The High Pathways Book

Welcome to Te Waipounamu, a land of mountains!

Overview

Welcome to Te Waipounamu, a land of mountains! Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, or the Southern Alps, appear as a never-ending horizon along the spine of the South Island. Their summits are a defining feature of our landscape, and their ridges and valleys carry a history of the people who have lived here for generations. For climbers—those seeking challenge and adventure—they also offer countless opportunities for exploration.

The majority of climbs on our mountains, as well as the most popular, are easier rock scrambles and snow ascents. The High Pathways introduces a selection of some of the best climbs in Te Waipounamu, how to prepare for them, get to them, and go about climbing them. This guide is intended for relative newcomers to mountaineering, as well as more experienced climbers who only find enough time to venture into the mountains a few times each year. This book is for those who love mountains and who love being among them. 

The climbs selected are a quality representation of what is available within different regions of Te Waipounamu. Each mountain and each route has its own characteristics, allowing the progression of skill gathering as well as the chance to explore. It is hoped that they act as an inspiration to escape to our highlands, to connect with them, and also to care for them.

Authors: Paul & Shelley Hersey

228mm x 165mm, paperback
Full-colour images 
200 pages 

Published: November 2025
ISBN: 9-781991-197931

category
Guidebooks
Mountaineering
South Island

Technical Specs

• 228mm x 165mm, paperback
  
• Full-colour images 
  
• 200 pages 
• Published: November 2025
  
• ISBN: 9-781991-197931