The Motatapu River Track links the end of the Motatapu Road and the Gorge to Mt Aspiring Road. It is a beautiful trail from which to appreciate the landscapes of Wānaka and the Matukituki Valley. The Mt Aspiring Road trailhead is just after the access to Diamond Lake and before the bridge.
Parking is available on the other side of the bridge by the river. Alternatively, turn into the access road opposite and drive past the quarry to a reserve above the river. There is a rock face there popular with climbers and another small gorge.
The track is mostly flat and about 6 km long. It mainly follows the river that runs below the Harris Mountains. One section was eroded to the private property fence line when we walked in. There is a warning sign at the start of the track, but we managed. We timed our return with the setting sun, which made for some stunning light conditions.
Note that the start of the Motatapu Track, a tough tramping track and multi-day section of Te Araroa, is close by, so don’t confuse them!
