Aspiring Guides

11/12/2024

A trip for the books 💥 Three weeks and some great weather windows made for an exceptionally successful trip to NZ. Thanks for joining us Jake, it's going to be hard to top this one!

✔️ 5 Day Mountaineering Skills Course
✔️ Single Cone
✔️ Mt.Aspiring Ascent
✔️ Rock Climbing in Hospital Flat
✔️ Mutli-pitch climbing in Kingston
✔️ Remarkables Grand Traverse + camp at Lake Alta
✔️Climb of Grand Couloir

Big thanks to Sooji Clarkson for delivering an unforgettable trip.

10/12/2024

A few moments to highlight from our recent Lake Nerine trip. This is by far one of our team's favourite trekking trips to deliver. This epic 4 day journey is New Zealand backpacking at it's finest as you venture over various mountain passes and enjoy some of the most remote parts of NZ.

Guide: Grace Flemming

06/12/2024

Come and experience the beauty of the Matukituki Valley and one of New Zealand's most unique hidden gems. We are thrilled to expand one of our most highly favoured winter trips to now include summer day and multi-day trips at Whare Kea Chalet. Tailored to your experience level and desires for your visit, this is an experience to not be missed 🥂

Join our our guides for the ultimate fusion of alpine adventure and luxury in New Zealand’s backcountry.

26/11/2024

We are thrilled to congratulate James and Andrea Bruni on their successful summit of Aoraki Mt. Cook last week!

With 4 previous attempts over the years, Aoraki had proven to be James' "kryptonite" due to the especially challenging weather conditions this mountain yields. With some persistence and conditions finally aligning, fifth time was the charm.

A big one for many, Aoraki was part of an even bigger project for James as he works to climb the highest peak in every country. This summit brings him around 110 successful summits!

Amazing work team 💪

21/11/2024

One of our favourites... Towering peaks, rushing waterfalls, lush beech forests and tranquil valleys. Come experience this incredible setting with us this summer on our 4 Day Gillespie Pass trip.

https://www.aspiringguides.com/trips/4daygillespiepass

12/11/2024

Some great shots captured by Andy Cole on last week's 5 day course at Plateau Hut. Our Mountaineering Skills Courses are officially off and running for the summer season and course availability is filling:

⛏ December 4th-8th: 2 spaces
⛏ December 11th-15th: FULL
⛏ December 18th-22nd: 2 spaces
⛏January 3rd-7th: FULL
⛏January 8th-12th: FULL
⛏January 15th-19th: 3 spaces
⛏January 17th-21st: FULL
⛏February 5th-9th: 3 spaces
⛏February 21st-25th: 4 spaces
⛏March 14th-17th: 2 spaces

For details and to book visit:
https://www.aspiringguides.com/trips/5dayintermediatemountaineeringskillscourse

08/11/2024

One of the best parts of our guided treks? The food! 🍲✨

At Aspiring Guides, we believe every meal should be as memorable as the landscapes. Each season, we stock the huts with fresh ingredients, so your packs stay light and your meals stay top-notch.

Photos:

08/11/2024

Andrea and Philip enjoying perfect conditions on the Grand Traverse and a day of climbing in Wānaka this week in preparation for next week's Mt.Aspiring. Ascent season is on! 🏔

31/10/2024

New Zealand's Great Walks are iconic, drawing adventurers from around the globe to explore their well-worn trails. However, beyond these popular routes lies a world of raw beauty and remote wilderness waiting to be discovered. Learn more about some of our favourite "off-the-beaten-track" trekking trips for this summer...

New Zealand's Great Walks are iconic, drawing adventurers from around the globe to explore their well-worn trails. However, beyond these popular routes lies a world of raw beauty and remote wilderness waiting to be discovered. Learn more about some of our favourite "off-the-beaten-track" trekking tr...

31/10/2024

And just like that our climbing season has commenced! We had a great guide's training yesterday as we ran rescue scenarios and prepped the team for a busy summer ahead. Our team also had the pleasure of learning from Darren Rewi of Tāke Tuia as he provided cultural capability training with our team and shared the deep Māori history and stories of our region.

18/10/2024

We couldn't be more excited to kick off ascent season in just a few weeks. Come join us for one of our favourite 3,000 metre ascents, Tititea/ Mt.Aspiring. With a range of routes available, this is the perfect peak if you are looking to expand your mountaineering skillset. Learn more about this iconic ascent: https://www.aspiringguides.com/trips/tititeamountaspiringascent

10/10/2024

+ exploring new corners of their homeland recently.
The glaciers are in fine form this season folks, come and get amongst!

09/10/2024

By far one of our favourite highlights from this winter season. This September, we had the pleasure of bringing to life our Spring Basecamp event, an exciting collaboration with The North Face - Australia & New Zealand and b.effect brewing company designed for strong intermediate - advanced skiers and snowboarders. The event aimed to help participants level up their backcountry knowledge with hands-on workshops led by our expert guides. Read the full trip report on our blog:

This September, we had the pleasure of bringing to life our Spring Basecamp event, an exciting collaboration with The North Face and B.Effect Brewing Co. Designed for strong, adventurous skiers and snowboarders, the event aimed to help participants level up their backcountry knowledge with hands-on,...

06/10/2024

Dates for our most popular summer course are now OPEN. Join us on our 5 day Mountaineering Skills Course and learn from the best in NZ's most iconic glaciated terrain.

⛏ November 7th-11th - 1 space left
⛏ November 19th-23rd - Sold out
⛏ December 11th-15th - Open
⛏ December 27th-31st - Open
⛏ January 3rd-7th - 1 space left
⛏ January 15th-19th - Open
⛏ February 5th-9th - Open
⛏ February 21st-25th - Open
⛏ March 14th-18th - 3 spaces left

To learn more and book your course, visit our website:

Mountaineering is more than just a course at Aspiring Guides—it's our heritage. With unmatched experience scaling Mount Aspiring, we offer courses that are deeply rooted in our local knowledge and passion for the peaks. Our courses are designed to help you harness the skills that have guided count...

29/09/2024

An awesome weekend at Kelman Hut with Cillian. Great coverage and access on the Tasman. With some spooky snowpack still around, this crew enjoyed a ski down Turnbull glacier, some ice climbing in canyon lands and a jaunt up the west ridge of Hotchstetter Dome!

Guide:

17/09/2024

A satisfactory before and after photo from Saturday's Black Peak Basecamp event to sum it all up! Our Basecamp turned into two day camps due to weather, but boy did this crew ski their brains out and make the most of these amazing snow conditions!

Thank you to our event partners The North Face - Australia & New Zealand, .effectbrewing and Aspiring Helicopters for making it possible!

Photos: .j.wells

12/09/2024

Yesterday’s snowshoe clients basking in the fresh mountain air in the Pisa’s between these kooky storm cycles!

Guide:

10/09/2024

After another healthy top-up of snow this week we are stoking to kick into our glacier trips next week ⛏️

The last few storms have delivered 3-4 meters of snow into the Tasman setting things up beautifully for our spring season. Come experience this epic terrain for the first time or even climb and ski one of NZ’s classic 3,000 meter peaks with us!

Mouth-watering photo of the Murchison Glacier recently compliments of