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Waikato
The Waikato (Maori for "water-flow") is a large basin housing the mighty Waikato river and the majority of the North Islands climbing development. The most notable area is the 'Wharepapa Region'[11874529] with many crags in close proximity. The climbing in this region is on sharp pockets in ingnmbrite, so tape is a worthwhile investment. Limestone is also present in the Waikato. 'The Airstrip' in 'Waitomo' is great for bouldering and 'Mangaokewa' just outside of Te Kuiti is steep sport climbing. |
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel is a vacation retreat for most of Auckland during the summer. It is also home to many of the north islands longer sport routes. |
Buck Rock
Fantastic crag with easy access from Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland. Good rock a mix of single and multipitch routes (up to 80m). Spectacular views over the Waikato and Kaimai Ranges. |
Coromandel Peninsula Buck Rock |
Main Cliff
The main cliff area with the most routes. The path leads up to 100 Bucks and Pass the Buck and the routes are both to the right and left. Some good link up options exist by mixing up belay points and different climbs. There is quite a bit of loose rock around so helmets and caution advised. The crag is steep so take care on accessing routes and belaying. |
Coromandel Peninsula Buck Rock Main Cliff |
15
Arete Route
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
17
★ Midnight Lichening
P1: Up the left face of the corner at the far left of the crag. To a small ledge. P2: Head left around a small arete, up through interesting climbing to a large ledge. Can be climbed as one long pitch, but be sure to minimise rope drag. Abseil down the line of Bolt Clinic or JAFA Cake. |
17
★★ Midnight Summer Dream
P1: As for Midnight Lichening. P2: From the anchor, step right and climb up the groove. Exciting moves before easing off for the middle section. Overhang to finish with fun, powerful moves (or move right for an easier variation). Shares an anchor with P2 of Bolt Clinic. P3: Trad with plenty of greenery. The first two pitches can be climbed as one, but be careful of rope drag. Decent: From top of P2, easiest to rap straight down the line of Bolt Clinic. |
16
Original Route
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
24
★ Bolt Clinic
P1: Start as for JAFA Cake, then move left at the 3rd bolt, up through the overhang (crux). Consider extending the next few bolts. P2: Shares an anchor with Midnight Summer Dream. |
18
★★ JAFA Cake
P1: Start in the corner and trend right up to a ledge P2: Continues up to another ledge. |
23
★★ Bung Light
P1: Starts a few meters right of JAFA Cake. The first half wanders from right to left and back again, mostly on crimps with a few jugs and side pulls. It then eases off for the last few bolts to the anchor. P2: Shares the last 3 bolts and anchor with JAFA Cake. |
19
★★ Demons of Bosh
P1: Start on the Rata covered ledge, moving leftwards. Sustained climbing that weaves left and right. Anchor is just to the left of a ledge (where the anchor of Power of Persuasion is located). P2: Up left through a groove, then heads to the right, crossing the line of Power of Persuasion (be careful to stay on the correct line) then up through a corner to the right of the small roof system. The anchor is just below the top of the crag. You can continue up and to the left to the anchor of Power of Persuasion and admire the fantastic 360° view from the top of the crag. |
22
★★ Power of Persuasion
P1: Starts up and to the left across the small cave. Up the face and to the belay ledge of Climba Sutra, then left up the arete. P2: Crosses the line of Demons of Bosh then up through the roof. Some big moves then easy climbing to the top of the crag. Anchor is on top of the rock, with great views. |
20
★★★ Climba Sutra
Probably the best route at the crag. Shares the start and first bolt with A Roof Too Far, then climbs diagonally up to the left. A few balancey moves at the top of the face get you to a rest before you take on the roof. A couple of big, fun moves gets you through the roof, a few more meters gets you to the anchor. Fantastic climbing. |
26
★★ A Roof Too Far
Shares the start with Climba Sutra. Straight up the face to the left side of the roof. You can clip the crux bolt from good sidepulls/underclings, then tackle the crux, moving right onto the small yellow face, then up on large pockets. After a few meters, the climbing eases off. Keep going up and right to the anchor. |
15
Pioneer Route
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
17
★ Buckle
Straight up the face to a ledge. Use this route to gain access to the following three routes. |
26
★★★ Under Pressure
From the belay of Buckle, move left and though the roof on pockets. If climbing from the ground, consider extending some draws to reduce rope drag. |
