Tag Archives: Southern Alps

Diamond Lake – Rocky Mountain – Queenstown Lakes District

Monday 2/03/2026   Diamond Lake Car Park – Wānaka–Mt Aspiring Road – Diamond Lake Loop Track – Lower Circuit Track – Lake Wānaka Lookout Track – Rocky Mountain Track – Diamond Lake Bird View – Lake Wānaka Lookout – Diamond Lake – Schist bluffs – Rocky Mountain (775 m) – Kā Tiritiri o te Moana / Southern Alps – Mount Aspiring / Tititea (3,033 m) – Lake Wānaka – Mou Waho – Mou Tapu – Te Peka Karara – Ruby Island – Glendhu Bay – The Peninsula – Diamond Lake Car Park

                                        Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Track

                                        Diamond Lake Conservation Area, Queenstown Lakes District, Otago, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                        Kāi Tahu ki Otago Country (Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu)

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report),  Pablo Ureña Vega

We decided to do a slightly easier walk today after a big climb on the previous days. It was a 20-minute drive from Wanaka to the trailhead, and there was plenty of parking.

The trail climbed up from the carpark, and we were soon passing Diamond Lake, of which we had excellent views a little further along the trail. Looking from above, the dark waters of the lake were very picturesque.

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Isthmus Peak – Queenstown Lakes District

Tuesday 3/03/2026   Isthmus Peak Track Carpark – Stewart Creek – Glen Dene Station – Dinner Creek – Dinner Flat – Ridge Junction – Glen Dene Ridge Track junction – Isthmus Peak (1,385 m)

                                       Isthmus Peak Track

                                       Matatiaho Conservation Area, Glen Dene Station (private land)

                                       Queenstown Lakes District, Otago, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                       Kāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) Country (Kāi Tahu people / Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu)

                              

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report),  Pablo Ureña Vega

It was a 30-minute drive from Wanaka to the trailhead of Isthmus Peak. The recommendation was to arrive early as the carpark is not large. That was an understatement, but if people had parked appropriately, many more cars would fit there. We were lucky to get the last spot.

It was almost 9:30am by the time we set off in the cool, clear morning, which promised to turn into a stunning day. It certainly didn’t disappoint us!

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Charlotte Pass Village – Charlotte Pass – Kosciuszko Road – Snowy River – Lake Albina

Monday 15/09/2025   Charlotte Pass Village – Charlotte Pass – Kosciuszko Road – Snowy River – Lake Albina

                                         Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                         Ngarigo Country                          

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

This morning, I offered to lead a trip to Lake Albina. This was one of about six trips that materialised over breakfast. It would only be Sue and I who went in the end, as most other people hadn’t skied for ages and thought it might be too far for their first day, or expected it might be too exposed to some strong wind that was in the forecast.

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Sue negotiating Foremans Crossing

Southern Alps – Mt Stilwell – Upper Snowy River – Blue Lake – Albina Pass – Perisher Valley

2/08/2016 – 6/08/2016     Southern Alps Lodge – Charlotte Pass

                                              Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                              Ngarigo country

Distance: 78km   Total Ascent: 3150m   Total Descent: 3150m   Time: 25 hours 

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report, Photos)

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