Gertrude Saddle, Te Anau

One of New Zealand best day walks, yes a big climb so so rewards on a perfect day. 10km return. It is challenging. Take good shoes and read the signs. Took us 4.5 hours with three kids youngest 12.

Great hike and yes it is not easy. It is probably the hardest hike I have ever done and I hiked 500 miles across Oregon. I like the fact it is less marked than US hikes and there was a stream crossing. The cable going up was not needed on a dry day, but calmed the nerves to have near. The bore is “awesome” as seen by me and stated by a few others on the way down. I wished I would have brought another jacket as it was unexpectedly cold and windy.

One of my favorites day hikes in NZ. Although I wouldn't advise it to beginners (or with extra time & care), it is not as "extreme" or expert as the sign suggests. It is difficult, starting in a flat valley, then going straight up following orange poles, and then arriving on the rocky area for which the trail probably changes depending on the season, but can involve scrambling or walking in snow. Just be smart and don't use the "shorter trail people take were you have big blocks of ice about to detach and fall on you", and you'll be safe as long as you go at your pace.

Just back from Gertrude Saddle. Amazing hike, fantastic views. Snow in December so just shows you need to expect all conditions. We were with experienced climbers so very safe. Concerned about some others who looked ill prepared, set off late in worsening weather conditions. Such a beautiful valley and the view from the top is amazing.

A beautiful day hike to get an amazing view. You walk in the valley for around 30 minutes before you start your hike to the Saddle itself. This part can be challenging from time to time. At some steep points, ropes are fixed in the mountain to help. Half way point on the ascend is the lake. The last increase is a little tough but after that a gigantic outlook awaits you. If you are lucky there can be Kea´s around, even on the way up and in the valley. Take your time on the descent because it is quite exhausting for your knees. The Hike is absolutely not recommended if it rains and it is wet. A Doc member will sit in the parking lot to inform you about the upcoming weather conditions.