23
★★★ Third World Issues
From the belay of Buckle traverse left then up through the overhanging face. Easier climbing to the anchor. If climbing from the ground, consider extending some draws to reduce rope drag. |
23
Buck the Trend
P1: Climb Buckle. P2: Move left to the overhanging crack, follow it up to the right then pull over the lip. P3: Follow the crack system to the right of the belay, up to the right hand end of the roof. Up a crack and groove system, then left to a bolted belay. |
16
★ Age Concern
Up the groove then left to the anchor of Buckle. |
18
★ Age Concern (Extension)
Alternative finish to Age Concern. Traverses up and right to finish at Au Revoir's anchor. |
23
★ Bolt the Trend
Up Age Concern to the belay of Buckle, then continue up to the right hand end of the roof. Up and over the lip on to the ledge. |
19
★★ Au Revoir
Straight up the blunt arete. Move left near the top, then rightwards up the groove to the anchor. |
22
★★ Première
P1: Up the face. Some holds hard to find. Keep moving to avoid the pump. |
19
★★ Bring Back Buck
P1: Start on Première, then move right for the 2nd and 3rd bolts. Cross the ine of 100 Buck. Climb up a groove above the 4th bolt. P2: There are three routes continuing from this anchor. Take the middle one, up a red groove. |
23
★★ 100 Buck
P1: Starts right of Première. Crosses the line of Bring Back Buck. Crux at the top going straight up the overhanging face of the large horn feature. P2: Up the face. |
20
★★ Pass the Buck
P1: Climb the obvious groove to the left of the red arete. Holds can be tough to find and there's a real crux with some quality bridging. First anchor is shared with Red Line. P2: Head right to the first bolt (which is shared with Red Line), then follow the bolts up. Fun climbing. P3: A truly alpine experience, high and airy. You could bring some larger hexes (~10/11) or rockcentrics (~9) to prevent larger falls on the spaced bolts at the top. Watch for loose rocks! Decent: The climb tends to the right all the way up, so make sure you come back that way on descent or you end up hanging in mid air. |
21
★★ Red Line "n" it at Buck
P1: Fun climbing up the red streak on good holds. P2: Move right. Shares first bolt with P2 of Pass The Buck. Keep going right, then up the slightly overhanging face and up on to the ledge above to the anchor. For some bonus fun, link it into P2 of Bucking Fumblies by continuing on from the anchor up and right up the ramp. Then can do P3 of Bucking Fumblies for a fantastic view. |
21
★ Bucking Fumblies
P1: Up the face and trends right out to the arete. Up on to a ledge where you'll find an anchor. P2: Head straight up from the anchor before trending right for a 17 variant. Or go right from the anchor, then up the white face for the 21 variant. Optional belay where the two variants meet, otherwise keep going up and then right to the next ledge. P3: A bit runout and exposed in places, but fun climbing. Gets up nice and high for a fantastic view. Climbs up through a groove to a crazy thin oversized handle feature. Watch for loose rocks. |
Further Right
To access the following routes, go back down the access track to the old miners tunnel and follow a rough track up to the right. |
22
★★★ Big Stone
P1: Tough start, then easier climbing up through a groove. Gets more difficult again once you hit the headwall, then up to a big ledge. Belay your partner up then move left and over a wall to another ledge. P2: Wild. Up and to the left to a horn feature. Up a groove, then to the right |
Coromandel Peninsula Buck Rock |
Summit South East Wall
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
Coromandel Peninsula Buck Rock Summit South East Wall |
22
Wind Swept and Interesting
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
Coromandel Peninsula Buck Rock |
Summit Crag
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
Coromandel Peninsula Buck Rock Summit Crag |
21
★★ Instant Gratification
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
24
★★ Fight or Flight
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
19
★★ The Earl of Buckingham
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
16
Left Crack Route
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
16
Right Diagonal Crack Route
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
20
★ Renee
Clean your shoes and any dirty gear at the washing station to help prevent Kauri dieback. |
Coromandel Peninsula |
Hikuai Pinnacles
Large, steep pinnacles with long adventure routes in the second branch of the Tairua River, near Tairua Crag. |
Coromandel Peninsula Hikuai Pinnacles |
Hihi Pinnacle
The first large pinnacle that you come to from the climbers track. |
21
★ Faint of Heart
Climb the left had face, 5m left of Hikuai route. The 1st accent included a run in with a loose rock and a fainting episode 60m up!.
