Hiking to Corner Peak, New Zealand

In October 2024 we made a day trip to Corner Peak. The last section of this hike is an unmarked route along ridges and exposed terrain to the top of Corner Peak. At the top you have a full 360 degree view of Wanaka, Lake Hawea and the mountains of Mt Aspiring National Park.

Michael Beckmann

Hike

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Instagram Story Highlights and Behind The Scenes

Start / Finish This out-and-back hike begins and ends at the Timaru Creek Car Park.

Season We did this hike in October 2024, which is early spring in New Zealand. Conditions can vary greatly from day to day at this time of year. When we went, most of the snow had melted, but just a week later, a fresh snowfall blanketed the entire peak.

Maps / Info For up-to-date trail conditions and avalanche information, consult the Tititea / Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre. You can also check the snow cover on Corner Peak by viewing it from Wanaka.

Campsites / Huts There are no huts along this route. If you wish to make it an overnight trip, you can camp on the saddle just below Corner Peak.

Water There are no water sources along the entire track, so you’ll need to carry all the water you’ll need from the start. The route is also mostly exposed, so on a warm summer day, be sure to bring plenty of water.

Route / Conditions

Marked route leads up to just below Point 1371. From there, the track is unmarked, but if there’s no snow cover, a visible trail should guide you onward.

It’s important to note that you’ll sidle along the left side of Point 1371 rather than going over it, which can be confusing—especially as you'll need to cross a farmer's fence at this point. Similarly, you won’t cross Point 1528; instead, you’ll sidle along its right side until you reach the saddle just below Corner Peak.

Hike

Day 1

As usual, we set out early in the morning from Wanaka, driving to the trailhead to start our hike. Our route began on the Timaru High River Track before branching onto the Corner Peak Route, which features the steepest ascent of the day right at the start.

Once we reached the ridgeline, the track became a series of undulating ridges and sidling sections. The route is very exposed, offering fantastic panoramic views, though it does demand extra caution in poor weather or strong sun. Unlike the popular Roy's Peak Track, this hike is considerably more challenging.

We enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the summit before making our way back down—a perfect day trip from Wanaka.