The hike to Liverpool Hut is one of the most popular overnight hikes in Mount Aspiring National Park.
At 16km each way, it’s a long hike for many but you’ve got a few different ways you can get there. And the views from the hut are spectacular. They make the last 1.5km straight up the hill totally worth it.
The selfie above doesn’t do the view justice, but some of the other photos later in the post will…I hope. You’ll also get all the details about planning a trip on the Liverpool Hut Track.
Let’s do this.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Details About The Liverpool Hut Hike
2. Liverpool Hut Track Map
3. How To Get To The Trailhead
4. My Liverpool Hut Experience
1. DETAILS ABOUT THE LIVERPOOL HUT HIKE
How long is the hike to Liverpool Hut?
Based on my watch, the distance from the Raspberry Creek Car Park to Liverpool Hut is about 16.1km, making for a 32.2km return trip.
But the DOC website says 15km. So be prepared for up to 16.1km in your mind, and take the win if you get there quicker than you thought you would 😀
How long does it to hike to Liverpool Hut?
This is going to vary a lot depending on your fitness levels.
DOC is quite specific with their 6 hours 30-minute recommendations. This is going to be about right for many once you take a break at Aspiring Hut, and slog it up the hill to get to Liverpool Hut for the last 1.5km.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to get up in 4 hours and 30 minutes if you are comfortable moving up steep inclines and taking a few breaks.
What is the incline gain to Liverpool Hut?
The photo above is the elevation profile from Raspberry Creek to Liverpool Hut (one way).
The incline gain to Liverpool Hut is ~ 1067 metres based on my watch data. About 700 metres of this is in the final 1.5km.
There are about 250 metres or so of elevation gain on the return back to the car park, making for about 1300 metres in total.
How hard is the hike to Liverpool Hut?
90% of the hike is easy as you hike on the gently undulating West Matukituki Track. It’s the final section where you climb up off the valley floor that’s tough.
For 1.5km you’ll find yourself scrambling up the track, your hands reaching out for roots and your mind debating about whether you needed to bring that bottle of wine in your now overly heavy pack.
But, while the last section is tough, it’s not overly long. With a bit of stubborn determination, you’ll get there.
How much does Liverpool Hut cost to stay in?
Liverpool Hut bookings must be made in advance between Labour Weekend in late October to April 30th, it’s best to do this online. From May 1st to Labour Weekend, bookings aren’t required but you’ll need to bring DOC Hut Tickets in advance.
Hut Fees (all year round)
Adult (18+): $20/night
NZ Alpine Club members: $10/night
Youth (11–17 years): $10 /night
Child/infant (0–10 years): free
If you’ve got a Backcountry Hut Pass, you can use this at Liverpool Hut from May 1st to September 30th.
2. LIVERPOOL HUT TRACK MAP
If you click on the map below, it’ll open in a new window.
The map above is a GPX file overlaid on TopoMap.co.nz. The track is well marked, so you don’t really need a GPX file. But given you’ll be out of reception, it’s not a bad idea to have maps.me or a topo app downloaded that works offline.
You can also see the complete trail on Google Maps.
3. HOW TO GET TO THE TRAILHEAD
The trail starts at the Raspberry Creek Car Park (the name seems to switch to Raspberry Flat Car Park sometimes, but they’re the same place).
The hike to Liverpool Hut starts from the Raspberry Creek Car Park which is ~51km from Wanaka. The drive out here is straightforward directions-wise, but it’s crucial to note the last ~30km are on a gravel road.
If the weather has been great, this road is cruisey with the fords causing no issues. But if it’s raining, you can have a tough time navigating the fords in anything but a 4WD.
Most people will drive to the car park, but you can easily hitchhike here from Wanaka…it helps that the traffic is all going the same way.
The total drive time will vary depending on how quick you drive on the gravel road, but it’s usually a little over an hour total. Rarely more than 1.5 hours.
If you’re looking for a shuttle/bus/shared travel company out there, you can get in touch with a couple of companies and get a quote with them. You can try WanaTaxi and KT Taxis.
If you’re coming from Queenstown, Haula is a great option.
4. MY LIVERPOOL HUT EXPERIENCE
RASPBERRY CREEK CARPARK TO ASPIRING HUT
Starting from Raspberry Creek Carpark, you follow the track leading away from the car park, it’s the same track to start the Rob Roy Glacier Track.
It’s a cruisey start to the hike (or bike to Aspiring Hut), with some minor undulations along a well-worn track. Over the first few kilometres there’s a few spots where the track appears to split off, but it’s an easy track to figure out where you’re supposed to go with signs in any misleading spots.
