{"id":39404,"date":"2026-02-14T22:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T09:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/?post_type=trip&p=39404"},"modified":"2026-03-18T17:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T04:15:31","slug":"darrans-alpine-rock-climbing","status":"publish","type":"trip","link":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/trip\/darrans-alpine-rock-climbing\/","title":{"rendered":"Darrans Alpine Rock Climbing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Darrans Alpine Rock Climbing<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Darrans alpine rock is New Zealand\u2019s mecca of multipitch and mountain rock climbing. A short drive from Milford Sound in the Te W?hipounamu World Heritage Site and Fiordland National Park, the compact and rough granite of the Darrans provides a range of classic alpine rock routes in the intermediate to advanced grades. Some routes involve exposed, scrambling approaches or multi-day tactics and bivying.<\/p>\n

Darrans Alpine Rock Objectives<\/h3>\n
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\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n

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North and North East Face of Barrier Knob<\/h3>\n

The popular Gertrude Saddle is just the first stop on the trip to Barrier Knob. The summit provides views down to Milford Sound and Lake Adelaide and the massive rock walls of Marian Peak and Sabre Peak. There are a number of bivi spots for the complete Darrans experience. The sunny North and North East faces provides a host of classic routes at a range of grades: \u2018Labyrinth\u2019 (22), \u2018Daisy\u2019 (20), \u2018Forgotten Silver\u2019 (18)<\/p>\n

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\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n

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Sabre Peak<\/h3>\n

Accessed from Phill\u2019s Biv in the Upper Adelaide Cirque, the North Buttress of Sabre (18) is classic Darrans alpine rock. Just to get here, parties have to travel up and over Barrier Knonb and descend Giffords Crack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n

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Moirs Mate<\/h3>\n

Moirs Mate is the area\u2019s premier alpine rock climbing destination with the west face having a high concentration of classic and modern rock climbs. The traverse from Homer Saddle and the North Ridge provides excellent, exposed scrambling on rough granite.\u00a0Classic traditional climbs such as \u2018Bowen Allen Corner\u2019 (18) to modern mixed classics of \u2018Lucky Strike\u2019 (20), \u2018Pipe Dreams\u2019 (21), and \u2018Finders Keepers\u2019 (21).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n

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Shotwell Slabs, Hollyford Valley<\/h3>\n

For a short fix or a warm-up on the way to or from the bigger objectives, the roadside Shotwell Slabs provides a range of multi-pitch climbs and grades to get you trusting that rubber and friction (16 \u2013 22).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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South Face of the Sentinel<\/h3>\n

The Sentinel above Adelaide Saddle provides the region\u2019s best lower-grade alpine rock climbing. The area is accessed by a transalpine journey up and over Barrier Knob and a night can be spent at Gill\u2019s Bivi rock by descending Gifford\u2019s Crack to Lake South America and the upper Adelaide Cirque.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Cleddau Valley Cragging<\/h2>\n

Beyond the Homer Tunnel as the winding road descends to Milford Sound are some of NZ\u2019s best sport climbing crags of The Chasm, Babylon, and Little Babylon (18 \u2013 35+). Steep walls and grooves mean that many routes stay dry in the rain, which is useful in Fiordland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Fitness and Difficulty Requirements<\/h2>\n
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\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n

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\"W?naka<\/figure>\n
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Participants should have some previous rock climbing experience. Climbing grades start from Aus\/NZ 16. For the more difficult routes, climbers need to be comfortably seconding 17 to 19.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"W?naka<\/figure>\n
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Participants should have experience roping, and with knots such as Figure-8, Clove Hitch, and Italian Hitch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What to Expect<\/h2>\n
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\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n

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Darrans Mountaineering trips are based from the NZ Alpine Club\u2019s Homer Hut. This is a roadside hut in the Upper Hollyford Valley. There are no high mountain huts in the area so for longer routes, groups will bivi out or in one of the area\u2019s famous rock bivis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Details and Pricing<\/h2>\n
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Duration: 4+ days(s)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dates: January to March<\/p>\n

Get in touch for private trips.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2025\/26 Price:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
From $1390 \/ $790 per person per day for 1:1 \/ 1:2 (minimum 4 days).<\/p>\n

Discounts available for NZAC members.<\/p>\n

Includes: Applicable taxes, guide fees, compliance costs, transport from W?naka, mountain food, and accommodation, technical equipment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Maximum ratio: 1:2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n
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Register Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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See also<\/h2>\n
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\"W?naka\u00a0\u00a0 Darrans Mountaineering<\/a>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"W?naka\u00a0 Southern Lakes Alpine Rock<\/a>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"W?naka\u00a0\u00a0 W?naka Rock Climbing<\/a>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n
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\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating: 5 out of 5.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018I feel safe at all times with him, yet he doesn\u2019t stifle me and gives me the freedom to go on my own when I feel comfortable doing so. He makes me feel relaxed and at ease both on and off the mountain. His local knowledge is incredible and seems to be able to pluck a great adventure out of the hat somewhere no matter what the weather is doing at the time. He\u2019s the best guide I\u2019ve had by far!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0<\/strong>Marcus, Aoraki \/ Mount Cook Ascent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating: 5 out of 5.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018Thank you again. That was an awesome day out and I really appreciated how generous [our guide] was with his time and knowledge. He crammed in more than I thought possible in a day.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/strong>\u00a0Megan, Remarkables Alpine Rock Climbing Course<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span>\"?\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating: 5 out of 5.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018It was 4 days I\u2019ll never forget! The experiences I had I only want to grow on. I set out to accomplish a task, but I got so much more! You showed me a whole new world with your sport and I can\u2019t thank you enough! I\u2019ve found a new love for this sport and it\u2019s thanks to him! Absolutely exceeded my expectations!!! Thanks W?naka Mountain Guides!<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0<\/strong>Landen, Mitre Peak Ascent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Wanaka \u00a0\"Wanaka \u00a0\"W?naka<\/figure>\n

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\"Wanaka \u00a0\"W?naka \u00a0\"Wanaka<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Darrans alpine rock is New Zealand\u2019s mecca of multipitch and mountain rock climbing. A short drive…..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":39405,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"trip_category":[734534164,734534166],"difficulty":[734534274],"available_month":[734534253],"trip_tag":[],"class_list":["post-39404","trip","type-trip","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","trip_category-mountaineering","trip_category-rock-climbing","difficulty-climb-intermediate","available_month-november-march"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trip\/39404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trip"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/trip"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"trip_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trip_category?post=39404"},{"taxonomy":"difficulty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/difficulty?post=39404"},{"taxonomy":"available_month","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/available_month?post=39404"},{"taxonomy":"trip_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liyanitsolution.online\/wanakamountainguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/trip_tag?post=39404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}