Careys Creek Track, near Blueskin Bay, north of Dunedin