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The Siberia Experience in the Mount Aspiring National Park back to stories

Published: December 22, 2010

The Siberia Experience is a scenic flight, followed by a landing in the Siberia Valley, a walk through native bush to the Wilkin Valley and a jet boat adventure of 45 minutes returning you to Makarora.

Flying with a Cessna is the ultimate way of flying. You feel and see everything. One moment you fly above the tops of the Alps of the Mount Aspiring National Park and the next moment alongside the snow-capped higher parts of the mountains. After a short half hour flight the pilot makes a safe and comfortable landing and we are standing in the Siberia Valley, where we are shown a safe place to cross the Siberia River. The water is about 3 to 4 degrees above Celsius and the place the pilot took us the river is wide, because only there the flow of the water is slower and you can stay on your feet.

After a few minutes the Cessna takes off and leaves the valley with a lot of noise due to the surrounding mountains. A few minutes later I arrive in native bush and the climb begins. The valley disappears and I am surrounded with bush while the track goes up the mountain with many curves. After 1.5 hours of climbing I look at the Siberia Valley for the last time with its landings strip and I see a helicopter bringing more walkers. After 2 hours of walking and climbing I arrive at the highest point of the track and the descent to where the Wilkin Valley begins. It is a very steep descent and within minutes my knees are protesting. Every few minutes I stop and give my knees a little rest by turning around and standing with my feet facing up the mountain. After 1 hour and 15 minutes I’m down in the Wilkin Valley and from that point it takes about 10 minutes to get to the Wilkin River and arrive at the spot where the jet boat is coming to get us.

The jet boat driver is following the Wilkin River at high speed, about 70 kilometres per hour and does the expected thrills like 360 degree turns at full speed. Every now and then the driver makes a short stop and tells about the river and the mountains surrounding us. After about 35 minutes we arrive in the neighbourhood of Makarora.

From far away the Cessna goes into a diving flight and with full throttle he flies over the boat at about 7 – 10 metres. It is a real thrill. Ten minutes later we arrive at the landing place about 150 metres from the airstrip where we started this morning. A van is waiting for us and after we climbed out of the jet boat we stepped into it and are drivenback to the Visitors Centre where the Siberia Experience ended.

A wonderful day with lots of adventure and pure nature.