Most climbing on the St Arnaud Range is accessed from the upper Wairau valley, but the range can also be reached from Lake Rotoiti and the Travers River in Nelson Lakes National Park.
Most peaks are reached from tributaries of the Wairau beyond a locked gate at Six Mile Creek – access details at
https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/nelson-lakes-kaik%C5%8Dura/wairau-river
Beyond the gate are the Hamilton River (6.5km from the gate) and Connors Creek (12km). For the Rainbow River, turn right onto a 4WD track just before the road swings left to cross the Wairau River, 15km from the locked gate. Park near the pylons. The farm manager no longer permits 4WD vehicles up the riverbed. Rough but okay for mountain bikes.
Access the western side of the St Arnaud Range from the shores of Lake Rotoiti or the Travers Valley.
From St Arnaud, a track leads to the range via Parachute Rocks (1470m) in about 2½ hours.
A range traverse south towards Rainbow Skifield and Mt McRae is a good day trip, particularly for ski touring.
Access down to Lake Rotoiti is easy in several places.
Easy ridge travel and good ski touring along the range from Pt 1880m (above St Ronans Well) almost to the Camel.