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20
★★ Hikuai Route
This route climbs the main steep face up the centre of Hihi Pinnacle. The first pitch starts up the steep face right of the prominent right facing corner.
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20
Hihi
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19
Drop Your Draws
Tricky access around back of Hihi Pinnacle. Put up as a Aid route to access the top of the pinnacle. The free climbed in 2020. |
22
★ Kaweka Challenge
Descend by abseiling down the route. If you have a 60m rope then abseil down to pitch 3 then pitch 2 belay and then from here to the ground. |
Kaweka Pinnacle
The large pinnacle that is reached via tyrolean traverse from near the top of Hihi Pinnacle. |
20
★★ Kaweka Tyrolean Route
Having climbed the Hikiuai or Hihi routes why not keep going by tyrolean-traversing across to the Kaweka pinnacle. The Hikuai to Kaweka climb is 9 pitches, probably some sort of record for the North Island and definitely the only one with a Tyrolean traverse in the middle.
Descent is 4 abseil back down the route. The last abseil is 50m to the ground. |
Tahi Pinnacle
The smaller pinnacle to the right of Hihi Pinnacle, with an obvious tyrolean traverse line joining them. |
21
Tahi
The smaller front pinnacle. From the base of Hihi scramble up the hill to a small platform at the base of the slab.
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21
★ Tahi, Rua
Tahi, Rua(21,Ty,18,21,16) 120m A Tyrolean traverse from the Tahi pinnacle across to the HiHi pinnacle.
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Coromandel Peninsula |
Karangahake Gorge
K Gorge is one of the North Islands most historic rock climbing areas, being developed mainly in the ‘70’s. Access is easy, there is a good variety of climbs of reasonable length and the swimming holes are superb. The jewel in the crown is China Wall with its long pitches on vertical rock. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge |
Pipeline Walls
The first climbs above the track you come to when following the Waitawheta River from the car park. Just around the big corner in the track is the start for Berkeley Square and Nightingale. Usually in the shade and close to water holes. Good for hot summer days. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge Pipeline Walls |
16 A1
Nightingale
This route routes breaks through the overhang above the pipeline at the last bend before the bridge. Aid the overhang using 2 bolts. Once a second overhang is reached climb directly up on good gear. Follow grooves and slabs by the easiest line until you can move left onto a ledge. This is shared with the top of the second pitch of Berkeley Square. |
14 A1
Berkeley Square
P1: Aid through same overhang as Nightingale, then move left for 7m under the big roof until a belay stance with a bolt and good wire. P2: Climb up and slightly right for 3m then move up and right on slab on top of the second overhang. Continue up groove on right and ledges to the top of Nightingale. Double bolt belay. P3: Climb out left to the rib and swing round onto slab. Climb the slab the slab to its highest point keeping to the cleanest rock. Double bolt belay. P4: Not generally climbed now but it is possible to climb further slabs up and right. Belay and descend from pine trees. |
24
★ Shadowlands
Climb the steep groove past 2 bolts and then the arête starting from the jug on the left. Climb mostly on the right of the arête from the jug past the next few bolts to where the climbing eases back to big holds. Follow your nose through the overhanging section to the belay ledge. Avoid trying to sneak around the first tricky section by grovelling up the dirty groove on the right as it is also loose (significantly easier, possibly grade 19 if the arete is avoided by climbing the groove). |
20
Ten Dollar Groove
Starts 20m left of the first 2 routes. It is an unpleasant dirty route starting at an obvious groove system with a hanging iron spike. Climb to the iron spike and continue in the groove, digging out gear placements as you go. Join Shadowlands belay ledge. Used to be aided past the spike (14/A1) and continued to the top of the cliff. May be harder than the grade depending on how dirty it is. |
