The 3555km2 Mount Aspiring National Park is a haven for native alpine plants and animals including the tiny threatened rock wren. The park is part of Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area and includes the remote Olivine Wilderness Area and the aptly named Red Hills, whose light orange tint stands out amid an otherwise grey mountain landscape. Lower down on its flat grassy areas contain a legacy of farming. Parts of New Zealand’s national parks are made up of areas that were previously leased by the government for pastoralism, but which through the tenure review process are being incorporated into the country’s protected areas. This scenario was the case for Mount Aspiring National Park, which is made up of both former and current farms. Small scale mining was also common before the park’s establishment with remnants of mining activity still visible around the park.