The biggest obstacles for me are the cows. I will forever take a wide berth around them 😀
And keep an eye out in the distance, you might see Liverpool Hut flashing in the sun.
There are a couple of bridges and streams to cross and only one section that lasts a couple of hundred metres involves getting the heart rate up with its climb.
Overall, the hike from Raspberry Creek to Aspiring Hut is a gentle (very chill) start to the hike with a couple of hundred metres of elevation gain in total.
Aspiring Hut is a beautiful wee hut! Take a break there (top up your water), and if you can see a DOC ranger/hut warden there, it’s not a bad idea to get some up-to-date weather information for the rest of the track to the hut.
ASPIRING HUT TO LIVERPOOL HUT
Leaving Aspiring Hut you follow the valley tracks into the forest tracks and goes over Cascade Creek. It’s a beautiful section of bush, and if it’s super hot will provide some nice relief.
After a short open section, you enter another section of forest which then opens out to Shovel Flat where you’ve got some amazing views deep into the valley. This is one of those views where you suddenly think, this is an awesome place to be and being well out of phone signal you can just be. So much wisdom :p
The track through Shovel Flat has a couple of short more technical sections, but is pretty cruisey for the most part as you get closer to the Matukituki River West Branch again.
Once you reach Pearl Flat you’re nearly at the start of the steep incline up to the hut, which begins after you cross the Liverpool Stream.
The climb is fun!
Well, it’s type 2 fun, but that’s still fun. You’re scrambling straight up the bank on a well-formed trail really. To start with you’ll come across lots of roots that you’ll need to grab to haul yourself up at times…this transitions to a mix of roots and rocks the further you get up. Some can be tricky to navigate, but nor im
Remember, the heavier your pack the tougher the climb will be 😀
There are a couple of points where you get views of the valley, and you’ll be impressed with how fast you’ve climbed above the valley floor.
And eventually, you’ll see Liverpool Hut, not too far away as you emerge above the tree line. But you’ve still got a bit of a walk to go…DO NOT try to sidle across to the hut.
You’ll need to continue climbing up, following the track (there’s orange poles) before you starting heading across and down to the hut crossing a final stream just before you get there.
And congrats! You’ve made it. Hopefully, the sun is shining and you’ll be good to go and relax for a few hours in the sun. but it could be cold and windy…as long as it’s not raining eh.
Enjoy your time in the hut! There’s plenty of drinking water here so that’s no worries.
AND THE RETURN
The hike back out is the way you came (unless you’re planning to head over to French Ridge Hut or elsewhere in the valley).
The descent back down is going to be slow going for a lot of people if you’re not confident going downhills. It’s not a spot where you should be rushing.
If you need to make up ground, wait until you get down and then you’ve got a long slightly undulating descent back to the carpark where you can really cover some ground.
The trip to Liverpool Hut is one of, if not the marquee overnight tramp in Mount Aspiring National Park.
If you’re on the fence about doing it, provided you’ve got a good weather window, go do it!
If you’ve got any questions or comments about the Liverpool Hut walk, drop a comment below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.
AND HERE’S A FEW MORE PHOTOS TO FINISH
WHAT TO READ NEXT
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.
Hey there how manageable do you think it’ll be as a day hike if we set off in summer at 7am from Raspberry Creek CP? thanks!
Hey Vincent, as long you aren’t mucking around too much, more than doable in a day. I’d suggest trying to get to Aspiring Hut with minimal breaks. Then chip away to get to Liverpool Hut, spend time up there and hopefully you’ve made good ground and can take your time and take photos on the way back to the carpark. Awesome day trip!
Thanks for the quick response, Jub! I’ll take your tip on making up ground in the initial stages of the track, especially the track to Aspiring Hut.
I’ve also just read that there’s a possibility Aspiring Hut will be closed this summer for upgrades, so I guess gives me even less of a reason to stay too long at Aspiring Hut for the mid point break.
Thanks again for sharing your experience publicly on your blog. It was really helpful!
Awesome, enjoy. And thanks for the heads up on Aspiring Hut…gonna try and find more out about that.
Hi Jub
Love to do this, but have two questions for you;
I do bit of tramping 3 years ago (among others) we climbed Taranaki from North end .
Question is do you think it is doable, I am not sure.
Next question is may go to FRENCH RIDGE HUT on the way back, is this possible to reach the hut next day (going in early December) or how long would it take ?
Thanks
Hey Channa,
I do think you’d be able to do this as long as you’ve got a bit of fitness under your belt first (a couple of samll 2-3 hour walks even). On the way back you can go to French Hut, it’d add 3 to 4 hours onto the day so provided you don’t need to be anywhere specific on that day, go for it (daylight isn’t an issue)!
Cheersm
Jub