16
Resolution
Starting upstream from the bridge, almost at water level on a blocky buttress. Climb 8m to loose ledges. Head up the groove above past a peg (crux) until you can step right onto the rib. Climb easy ground to the top. Descend back down bushy gully on the right until a sing abseil will reach the ground. This description is old and needs updating. |
14
Anteater
The obvious high-level rib overlooking the large pool upstream. It is past the old mine workings where the gorge narrows. Cross stream and head up through bush to the right of the rib. Step left for 3m until a small cave is reached. Climb out of the cave and follow a shallow corner past a peg until you can step right to easier ground. Descent via abseil. This description is old and needs updating. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge |
Steer Pike
Follow the main access track from the windows stairs. About halfway up to where the track branches to the shield and China wall, you will find a small track traversing right, marked by a hanging sign for the Skyline buttress. The track passes directly under the Steerpike buttress. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge Steer Pike |
16
Steerpike
Climbs the left hand end of the buttress. Climb crack up to small tree. Step right onto rib and continue onto face of buttress to a small ledge. Continue up rib to good belay ledge. May need to be rediscovered and cleaned. This description needs updating. |
Steerpike Direct
Starts at the base of the overhanging rib a few meters right of Steerpike. Climb the rib direct. May need to be rediscovered and cleaned. This description needs updating. |
13
Commencement Crack
This route is found above 'Steerpike'. Climb the left hand crack up through a notch at the top. May need to be rediscovered and cleaned. This description needs updating. |
Procrastination Slab
Found beside 'Commencement Crack', leads up the slab finishing at the same notch. May need to be rediscovered and cleaned. This description needs updating. |
15
Preface
A long rib climb set behind the Steer Pike, right of Shield and Back of Beyond. P1: Start left of rib, move onto rib and continue to foot of steep section. Climb onto small ledge then sloping ledge above, continue up through small groove to belay ledges. P2 starts after a short bush bash. P2: Bridge the groove and pull through the bulge (crux), move right on sloping ledges to steep broken section, finishing on good holds. May need to be rediscovered and cleaned. This description needs updating. |
16 A1
The Peeler
Climbs the steep wall across the gully from the China Wall. May need to be rediscovered and cleaned. This description needs updating. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge |
Skyline Buttress
A small track, marked with a hanging sign, traverses right about halfway up the main China Wall/Shield access track. If you reach the large, brown fixed line leading to the Shield, you have gone too far. Once you have located the track, follow it across, under the Steerpike buttress, up and along the base of the wall to the end. Directly above you should be the nice rock of the skyline buttress. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge Skyline Buttress |
13
★ Sam Gamgee
Climb the featured rock 2m left of the direct start to Mad Carew. Turn the overlap on the left and follow good holds on the slab to the rings. |
16
★ Mad Carew direct
2m left of the original Mad Carew start, climb directly to the hanging fang passing 2 bolts. Then as for Mad Carew. The recommended way to climb MC. |
16
Mad Carew
Starts 20m left of the other Skyline Buttress climbs. Climb into the scoop below and right of the hanging fang. Not much gear till the fang. Climb around to the left of the overhang and up the cracks to rings at the second ledge. A set of wires and cams to #4 is useful. |
19
★★ unknown sport route
Climb up the slab and into the right facing corner. Awaiting info to update the bolter and FA. |
19
★★ Minus Ithil
5m left of Shelob the route climbs up broken ground to the slab, up the slab and then follows the streak of light rock. |
