Staunch climbs in a spectacular wilderness setting.
Route updates and info to be found in the Fyfe Facebook group page
Please download the Fyfe River Gorge Code of Conduct (at the bottom of this page), and read before visiting.
A guide can be purchased online from NZAC
Other links:
Flickr photos
Short film about Mt Owen climbing
Fyfe River Gorge is located in the SE corner of Kahurangi National Park. From SH6, 18km north of Murchison if driving from the south, or 16km from Kawatiri Junction if driving from the north, turn onto Owen Valley East Road. This is a well maintained gravel road, please drive conservatively, particularly past houses and the lodge.
Drive for 11.5km until you cross a bridge and through a gate with emergency Number 1157 (white on blue), a white farmhouse is on the left. Take the second left and another left when facing the DoC “Mt Owen” sign. You can park your car in the trees before concrete ford or follow the orange arrows across paddocks past cattle yard and through three gates, until you meet the river, park here off to the side.
For an updated detailed description of how to access the crags, download Fyfe Access.pdf (at the bottom of this page).
Log in to view access information.
For anyone considering a trip to the gorge in the depths of winter.. I headed up on 17/6/25, frost and verglas made the approach more exciting that normal, but otherwise the crossings and fixed rope sections were fine. Intergalactic Wall had many drips and streams of water on most tufa features, but severely overhanging routes such as Conquistadors of the Useless were still fine to climb. The sun would reach Intergalactic at about 1:30pm. In short not the best season for the Fyfe!
In reply to For anyone considering a… by David.Macdonal…
Thanks for the report, always wondered about the depths of winter in there!
Thanks Enzo for adding the detailed access information, it's really helpful.