Castle Hill in New Zealand

Castle Hill, New Zealand

Description

BoulderingUnreal landscapeEasily accessible

Driving on the only main highway from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass, Castle Hill will be towards the last half of your trip and on the left hand side.

There is a massive parking lot with a restroom available. There is a walking path that leads right up to the rocks and you can take your picking from any of them.

It is important to remain respectful of this area as is it considered sacred grounds, so no camping is allowed.

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Features

Rock Climbing

Chillin

Photography

Yoga

Hiking

Bathrooms

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Scenic

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike and Climb at Castle Hill

Follow the footpath from the car park. You will quickly arrive at Castle Hill, famous for it's incredible array of giant limestone formations. There is no official path so you are free to wander the maze of rocks. Look for arches and even signs of ancient Maori inhabitants. Its fun to climb among the beautiful boulders but be careful it could be very easy to get yourself stuck or even fall.Cast...

Climb Mt. Cloudsley

Park at the Hogsback Trailhead in Castle Hill Village. Follow the Hogsback trail by staying to the right at both upcoming "Y" intersections. Once you reach the bush edge, Long Spur and Mt Cloudsley come into view. Break off from the trail aiming for the toe of Long Spur. Then climb along the crest of the spur until you reach the summit. Return the way you came.Also a great ski touring route!

Hike Mt. Cheeseman

Follow the Hogsback Track until you reach the clearing just after the Waterfall Creek crossing. Hike through the clearing towards the toe of Mt Cheeseman's east ridge.Work your way up the ridge by linking a network of tussock slopes, ledges, scree slopes snow patches and crumbly rock. Eventually you will reach the second, lower summit. Carefully navigate the final ridge to the summit, it can be...

Hike the Trig M Trail

The hiking trail first ascends a hillside to about 1,500 meters. It then follows the crest of a ridge in a southwest direction until you reach the "trig", a marker used in geographical survey. The maintained track ends here but hikers wanting more can continue traveling cross country to Rabbit Hill. Return the way you came.In winter this trail makes for an ideal snowshoe route. The terrain is n...

Hike Foggy Peak and Castle Hill Peak

Park in the gravel roadside parking area at the highpoint of Porters Pass. Follow the faint use path up the lower scree slopes of Foggy Peak northward towards the summit. Upon reaching the summit of Foggy Peak the alpine traverse to Castle Hill Peak becomes obvious. The hike between the two peaks is one of the best in Canterbury, a barren alpine ridge varying in width from one to a few hundred ...

Hike to Foggy Peak Summit

The Foggy Peak trail is an unmarked path leading from the carpark at the top of Porters Pass to the summit of Foggy Peak. The clouds can get very low here so be sure to bring a GPS or be knowledgeable in the mountains. From the carpark just duck under the fence and head on up to the top. The way is very easy but can be slippery in snowy conditions. The trail starts off relatively steep before f...