Really enjoyed this one! Regreted the decision to take the hardest one in the middle of the hill but was totally worthy to finish:D! We had a nice sunny day and we didn’t meet single person! The Ridge Track is challenging but loved the way it differs from any other hike we have done so far in New Zealand. You go through bush and forest and river, beautiful! There is a nice hut up there where you can stay over night, unfortunately, we didn’t know it before.

Great half day loop with views to nearby Mt Somers with friends and also to more distant Alps. Agree with quite strenuous (steep) Ridge route up (with Emily falls on the way) and more relaxed (boards/steps) Deer spur back down to Blandswood carpark. Or use the latter both ways after heavy rains

Great hike up the South Route. It is better to take this route up and the Deer Spur back, otherwise it is really dangerous. We are rather moderately experienced hikers, but physically very fit and were very stressed. Take a lot of time and do not be discouraged, the climb is really steep in many places. View more than awesome! Hiking shoes a must!

Too violent and dangerous. The worst track I've walked in 4 months. It was okay up the Deer Trail. However, you have to be really fit because the slope is very demanding. Back on the South Ridge Route of Horror. The track can be guessed more like to see and that next to the abyss. Plants grow over it and become stumbling blocks. Every step laborious. And still climbing most of the time. Too bad the track would otherwise be fun, the view is awesome.

Awesome view from the top. I walked up the ridge track and down the deer spur track. Took me 3h30 up and 1h down, but I'm a slow ascender and a fast descender. Ridge Track: very steep and challenging all the way. It's a tramp for experienced trampers (as per DOC) so expect a stream crossing or two and before the falls you have to follow a stream for 50 meters as well. Both doable hopping from stone to stone. First through forest on a nice but muddy path, when crossing the treeline on to the ridge a lot of vegetation overgrowing the path. Still pretty OK to follow. Gets very steep and sometimes you'll need to hold on to the rock to climb. Wonderful view while ascending. Deer spur track: broader more defined path all the way to the top. Muddier than the ridge track, but a lot of boardwalks above the ridge line. Easier to scale than the Ridge walk. All in all great hike, but not for the inexperienced. I would suggest following my route: up the ridge walk and down the deer spur track, or if you're less experienced and still want to hike to the summit, go up the Deer Spur and back down Deer Spur.

Beautiful 360 degree view at the top but requires a lot of effort. 1h50 climb from Deer Spur, very muddy and vegetation on the trail. Down by South Ridge has taken us so much time. Trail just horrible. Impossible at times to see where we walk so much there are plants through. Very slippery and even dangerous at times.

The South ridge track is in the valley very wet, slippery and muddy. After reaching the ridge it is very overgrown, this makes it even harder to get up. The deer spur track is in much better conditions.

Superb hike. Breathtaking view at the top. However I do not recommend doing it in July the way is completely icy at the top and the bush is very wet (wear waterproof clothes especially the pants)

Superb hike! Curly in 4:30 starting with the Deer Spur and back quite difficult by South Ridge .. I advise to do the loop in the opposite direction !! The descent through South Ridge is rather steep. Great view at the top!

Wow! What a challenge to reach the summit through the South Ridge track! I made it in 2h and 6min but wow! That was more climbing than hiking! But fun and crazy views at the top! ? Came back in an hour through the other track though! ?