Rees and Dart Tracks
{{Short description|Hiking trails in South Island, New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
|name = Rees and Dart Tracks
|photo = Rees Track, Otago, New Zealand.jpg
|photo_size = 230px
|caption = Rees Track
|location = Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
|designation =
|trailheads = Chinamans Bluff, Muddy Creek carpark
|use = Tramping, trail running
|elev_change =
|highest = Rees Saddle
|highest_m = 1471
|lowest_name = Chinamans Bluff carpark
|difficulty = medium
|season = Spring to Autumn (open all year)
|months = late October to mid April
|sights = Alpine views, lakes, forests, tussocklands, rivers
|hazards = Hypothermia, high winds, rocks, roots, snow, rain, avalanche
|surface = dirt, rock, roots
|website = {{url|https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/mount-aspiring-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/rees-dart-track}}
}}
The Rees and Dart Tracks form a tramping (hiking) {{convert|63|km}} circuit which is located in the South Island of New Zealand. The trailheads are far apart requiring transport planning in order to tramp or run the track. The track allows access to the Cascade Saddle Track{{cite web |title=Rees Dart Track, Mt Aspiring National Park |url=https://tramping.net.nz/routes/rees-dart-track-mt-aspiring-national-park |website=tramping.net.nz |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-date=4 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104081334/https://tramping.net.nz/routes/rees-dart-track-mt-aspiring-national-park |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Fuchs |first1=Don |title=Rees-Dart Track, NZ |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/australian-geographic-adventure/adventure/2016/07/rees-dart-track-nz/ |access-date=4 January 2024 |work=Australian Geographic |date=4 July 2016 |archive-date=4 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104084743/https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/australian-geographic-adventure/adventure/2016/07/rees-dart-track-nz/ |url-status=live }} in which one can see the Dart Glacier and allows access to the Matukituki Valley.
Access to the Dart Track is via the Chinamans Bluff carpark and which is near the Dart River while access to the Rees Track is via the Muddy Creek carpark near the Rees River.
File:Rees River with section of Rees Track.jpg
File:Nestor notabilis -Rees-Dart Track, New Zealand-8 (1).jpg
History
In 2014 a large slip blocked the Dart River and caused a large lake to form. Many sections of the track were destroyed or underwater.{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Che |title=New lake blocks Dart River track |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/9581857/New-lake-blocks-Dart-River-track |publisher=Stuff |access-date=6 January 2024 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106054935/https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/9581857/New-lake-blocks-Dart-River-track |url-status=live }}
In 2017 after three years a new section of the Dart Track was opened that was higher up than the original.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Meghan |title=Dart Track reopens after three-year closure |date=March 2017 |url=https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/dart-track-reopens-three-year-closure/ |publisher=Wilderness Magazine |access-date=6 January 2024 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526024930/https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/dart-track-reopens-three-year-closure/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Rees-Dart Track}}
- [https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/mount-aspiring-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/rees-dart-track/ Doc Rees-Dart Track]
{{Mount Aspiring National Park}}
Category:Hiking and tramping tracks in Otago
Category:Mount Aspiring National Park
{{Otago-geo-stub}}