16
Windfall
A bit winding and overgrown but still a fun outing that can be done in 2 or 3 pitches. Climb the left leaning corner for 10m before making a traverse left around a corner. There is an old rusty piton above to show the way up the wall to a belay (small trees) below the overhangs. Traverse right to the large ledge common with Shelob and then up from the left end of the ledge to the large sloping ledge and bolt belay. |
20
★★ The Green Dragon
Climb the first 10m of Windfall but carry on directly up at the first bolt on the face to the right of the shallow corner. Nice moves lead to the good ledge. Climb past 2 bolts through a steep section between Shelob and Windfall to the rings. |
16
★ Shelob
An excellent climb whether done in two pitches or one long one. Climb the right side of the initial face to a ledge. Good holds and a vague groove lead to a leftwards slanting crack with a piton near the top of it. Above this easy climbing leads to a small ledge on the rib with a bolt belay. Belay here or lead on. Step left and gain a large ledge via the corner. There are 2 bolts (replacing old pitons) that protect the corner and moves off the ledge. Climb directly above the far right end of the ledge to a good wire and easy climbing to the large sloping ledge above. There is a bolt belay at the back of the ledge. A third pitch is possible above this but is very short. |
18
★★ The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
Start as for Shelob to the ledge then step right and climb the groove and directly through a steeper bulge. Finish at the Shelob belay or continue to the top, climbing the arete. This 2nd pitch was bolted after originally being led on very sketchy gear in the 90's. |
14
Skyline Buttress
Climbs the skyline ridge by the easiest line commencing to the right of Shelob. Descent is by abseil. Now very overgrown and difficult to follow. |
14 A1
Redeye Rib
This climb may be lost to history Starts level with and across the gully from the pine tree at the top of Shelob. Pitch 1, 15m: Climb the rib for 3m to a groove on the right. Climb the groove, step left at the top and climb up to a tree belay on the right. Pitch 2, 20m: Move left 2m to an in situ peg. With its aid gain the steep rib on the left. An extra sling used on a spike on the rib has since been eliminated. Climb the pleasant exposed rib more easily to a tree belay. Descend by abseil. |
14
Sprog
The crack above the Skyline Buttress, prominent from the bridge. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge |
Red Wall
From the base of Shadowfax, traverse right along the fixed line to the end. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge Red Wall |
16
★★★ Bishop's Rib
From the Gambatagwa belay bolt continue on the ledge until you are left of the large triangular overhang. Climb up and slanting right, turning the overhang on the left. Follow the crack until a move right can be made to a small ledge. Bolted belay here. The second pitch needs cleaning... |
15
★ Flytrap
About 8m down and right of Bishop's Rib. [1] Up the V-groove with an obvious small tree in it (that's your protection). Step right to the rib then up to belay tree and ledge. [2] Climb the wall below the flake, then step right and up the rib to ledges and trees. |
16
Centaur
Begin betweem Flytrap and Mantrap then move left to the grooves betweem Flytrap and Bishop's Rib. [1]Up the wall to the left of the flake, then the V-groove above. Traverse left above the overhang to join the rib of Flytrap. [2] Left from the belay and up the groove on the left, left through a white streak past a very old peg. Out to the rib on the right and up an open-book corner and the wall above (crux). Move left into the top of Bishop's Rib. Descend down Bishop's Rib. |
16/17
Mantrap
Climb the flake and shallow groove past an old peg to a tree belay. Or climb the groove from the right. [2] Step right from the belay and climb the wall left of the nose to gain a small ledge. Move left and up to belay ledges. [3] Traverse right and up a bushy groove, move out onto the rib and climb it to a ledge and tree belay. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge |
China Wall
