Mount Earnslaw Climb
A climb of Mount Earnslaw / Pikirakatahi (2819m) is an excellent introduction to New Zealand mountaineering. It is the highest peak of the Whakatipu basin and the route involves a big elevation gain from the Rees Valley through forest and sub-alpine scrub. Nights can be spent at the Kea Basin bivi rock or Esquilant Bivi above Wright Col providing flexibility in the itinerary. From here it is a relatively short climb to the summit up the north face to the higher East Peak.
Mount Earnslaw Climb
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Mount Earnslaw Climb](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=Mzk5OjI4Mjc=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 1")
Trips start in Wanaka or Queenstown from where we drive west along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the small Glenorchy township to the end of the road in the Rees Valley.
From the valley, the trail crosses the river and heads up through the beech forest to Kea Basin which is after 500m of ascent is a great spot to break up the journey and an excellent bivi rock exists just off the track.
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Esquilant Bivi](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NDA5OjI4MjM=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 2")
Above the basin the route ascends through scrub and rock slabs and the remnant glacier for another 700m to Wrights Col and the small Esquilant Bivouac Hut beyond.
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Mount Earnslaw Climb](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NDE1OjI4NTA=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 3")
From December onward, a climb of the North Face of the East Peak of Mount Earnslaw is generally snow free and gives a rocky scramble up the remaining 600m to the summit with a short crux. This is an awkward chimney where a rope may be used.
After the summit, we break up the journey down with another night in the bivi or Kea Basin.
Mount Earnslaw Climb Fitness and Difficulty Requirements
A climb of Mount Earnslaw requires trekking fitness of up to 20km in a day with ascents and descents of up to 1000+m per day. The total ascent from the valley floor is over 2000m.
Requires some experience on DOC tracks and overnight hut or camping stays.
A climb of Mount Earnslaw is achievable for all abilities of prior mountaineering experience.
Dates and Pricing
| Duration: 4 days |
| Maximum ratio: 1:2 |
| 2025/26 Dates: |
| Get in touch to arrange other private dates from November to April |
| 2025/25 Price: F |
| Includes: GST, guide fees, compliance, mountain food and accommodation during the trip, transport from Wanaka, and technical equipment. |
See Also
‘First class guide with excellent skills with safety being the priority. However, even his cooking was good! :-)… overall had an amazing adventure! Tim managed all aspects of our safety efficiently and professionally. It was a truly great experience! Tim did a first-class job guiding us with his in-depth knowledge of the mountain. He was efficient, professional, and helpful with all aspects of the trip. Very safety conscious and very patient given I was a bit slow at times! It was a really fun and memorable adventure. I would thoroughly recommend having Tim as your mountain guide.’
— Murray, Mount Aspiring Climb
‘[My guide] was extremely professional at all times. He had a quiet confidence that was admirable yet he wasn’t arrogant. He was quick to correctly judge my abilities and let me be challenged just beyond my comfort zone enough to feel accomplishment. I quickly felt that I could trust him… I couldn’t have asked more from a guide – I know that I was perhaps more energetic than some of his clients but he rose to the challenge of keeping me entertained and kept me busy! He also was a really good cook on the Mountain – his meals were nutritious and filling… just what I needed!’
— Anna, Mount Aspiring Climb
‘Great team at Wanaka Mountain Guides. A well organised, professional team of experienced guides who make each mountain adventure exciting and rewarding. Looking forward to the next adventure in the hills! Highly recommend.’
— Arthur, Private Guiding
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Mount Earnslaw](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=Njk3OjI3ODQ=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 12")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Mount Earnslaw](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzAxOjI3ODc=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 13")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Rees Valley](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzA1OjI3OTA=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 14")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Kea Basin](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzA5OjI3NzU=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 15")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Wright Col](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzEzOjI3NzQ=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 16")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Mount Earnslaw](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzE3OjI3ODA=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Mount Earnslaw Climb 17")