This is the upper tier cliff line in the Mangatoetoenui Gorge. It runs above the White Dragon Wall, broken by an access ledge running the entire base of the cliff and which runs up to a gradual access gully to the top, west end of the cliff. Rock is brittle and loose in places but very solid with good gear in the obvious lines of weaknesses.
As for the rest of the Mangatoetoenui Gorge either down in the head of the valley or the access gully west of the Rehab wall or 150m to east and down the access gully on to mid tier ledge system.
Both of these gully acess points have been marked with stone cairns.


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1 | Afternoon Tea | 21 ,18 | 55m |
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Extra Beta:
First Pitch: 35-40m, Grade 21, Protection Size: Camalots #0.5-2
Start 5m downhill and left of "Morning Glory" start.
Staunch overhung unprotected start in middle of choppy base, with first piece
(#0.5 camalot) about 6m up in the widening crack below vegetation.
Crux is trending left and up around the corner bulge to progress further
upwards.
Scramble up first ledge with many loose rocks, careful of your belayer.
Make your way up to the largely in-tact face of the left pillar, and follow
the obvious crack up the face using the chimney to the right as needed.
Pull up the last overhanging moves to finish (belay on top using cams and/or
bollard sligns).
Second Pitch: 15-20m, Grade 18, Protection Size: Camalots #0.25-2
From the belay position, climb down the backside of the pillar and up
slightly right at the base of the next wall.
Aim for the obvious crack to the right of the waterfall (may vary in size and
dampness depending on seasonal weather). This crack mirrors the left edge of
the pillar behind you.
First protection about 5m up (#2 Camalot).
Aim straight up angling vaguely right through solid boulders and flakes.
Mind the waterfall and moss.
Belay bollard 5m left from finish. Leave last piece of protection in place as
a re-direct for belaying.
FFA Karsen Lorentz, Feb 2017
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2 | Morning Glory | 16 ,18 | 60m |
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Pitch-1
Climb the chimney system of cracks, flakes and chock stones belay back of
central pillar and the obvious suspened chock stone.
Pitch-2
From top of chock stone move right ward over a curvy bulge flake and through
steeper ground exit the right gully as left offers little protection.
Belay using large boulder set back from cliff top.
FFA Richard Knott, Dave Garrity 07/03/16
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3 | Tip toe into the dragons cave | 16,18 | 60m |
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Pitch-1 16 45m Start couple of metre right of morning Glory next obvious crack lines shows to cracks either side of a flat face this is just above a blocky stepped start follow right crack continue up around a flake up to a broken ledge belay just below the obvious head wall with a shallow corner crack
FFA Richard Knott, Francis Watling 23/03/19
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4 | Brunch | 17 | 45m |
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Start at the top of Blue eyes white dragon, head straight up the crack system towards a dark recess, when the crack thins out head out right onto steeper terrain then up into the recess, exiting to the left and up the final steep wall before an easy scramble to find an anchor boulder [SM cams + wires].
FFA David Jewell, 26/2/2017
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5 | Descaling the dragon | 18 | 45m |
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This starts roughly 6m left of the top of the Deception anchors or left of walking the plank.
This is a intresting climb good gear but sparse in sections so make your placments count!
FFA Richard Knott, Francis Watling 23/03/19
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6 | Walking the Plank | 17 | 45m |
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This makes a splendid follow on pitch from deception on the lower tier.
Follow up the obvious weakness straight up from the Deception anchors this climb tops out at the obvious over hanging rock feature like a plank hence the name and has a wonderfull airy exposed finish.
FFA Richard Knott, Francis Watling 23/03/19
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7 | Smoko Catch | 19 | 22m |
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This is nearer the descent route down from top this is more on the second buttress outcrop with two obvious crack lines and takes the left one when looking at the face.
This was done as a quick interlude from doing the walking the plank and the next route and turns out to be a little punchy number!
FFA Richard Knott, Francis Watling 23/03/19
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