Most of the climbs on China wall are fantastic - long, exposed and with plenty of interesting climbing. |
Coromandel Peninsula Karangahake Gorge China Wall |
18
★ Ryobe
The left most route on the wall. Some technical moves for the grade past the first few bolts followed by easier climbing to the sloping ledge. |
18
★★ Chance for the chancers
2nd pitch to Ryobe or join both for a nice long pitch. Fantastic climbing up the steep face with regular rest possibilities. |
22
Wind Tunnel
Gain the start of the route by abseiling from the Shadowfax belay down the wall below or from Ryobe scramble diagonally down the bushy ledge. Climb the upward slanting weakness. Sustained. Ends at the belay for Shadowfax. |
15
Grendel
This climb may be lost to history Climbs the wall left of the 1st pitch of the China Wall Climb, and finishes up the steep wall left of its 2nd pitch. Pitch 1, 25m: Start from the gully between China Wall and The Peeler. Climb the gully for l0m to a ponga tree from which a traverse can be made horizontally right to join the ramp of China Wall. Belay near the top of the ramp, where a traverse line can be seen leading diagonally right. Pitch 2, 25m: Traverse diagonally right to a peg in situ (as for China Wall). Then trend left to a large spike runner. Continue up the steep wall, moving right to a crack then back left to finish at the high point of the wall. Descend by a 45m abseil or by track round to the Back of Beyond. |
16
★★★ China Wall Climb
This used to climb the crack as for Shadowfax first pitch and continue up ledges for 2 further pitches to the top. |
21
Gelati Time Special
Climb past piton to good crack. The crack leads to ledge with bolts and old pitons. |
20
★ Pokinatcha
Scramble up as for shadowfax to where that climb traverses right. Clip the bolt and climb on small holds directly to the break above (crux). Continue on good holds and interesting rock to the belay ledge and bolts. |
18
★★ Shadowfax
P1.(15) From the ledge scramble to the twin cracks to the left. Climb the left-hand crack to the good ledge and rings. P2.(18) From the belay ledge, climb and scramble up and establish yourself on the wall to the left of the obvious piton. Traverse right to good holds and then up into the horizontal break. There was a piton here that has since rusted out but a large cam in an obvious slot does the trick. Get some good pro in the thinner crack above before launching out of the break and up the wall above, using the crack and holds either side. Follow the crack/seam to the good belay ledge and a double bolt belay. P3.(12) From the belay go right along the ledge and climb the left side of the arete. Rings are below the pinnacle top, directly above the 2nd pitch belay. |
23
★★★ Rebels and Outcasts
Originally climbed from the top of the first pitch of 'Shadowfax' but best done as a long pitch using what was known as 'The Twist' as a direct start. Joins the Shiny Goblins belay. A great route with a lot of climbing and a couple of technical cruxes. |
21
★★ The Twist
Originally done as a first pitch to 'Rebels and Outcasts', climbers now always join both in a long pitch and the two together are known as 'Rebels and Outcasts' |
19
★★ That Summer
Used to be called 'Red Wall Super Direct' until being freed of its aid point. Is the best start to 'Shiny Goblins'. |
22
★★★ Shiny Goblins
One of the North Islands best 22's. Do it as one pitch with 'That summer'(need a 70m rope). Nearing the top of the cliff carry on up the corner (medium cams/large wires) for the original finish or step left (bolt) and climb the arête for a fully sport route. |
21
★ Gambatagwa
Starts below and right of 'That Summer/Shiny Goblins'. Originally climbed as 2 pitches, the numerous old pitons were replaced by bolts in 2021 and now generally done in 1 long pitch. At the ledge below Shiny Goblins is a single bolt to protect the belayer. From here climb easily up the slab with a mixture of bolts and trad gear. Get into the groove above and protect the crux with good small gear. Continue up the groove until it blanks out where a move left onto a ledge shared with 'Shiny Goblins' can be made. Go staight up the short arete and to the belay rings on the right. |