Remarkables Grand Alpine Experience

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

12h

Group size

1-2 tourists,
over 18 y.o.

The Remarkables rise above Queenstown like a serrated crown, their ridgelines etched against the sky. To cross them is to trace the very bones of the mountains — stone, snow, and silence stretching in every direction. Led by an experienced alpine guide, you’ll scramble and climb along the Grand Traverse, reaching the twin summits of Double and Single Cone, with Lake Wakatipu glinting far below.

Accessible yet awe-inspiring, this is New Zealand’s ultimate one-day alpine challenge. With all gear provided and transport from Wānaka or Queenstown, all you need is steady footing and a hunger for height. Join us, step into the heights and see what it feels like to stand on the edge of the sky!

Price:
2 people - NZ$690
1 person - NZ$1,290

National Park Tours

Tim S. is the provider of this trip

The provider speaks: English

Tim is based in Wānaka with his young family. He has been climbing, skiing, and guiding throughout the Southern Alps since arriving in New Zealand from the UK in 2008. He has climbed and skied around the world and in other roles, he mentors, trains, and assesses prospective ski patrollers and mountain guides and is a member of the local Alpine Cliff Rescue team. When not out in the hills guiding or instructing, he will be usually found introducing his young family to the outdoors, away on his own adventures, or out at the local rock climbing crags.

View Tim`s tours

Tour highlights

Cinematic Heights

Explore landscapes made famous by The Lord of the Rings and Vertical Limit

Twin Summits

Conquer both Double Cone and Single Cone — the crown of the Remarkables Range

Alpine Playground

Scramble, climb, and move across raw rock and snow under the southern sun

Route details

You can start your adventure from Wānaka or Queenstown, driving up the alpine road to the Remarkables ski field. A short approach walk leads to Lake Alta, where the jagged ridge of the traverse comes into view — a landscape so striking it featured in The Lord of the Rings and Vertical Limit.

The climb begins near the “Telecom Tower,” revealing breathtaking views over Queenstown. Depending on conditions, the full traverse takes between six and ten hours, finishing with a descent from the summit of Single Cone back to the lake and car park.

Difficulty

Moderate

Does not require physical training but involves moderate physical activity

Tour provider's comments

The route requires moderate fitness and the ability to comfortably ascend and descend between 500 and 1000m in a day.

It's important to know

The route demands a moderate level of fitness, with participants needing to comfortably ascend and descend between 500 and 1000 meters in a single day.

During the summer months (November to April), the traverse includes sections of scrambling and easy rock climbing. Your guide will provide rope protection and climbing gear for safety throughout the ascent. Previous climbing experience can be helpful, though more essential is confidence in off-track hiking across scree and boulder terrain. Expect some exposure — with Queenstown stretching nearly two kilometers below your feet.

In winter, shorter days and colder conditions make the route more challenging, requiring solid mountaineering skills and efficient movement over snow and mixed terrain.

If you’re new to rock or winter climbing, reaching the summit of Single Cone offers a rewarding alternative. A preparatory skills day can also be arranged before attempting the full traverse.

Available dates

Select date

Number of individuals

1-2 tourists, over 18 y.o.

from

1 tourist

Weather during the tour

Weather conditions along the route

You will get a weather forecast for this tour’s route based on

the forecasts for this season
the statistics from previous years’ trips

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