Mount Fishtail
- 1 day return by the same track
- Easy/medium
A moderate day hike to the summit of Mount Fishtail a prominent peak in the Richmond Range. Great views can be had once above the bush line.
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Walking time
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1 day
7 hr – 10 hr
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Type
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Return by the same track
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Grade
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Easy/medium
Easy track until the hut, then several unmarked routes lead to the summit. Snow can be expected most winters. Grades explained
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Bookings
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No bookings — open access
No — open access
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Starts
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Carpark at the end of Pine Valley Road, or Mills Flat Campsite (4wd only). |
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Ends
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Summit of Mount Fishtail. |
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Maps
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NZTopo50-BR27
NZTopo50-BQ27 |
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Altitude
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1,641m |
The track starts at the head of Pine Valley, a 4wd can drive slightly further to Millsflat Campsite which saves about 20 minutes of walking time.
The track initially follows a small stream and is reasonably flat, before fording the stream and then heads uphill. The first part of the ascentis quite steep with 500m of elevation gain, before levelling off slightly. Good views can be had out across the wairau plains and along the Richmond range.
Above the buhline the track then cuts across a large scree slope where it ends at the basic Mt Fishtail Hut. From there several routes can be taken to the summit. The easiest probably makes its way across the small stream, then heads up through a vegetated scree slope to unnamed pass located above the hut, then head across and up onto the minor peak before a fairly straightforward walk to the main peak. A long scree slopes provides for a quick return to the hut.