Backpack the Brewster Hut Track

Twenty kilometers north of Haast Pass (568m/1864ft) there is a carpark for Fantail Falls, a beautiful waterfall with numerous rock cairns displayed at its base. From here, take a 3-4 hour hike along Brewster Hut Track (more like climb) through beech forest and then alpine tussock to reach Brewster Hut (1450m/4757ft).

At the hut, you are rewarded with amazing views of the Aspiring Range to the west. In good weather, the sun can be seen setting over these mountains, a truly is amazing sight. To the north lies Mount Brewster and the Brewster Glacier - a 3km-long ice sheet cirque glacier that can be explored in good weather. During a clear sunset, the glacier will turn pink.

Because of the elevation and the geography of the mountains, this is a sunset photographer's dream location. It is not so good for sunrises, unless you want to summit Mount Armstrong very early!

Spend the night at Brewster Hut - a 12 bunk, insulated alpine hut with no heating (bring warm clothes)! There is drinkable water, but check with DOC or the visitor center first. Mattresses are provided, but bring a sleeping bag and pillow. The cost is $15/night, payable using backcountry hut tickets (available at the Makarora Visitor centre).

The next day, climb an additional 610m/2000ft to reach the summit of Mount Armstrong (2110m/6922ft, about two hours). From here there are 360 degree views of the Southern Alps. If you are up there at night, you can get perfect dark skies suitable for Milky Way photography or Aurora Hunting.

It is possible to pitch a tent between boulders near the summit in good weather, but you will have to be familiar with pitching a tent without soil, because there are only boulders at this elevation. It is also possible to take another 2-3 hour trip over the Mount Brewster, and, with appropriate alpine gear, access the Brewster Glacier.

As always, notify a friend or the Visitor Centre of your plans and be prepared for adverse weather - the weather changes very rapidly in the mountains.