Photo: Happy on Tappy!
The Seaward and Inland Kaikōura ranges rise steeply from the sea and from dry Marlborough valleys. Tapuae-o-Uenuku, in the Inland range, is the highest mountain in the South Island outside the Southern Alps.
The club's trips here are largely alpine: Alpine 1 is the most common grade. They include climbs and snow trips on Tapuae-o-Uenuku, Manakau and Mt Fyffe, and hut trips in the Hodder valley. August to October is the busiest time in the reports, when the tops are under snow.
Conditions in the ranges can be harsh, and trips need alpine skills and equipment.
Highlight trips
Happy on Tappy!2017 · Alpine 1
Te Ao Whekere Reconaissance2020 · Medium-Fit
Mt Uwerau yes, Mt Manakau no (again)2019 · Alpine 2
Jam Hut – with real jam and marshmallows2023 · Medium-Fit
Jam Hut and Hornby Bivvy2019
Mt Fyffe – Hapuku Hut loop – Seaward Kaikōura Range2024 · Medium
Manakau ~ Uwerau Traverse (well, some of it anyway)2018 · Alpine 1- Trip reportKaikouras - Easter, '62KAIKOURAS -EASTER, '62 The party: Margaret Webb, Allan away for a considerable distance, in fact Higgins, Bob Montague, Billy and my- from the top of Alarm the ground drops self, Nils. away quite alarmingly. We then We ieft on the Thursday evening prior…
- Trip reportSeaward KaikourasJeff Connell On the Friday night of Labour Weekend an hour, a short gorge section was 1978 ten Tongue and Meats took the reached that was known to be impassable. Rail Ferry to Picton, en route to the Two crossings in a strong current but Seaward Kaikouras. On…