A "Back to Nature" Experience.
- ‘A’ Frame Chalet accommodation
- Café, Bar and Shop
- Camping
- Petrol & Diesel
- Jet Boat Trips
- Scenic Flights – Fixed Wing or
Helicopter
65kms North of Wanaka - 80kms South of
Haast
Aproximately 1/2 Way between the Glaciers and Queenstown on
the Haast Pass Highway (SH6)
Tucked in under Mt Shrimpton, Makarora
Tourist Centre with it's 'A' frame accommodation
borders the Mt Aspiring World Heritage National
Park. Across Sate Highway 6 and the licenced
airstrip the Makarora River meanders it's way 10
kilometres to the head of Lake Wanaka. The little
hanging valley, the Teal, looks down over the
river towards the complex while the Wilkin and
Young Valleys, with their towering mountains and
native beech covered slopes, stand majestically
to each side of the Teal.
Southern Alps Air, The Wilkin River Jets, and
BackCountry Helicopters can show you this amazing
area by jet-boating the Makarora and Wilkin
Rivers or give you a birds eye view from the air
whether you choose fix-winged or helicopter. Or
perhaps you can take the opportunity to do the
Siberia Experience, a combination of a flight, a
bush walk and jet boat trip back to base from
Kerin Forks. Our valley location offers countless
opportunities for exploring our stunning and
remote surroundings.
Adjacent to the complex there's a twenty minute
nature walk through a small stand of podocarp
forest teeming with bird life where sometimes
glow worms can be seen at night. The Department
of Conservation have developed this walk and
labelled many species of native flora and
historical relics from the time milling was the
Valley's main industry. There are many other
short or long walks nearby as well. Several lead
off the State Highway 6 such as the Blue Pools
where you can commonly see trout beneath the
bridge. For trampers there are several 2-3 day
journeys using the Department of Conservation
huts provided.
Alternatively, you can just relax by the pool,
read a book at your unit, have a meal from the
café or drink at the bar enjoying the
sunset from the deck, or take your fishing rod
and get a brown or rainbow trout for your
tea.
Over many years continuous planting at the camp
has encouraged the native birds such as pigeons,
tuis, bellbirds, wax eyes, fantails, tomtits and
finches to flourish in our area. Some years
during the spring, kakas have been seen feeding
on the flax flowers next to one of the lodges. Of
course, there are the blackbirds, thrushes,
sparrows and chaffinches as well.
Makarora will appeal to those who appreciate
joyous bird song, mountain spring water, being
able to feel you can reach up and touch the stars
at night, search for glow worms and listen to the
rain on an iron roof. Your stay will really be
something to remember.
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Wilkin Valley
Siberia Valley
Young Valley
In appreciation of our natural environment
Makarora Tourist Centre endeavors to be Eco-
Friendly.
Our efforts include:
Recycle: When waste cannot be
prevented there are recycling receptacles
provided.
Reuse: We offer our guests the
option of minimizing the daily service of their
chalets.
Reduce: We use low energy light
bulbs and have dispensers for soaps and shampoos
to reduce waste. We endeavour to use 'green'
cleaning products where possible, and ask guests
to check that electrical equipment is switched
off before leaving.
Composting: Our food scraps are
not composted but go to feed the local farmers'
pigs.
Where we are
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