Karitane Rock | ClimbNZ

Type

Part of

Almost a good little crag, Karitane rock features crack lines on well featured, good quality, idiosyncratic basalt (Marcus calls it ‘volcanic limestone?!’), and a fine 15m pinnacle with hard face and crack climbing on its front face, and chimney climbs rising from within the bowels of the cliff behind it. The downside? Facing south to southeast, and exposed to moisture-laden winds off the sea, the outcrop sports luxuriant growths of moss and lichen. The climbs are mostly short and many are broken up by large ledges. A great place to visit on a hot summer’s day.
Marcus Thomas ‘discovered’ the outcrop during a risk management course in 1996, and returned with Kevin Donoghue and Joe Arts to climb many of the cracks, buttresses and aretes. Surprisingly they left alone the choice front face of the pinnacle except for the fine arete (Perfect Sound Forever) and it was left to Dave Brash and Mike Simpson to put up climbs on this great piece of rock.
There is potential for further routes here but it would be a shame to lose the beautiful hanging fern and moss gardens on the cliffs – this is why some areas have been left alone.

Walktime

5 min

Aspect

South East

Lat/lon

-45.663968,170.636356, NZ Topo Map

Approach

The owners are happy for people to visit the crag, please contact Richard (ph 021 177 5838) before you go and follow the usual farm rules: no dogs, leave gates as you find them, don’t disturb stock, and respect their land.

From Dunedin, follow the main road north for 22.5 km, turning off 3 km past Waitati into the Coast Road. Drive through Seacliff (stop off and visit the site of the former mental asylum described in Janet Frame’s autobiography), and exactly 9 km from the turn-off, park at an obvious carpark. If you reach the Karitane viewpoint, you’ve gone 1.km too far. The outcrop is visible on the hill-side above the road, surrounded by a stand of native bush; it’s 5 minutes walk uphill through farmland to the base of the pinnacle.

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Routes

Reference	Title	Grade	Length	Pro	Quality
1	1JimmyJazz, 17	17	9m		0
P1 17 9m Trad A fine little climb – you’ll wish it was longer. At the LH end of the crag, climb direct to the undercling at the break, then up the crack to a slightly run-out finish (might be worth cleaning the top-out before climbing it).
2	2Angel Eyes, 18	18	12m		1.02
P1 18 12m Trad Doesn’t look very alluring, but this crack climb only reveals its charms when you climb it. It may be short but this sustained little cameo makes Kindling Crack seem like a one move wonder.
3	3Thunderbird, 24	24	9m	2	0
P1 24 9m 2 Two bolts lead to a rounded problematic finish.
4	4Finesse, 23	23	13m		1.02
P1 23 13m Trad Sometimes you can make your contract with a less than powerful hand – but you will need to finesse. Sustained and devious. Up the crack with increasing commitment until you can move R into the upper crack. With small to medium wires and CD’s (with a #3.5 to protect the step R from the top of the main crack), the pro may be adequate – maybe a bolt should be placed.
5	5Powerplays, 25	25	15m		2.01
P1 25 15m A superb testpiece to open the millennium. Powerful climbing up the incipient flaring crack L of Perfect Sound Forever leads to a welcome rest in the big scoop before the tenuous final moves R and up to the chain.
6	6Perfect Sound Forever, 20	20	12m		1.02
P1 20 12m Trad Really good. From the canyon, step out onto the arete to the apex of the awesome spire. The moves – and the view! – get better the higher you go. Add a grade if you can resist bridging the start.
7	7Jenny’s Health Cuts, 18	18	15m		0
P1 18 15m Trad Climb the face of the leaning pillar with chainlink hangers and natural pro in the breaks, finishing up the steep main wall just R and behind the pinnacle.
8	8Headwind, 15	15	15m		0
P1 15 15m Trad The beautiful but short top section is marred by the nasty off-width start. Awkwardly mantle onto the ledge at half height then nervously off the ledge on marginal pro, which quickly improves to protect the steep crack above.
9	9Bestial Machinery, 22	22	8m		0
P1 22 8m Trad Rock up through large pocket moving R to the arete. Brush the top before you climb it.
10	10Losing or Cruising?, 15	15	7m		0
P1 15 7m Trad The obvious jam crack is quite good. .
11	11Slacker, 11	11	6m		0
P1 11 6m Trad Wow, a multi-pitch climb. The crack above Losing or Cruising? has amazing hex placements. Exit R.
12	12Solid Gold Hell, 15	15	8m		0
P1 15 8m Trad An awkward start up the crack from the ledge leads to a move R onto the wall, then through the small inverted V roof on jugs to the top. Belay way back in the rocks. .
13	13Spiral Stairs, 9	9	8m		0
P1 9 8m Trad Easy access route on R end of crag.
a	aGreen Palm				0

b	bHorse Sense				0

c	cThe Crack				0

d	dMasterlock				0

	Thirsty Dog, 13	13	8m		0
P1 13 8m Trad 30m to the R of Spiral Stairs is a block split . The obvious off-width thrutch. There is also a boulder problem up the arete (a dangerous 18/19).

Comments

Attribution

Dave Brash

UUID

12075dde-1d4e-4946-96c4-11803182ac44