Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 899 ft 274 m
GPS: -43.8979, 171.2988
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 386,193 total · 1,781/month
Shared By: Guy H. on Jan 30, 2007 · Updates
Admins: Mauricio Herrera Cuadra, Muscrat

Description Suggest change

The south island has a wide range of climbing opportunities from bouldering on the east coast, sport cragging in the north and on the west coast, and alpine experiences in the mountain range along the western coast. There are loads of other non-climbing activities to plan around your visits to the spread out crags. Make sure your check out the fly fishing, sea kayaking, and trekking while you are in the country.

Make sure you pickup a copy of "South Island ROCK" by Lindsay Main and Tim Wethey. This was the best reference for the whole island that I found. There are also a number of smaller guide books out there for individual crags.

Getting There Suggest change

There are many short flights from the the northern island to the major cities in the south.

714 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: South Island Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at South Island

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V3 6A
 7
lung arete
Boulder
V4 6B
 12
Beautiful Edges
Boulder
V5 6C
 8
Acid Test
Boulder
V6+ 7A
 6
The Unrepeatable
Boulder
V7 7A+
 8
Tuppimaster
Boulder
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Mod. Snow
 8
Northwest Ridge
Trad, Snow, Alpine
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 6
The Grand Traverse of the Remark…
Trad, Alpine
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 19
The Mission
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 25
Temples of Stone
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 6
Shortcut to Exposure
Sport 2 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 18
Headbanger's Arete
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 6
Hotline
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 15
Dream Thing
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 14
1080 and the Letter G
Sport
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 11
Rawhide
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
lung arete Canterbury > Castle Hill > Quantum Field
 7
V3 6A Boulder
Beautiful Edges Canterbury > Castle Hill > Spittle Hill
 12
V4 6B Boulder
Acid Test Nelson-Tasman > Paynes Ford > First Watering Hole
 8
V5 6C Boulder
The Unrepeatable Canterbury > Castle Hill > Quantum Field
 6
V6+ 7A Boulder
Tuppimaster Canterbury > Castle Hill > Spittle Hill
 8
V7 7A+ Boulder
Northwest Ridge Otago > Mt Aspiring NP > Mt Aspiring
 8
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Mod. Snow Trad, Snow, Alpine
The Grand Traverse of the R… Otago > … > Lake Alta > Grand Traverse
 6
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad, Alpine
The Mission Otago > … > Wye Creek > Main Wall
 19
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
Temples of Stone Nelson-Tasman > Paynes Ford > Track 2
 25
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Shortcut to Exposure Otago > Wanaka > Rdside Area
 6
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport 2 pitches
Headbanger's Arete Otago > Wanaka > Main Cliff
 18
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Hotline Otago > … > Diamond Lake > Hotline Corner
 6
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Dream Thing Otago > … > Wye Creek > Main Wall
 15
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
1080 and the Letter G Nelson-Tasman > Paynes Ford > Track 6
 14
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
Rawhide Nelson-Tasman > Paynes Ford > Track 1
 11
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Sport
More Classic Climbs in South Island »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading