Mount Rolleston

Mount Rolleston is a 2,271 meter (7,451 feet) summit in the Southern Alps within Arthur's Pass National Park on New Zealand's South Island. The peak features several ridges and steep faces that form distinct climbing routes of varying difficulty.

The mountain was named in 1864 by surveyor Arthur Dudley Dobson after William Rolleston, who was Superintendent of Canterbury Province at that time. The region has been explored and climbed since the 19th century.

The mountain plays a central role in New Zealand's climbing community, with its Rome Ridge route attracting experienced mountaineers throughout the climbing season.

The best time to climb is in early morning hours, with most climbers departing from Arthur's Pass village around 4 AM to make full use of daylight. Proper planning and awareness of local conditions are important since weather can change quickly in the mountains.

Multiple routes such as Rome Ridge and Goldney Ridge offer varying technical challenges and climbing difficulty levels. The Goldney Ridge becomes skiable as the Otira Slide during winter, creating a rare year-round skiing opportunity in this alpine setting.

GPS coordinates: -42.91133,171.51225

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:00