A listing based on
topographical merit
Mountains are the beginning and
end of all natural scenery
John Ruskin 1819-1900
Introduction
“How many mountains are there in New Zealand?” is a question to
which there will never be a definitive answer, but it is hoped that these
listings stimulate conversation and debate, and suggest more than a few
challenges for those willing to take them up.
The listings in these pages set out all those ‘mountains’ in New Zealand
that meet two simple tests: firstly, that they reach an altitude of 1400
metres or more; and secondly, that they are at least 300 metres above
the lowest saddle between them and the adjacent ‘mountain’. The first
test was selected as the lowest rounded amount that would exclude all
peaks that do not extend above the bush line. In the event two peaks in
the Raukumara Range defy this assumption.
The second test was chosen to ensure that the mountains included are
commandingly higher than their environs and are clearly separate
mountains and not subsidiary peaks. 300 metres of re-ascent is a
demanding test in this regard.
The result is a list of 856 mountains: more than a life time’s challenge
for anybody! 35 of these are in the North Island and 821 in the South
Island.
Of course, any listing that identifies mountains formulaically (or any
other way for that matter) will carry a certain arbitrariness. This one is
no exception, and leaves out a number of mountains that might make a
claim for consideration. Some of these are:
• A number of rugged peaks of south and west Fiordland where the
heights fall below 1400 metres.
• Several very long ridges where there is insufficient undulation to
provide 300 metres of re-ascent leading to situations where the
adjacent mountains are 20 km apart or more. Examples include
the Two Thumb Range, east of the Macaulay river and the bounds
of the Dobson river.
• Numerous peaks that are either very beautiful, or provide fine
climbs, or a varied challenge. The 100 Peaks Challenge prepared by
the New Zealand Alpine Club’s Otago section to mark the Club’s
centenary in 1991 is the premier listing in this regard. It is
published in the Nov/Dec 1990 NZAC Bulletin.
Challenges There are some to whom any list is a challenge! What might those
looking for a challenge take on from this one?
Most of the mountains are difficult and remote. Allowing time for
weather, seasons, but not the need to make a living, a concerted
attempt on them will probably take a decade or three of continuous
climbing! Here are some more plausible but still challenging
suggestions:
The Big Target The 71 at 2500 metres and over
The Tramper’s Century Any 100
The Grand Tour 97 being any one from each of the map
sheets
The Local Blitz All the mountains in your local or
favourite National Park. Neighbours of
Fiordland and Aspiring could reasonably
settle for the highest or any 50.
Clusters and Undoubtedly the most jagged area is northern and central Fiordland,
Outliers with the Eglington map (Sheet D41) having the most peaks, followed
by its neighbours George (C42) and Milford (D40). The next most
fertile area for finding peaks is the area to the west of the Haast Pass,
particularly the bounds of the upper Wilkin and Young rivers.
In both of these areas, traversing between peaks is generally very
difficult. The most promising area for rapid peak bagging is the Mt
Owen plateau in Kahurangi, where four peaks are in easy distance of
Granity Pass Hut.
The closest pairs are:
• Mt Action and Mt Victor 1.06 km apart in Mt Aspiring National
Park, separated by The Gateway
• Leary Peak and Mt Earnslaw 1.12 km apart in Mt Aspiring
National Park, separated by Wright Col (and the closest of those
pairs over 2500 metres)
• Mt Williams and Mt Percy Smith 1.47 km apart on the Main
Divide near the head of the Hopkins Valley
• .1552 and .1480 in 1.47 apart in Skippers Range above Lake
McKerrow in Fiordland National Park
• Mt Pollux and Mt Castor 1.50 km apart in Mt Aspiring
National Park
• .1577 and Mt Soaker West 1.62 km apart to the east of Doubtful
Sound in Fiordland National Park.
Malte Brun and Mt Hamilton in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park are
the closest pair among those above 2600 metres. They are 2.2 km
apart and are in fact both over 3000 metres. Above 3100m the closest
pair is Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
Of all the mountains listed, the most isolated from its neighbours is
Summit Rock in the Rock and Pillar Range 46 kms from its neighbour
Mt Pisgah in the Danseys Pass area. The next most is .1435 an northwestern
outlier of the Ruahines which is 28 km from Rongotea in the
same range.
Taking mountains above altitude thresholds increasing in 100 metre
bands, others notably remote from their neighbours of similar height
are Mt Egmont, and Mt Murchison in Arthur’s Pass National Park. Mt
Aspiring is very isolated from the other 3000 metre peaks.
Technical Notes
Mapping All data is based on Land Information New Zealand Series 260
1:50,000 scale mapping.
Heights For all mountains identified, spot heights are available and these are
the heights given. All heights are in metres.
Saddles In most cases, spot heights for saddles are not available, and saddle
height could only be identified as falling in a 20 metre contour interval.
