Camp Peaks

Date: December 8, 2025

Location: Hāwea Conservation Park, Haast Highway, Otago, New Zealand

Total Trip Distance: 7 mi / 11.3 km

Total Elevation Gain: 5,593 ft / 1,705 m

Trip Duration: 5 hr 31 min

Team: Solo

Field Notes: Park your car at the parking lot at Camp Creek. Walk back up to the main road, cross the bridge, and take the track which starts on the true right of Camp Creek. Follow this steeply until it breaks out of the bush line at 640 meters. Follow the southwest ridge towards Point 1408, sidling this on either the west or southern aspect. Continue along the ridge to the summit, which is best climbed from the south.

Grade: 1, I

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Camp Peaks is an objective I’ve always been interested in as a day strike because of its proximity to Queenstown and the access is right off the road. This is one of those mountains where, once you start, you’re only going uphill. No messing around.

Unfortunately, Deanna flew out the day before, but on the plus side, the weather had cleaned up significantly. With one day left before jumping back into work, this felt like the perfect time to go up Camp Peaks.

There was no need for unnecessary weight on this one. A light shell, some water, snacks for the day — that was all I needed.

The track starts on the true right of Camp Creek, just near a small pullout on the side of the road. It kicks off steeply, and I’m incredibly grateful to whoever cut it, because the scrub here is absolutely heinous. The trail ends around the 640-meter contour, where it breaks out of the scrub into open tussock.

Breaking out from the scrub at 640 m

Point 1408 is at the left

Camp Peaks from Point 1507

From there, I continued straight uphill on steep tussock slopes. There was no respite, but I felt strong and moved quickly. I climbed the first 700 meters in under an hour and continued on feeling really solid.

As I gained height, the views opened up across the lake toward the Minaret Peaks and the Albert Burn.

Just under Point 1408 is the first obstacle of the trip. I chose to sidle around it on the western aspect, though it would be just as easy on the southern side. From there, I continued roughly along the ridge, and this was where the summit finally came into view.

I kept moving fast, scampering toward the summit. The final section is the crux, with a few scrambly bits and some false summits. There are three prominent bumps, all of which look about the same height, but the true summit is the farthest one to the east.

The summit of Camp Peaks

Sentinel Peak from the summit of Camp Peaks

The Wilkin Valley peaks from Camp Peaks

Peak 1999 on the right and Teat Ridge from Camp Peaks

I scoped out my options and scrambled up via a steep, exposed section. Personally, I think the better route is to sidle all the way around to the south, scramble up a loose scree gully, and then walk the short slab to the top. That’s the way I descended, and if I were to do it again, it’s the route I’d take.

I spent about 30 minutes on the summit, lounging, eating snacks, resting, and taking in the views. It was a perfectly beautiful day. My favorite view was actually to the north, toward Point 1914 and Teat Ridge, though Sentinel Peak looming above Camp Creek was equally impressive.

Eventually, I pulled myself away. The sun was ripping, and I was only in a T-shirt instead of my usual sun hoodie. I scampered back down, shocked by just how hot it was. Summer is truly here.

Down I went, fighting the heat, until I finally started running downhill to get away from the sun. I made it back to the car in 5.5 hours round trip, immediately stripped off my clothes, and jumped into Lake Wanaka for an incredible post-trip swim.

Happy days...