In 35 cases, there is resulting uncertainty as to whether peaks meet the
300 metres of re-ascent criteria. These peaks have been included in the
tables, but identified as such. They have been given full status in
determining rankings.
Alternates In nine cases two adjacent peaks with a ‘non-qualifying’ saddle
between them have identical spot heights. In these cases, both are
shown in the tables, but the pair only count once for ranking purposes.
Names Where available, mountain names have been taken from the LINZ
mapping exactly as listed. A large portion of the mountains are only
identified by spot heights. In a number of these cases, mountains are
near or adjacent to named peaks. Where appropriate these names have
been used with embellishments ‘…NW Peak’, ‘South…’ etc. In a
handful of cases the names used have been derived from other nearby
geographic features such as ridges. In no case have truly original names
been used. In all cases where the name is not exactly as listed on the
LINZ mapping, this has been identified in the tables, and may need to
be taken into account when locating the peak on the map.
Grid References Grid references were taken from the map using a roamer and have been
rounded to the nearest multiple of 100 metres. Amounts up to and including
50 metres have been rounded down. In some cases amounts up to and
including 950 metres and a bit more have been rounded down to 900 metres
to keep them in the ‘right’ grid square.
Map Sheets The 260 series mapping divides the country into 30 km by 40 km squares,
each with a reference of the form eg M26. This is the reference that has been
used in the underlying data base - not the name of any oversized sheet.
Tables B and D are organised by reference, but the name of the parent
oversized sheet has been borrowed for the sheet name where applicable.
Ranges Although in many cases, range names are given on the map sheets, the extent
of the area to which the name applies is not clear. Where there is any
ambiguity, a conservative approach has been taken and the range name not
used. Anyone trying to rationalise range names has to contend with such
perplexities as Mt Somers being near, but clearly not on, the Mt Somers
range.
Verification It is inevitable in a project of this nature that the listings will contain errors. The
database has been verified by electronically superimposing the names, height
and location of all peaks over a geo-referenced scanned set of the 260 sheets.
This should give a good degree of confidence that the data included is
accurate. There is greater difficulty in verifying that all mountains meeting
the criteria have been identified. Please send any corrections or amendments
to mountainlisting@alpineclub.org.nz.
National Park The inclusion of peaks within or on National Park boundaries has been
Boundaries determined using the most recently available 273 series Parkmap.
Where they lie…
topographical merit
Mountains are the beginning and
end of all natural scenery
John Ruskin 1819-1900
Introduction
“How many mountains are there in New Zealand?” is a question to
which there will never be a definitive answer, but it is hoped that these
listings stimulate conversation and debate, and suggest more than a few
challenges for those willing to take them up.
The listings in these pages set out all those ‘mountains’ in New Zealand
that meet two simple tests: firstly, that they reach an altitude of 1400
metres or more; and secondly, that they are at least 300 metres above
the lowest saddle between them and the adjacent ‘mountain’. The first
test was selected as the lowest rounded amount that would exclude all
peaks that do not extend above the bush line. In the event two peaks in
the Raukumara Range defy this assumption.
The second test was chosen to ensure that the mountains included are
commandingly higher than their environs and are clearly separate
mountains and not subsidiary peaks. 300 metres of re-ascent is a
demanding test in this regard.
The result is a list of 856 mountains: more than a life time’s challenge
for anybody! 35 of these are in the North Island and 821 in the South
Island.
Of course, any listing that identifies mountains formulaically (or any
other way for that matter) will carry a certain arbitrariness. This one is
no exception, and leaves out a number of mountains that might make a
claim for consideration. Some of these are:
• A number of rugged peaks of south and west Fiordland where the
heights fall below 1400 metres.
• Several very long ridges where there is insufficient undulation to
provide 300 metres of re-ascent leading to situations where the
adjacent mountains are 20 km apart or more. Examples include
the Two Thumb Range, east of the Macaulay river and the bounds
of the Dobson river.
• Numerous peaks that are either very beautiful, or provide fine
climbs, or a varied challenge. The 100 Peaks Challenge prepared by
the New Zealand Alpine Club’s Otago section to mark the Club’s
centenary in 1991 is the premier listing in this regard. It is
published in the Nov/Dec 1990 NZAC Bulletin.
Challenges There are some to whom any list is a challenge! What might those
looking for a challenge take on from this one?
Most of the mountains are difficult and remote. Allowing time for
weather, seasons, but not the need to make a living, a concerted
attempt on them will probably take a decade or three of continuous
climbing! Here are some more plausible but still challenging
suggestions:
The Big Target The 71 at 2500 metres and over
The Tramper’s Century Any 100
The Grand Tour 97 being any one from each of the map
sheets
The Local Blitz All the mountains in your local or
favourite National Park. Neighbours of
Fiordland and Aspiring could reasonably
settle for the highest or any 50.
Clusters and Undoubtedly the most jagged area is northern and central Fiordland,
Outliers with the Eglington map (Sheet D41) having the most peaks, followed
by its neighbours George (C42) and Milford (D40). The next most
fertile area for finding peaks is the area to the west of the Haast Pass,
particularly the bounds of the upper Wilkin and Young rivers.
In both of these areas, traversing between peaks is generally very
difficult. The most promising area for rapid peak bagging is the Mt
Owen plateau in Kahurangi, where four peaks are in easy distance of
Granity Pass Hut.
The closest pairs are:
• Mt Action and Mt Victor 1.06 km apart in Mt Aspiring National
Park, separated by The Gateway
• Leary Peak and Mt Earnslaw 1.12 km apart in Mt Aspiring
National Park, separated by Wright Col (and the closest of those
pairs over 2500 metres)
• Mt Williams and Mt Percy Smith 1.47 km apart on the Main
Divide near the head of the Hopkins Valley
• .1552 and .1480 in 1.47 apart in Skippers Range above Lake
McKerrow in Fiordland National Park
• Mt Pollux and Mt Castor 1.50 km apart in Mt Aspiring
National Park
• .1577 and Mt Soaker West 1.62 km apart to the east of Doubtful
Sound in Fiordland National Park.
Malte Brun and Mt Hamilton in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park are
the closest pair among those above 2600 metres. They are 2.2 km
apart and are in fact both over 3000 metres. Above 3100m the closest
pair is Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
Of all the mountains listed, the most isolated from its neighbours is
Summit Rock in the Rock and Pillar Range 46 kms from its neighbour
Mt Pisgah in the Danseys Pass area. The next most is .1435 an northwestern
outlier of the Ruahines which is 28 km from Rongotea in the
same range.
Taking mountains above altitude thresholds increasing in 100 metre
bands, others notably remote from their neighbours of similar height
are Mt Egmont, and Mt Murchison in Arthur’s Pass National Park. Mt
Aspiring is very isolated from the other 3000 metre peaks.
Technical Notes
Mapping All data is based on Land Information New Zealand Series 260
1:50,000 scale mapping.
Heights For all mountains identified, spot heights are available and these are
the heights given. All heights are in metres.
Saddles In most cases, spot heights for saddles are not available, and saddle
height could only be identified as falling in a 20 metre contour interval.
In 35 cases, there is resulting uncertainty as to whether peaks meet the
300 metres of re-ascent criteria. These peaks have been included in the
tables, but identified as such. They have been given full status in
determining rankings.
Alternates In nine cases two adjacent peaks with a ‘non-qualifying’ saddle
between them have identical spot heights. In these cases, both are
shown in the tables, but the pair only count once for ranking purposes.
Names Where available, mountain names have been taken from the LINZ
mapping exactly as listed. A large portion of the mountains are only
identified by spot heights. In a number of these cases, mountains are
near or adjacent to named peaks. Where appropriate these names have
been used with embellishments ‘…NW Peak’, ‘South…’ etc. In a
handful of cases the names used have been derived from other nearby
geographic features such as ridges. In no case have truly original names
been used. In all cases where the name is not exactly as listed on the
LINZ mapping, this has been identified in the tables, and may need to
be taken into account when locating the peak on the map.
Grid References Grid references were taken from the map using a roamer and have been
rounded to the nearest multiple of 100 metres. Amounts up to and including
50 metres have been rounded down. In some cases amounts up to and
including 950 metres and a bit more have been rounded down to 900 metres
to keep them in the ‘right’ grid square.
Map Sheets The 260 series mapping divides the country into 30 km by 40 km squares,
each with a reference of the form eg M26. This is the reference that has been
used in the underlying data base - not the name of any oversized sheet.
Tables B and D are organised by reference, but the name of the parent
oversized sheet has been borrowed for the sheet name where applicable.
Ranges Although in many cases, range names are given on the map sheets, the extent
of the area to which the name applies is not clear. Where there is any
ambiguity, a conservative approach has been taken and the range name not
used. Anyone trying to rationalise range names has to contend with such
perplexities as Mt Somers being near, but clearly not on, the Mt Somers
range.
Verification It is inevitable in a project of this nature that the listings will contain errors. The
database has been verified by electronically superimposing the names, height
and location of all peaks over a geo-referenced scanned set of the 260 sheets.
This should give a good degree of confidence that the data included is
accurate. There is greater difficulty in verifying that all mountains meeting
the criteria have been identified. Please send any corrections or amendments
to mountainlisting@alpineclub.org.nz.
National Park The inclusion of peaks within or on National Park boundaries has been
Boundaries determined using the most recently available 273 series Parkmap.
Where they lie…
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