GUNUNG · Selandia Baru

Ben Ohau

Ben Ōhau / Ruataniwha Peak

Information

Elevation: 1.522 m
Country: Selandia Baru (NZ)
Location / Range: Mackenzie Basin / Ruataniwha Conservation Park, Canterbury, Pulau Selatan
Mountain type: Puncak menonjol yang berdiri di sisi utara Lake Ōhau di cekungan Mackenzie, Pulau Selatan — terkenal sebagai pendakian sehari dengan panorama danau-danau turkuois dan Pegunungan Alpen Selatan
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -44.2600, 169.9080
Difficulty: Menengah–menantang — track menanjak menyerupai jalan 4WD di sisi barat menuju saddle 1.380 m, lalu dorongan pendek keluar jalur (off-track) ke puncak sejati 1.522 m; total sekitar 6 jam pulang-pergi atau sirkuit ±16 km lewat Greta Stream Track
Best Season: Akhir musim semi hingga awal musim gugur austral (November–April) saat sisi terbuka relatif bebas salju; punggungan tinggi terpapar angin dan cuaca cepat berubah di luar musim panas
Permits & Rules: Tidak ada izin khusus — berada di tanah konservasi publik (Ruataniwha Conservation Park) yang dikelola DOC; akses jalan kaki bebas. Greta Stream Track memiliki beberapa titik penyeberangan sungai yang bisa dalam setelah hujan
Hazards: Puncak sejati berada di luar jalur bertanda sehingga perlu navigasi mandiri; punggungan tinggi terbuka terhadap angin kencang dan perubahan cuaca cepat; penyeberangan Greta Stream bisa berbahaya saat debit air tinggi; sedikit naungan dan sumber air di atas saddle

Description

Ben Ohau (Ben Ōhau, also called Ruataniwha Peak, 1,522 m) is a prominent peak in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand's South Island, rising directly on the northern side of Lake Ōhau, about 22 km from the town of Twizel via Glen Lyon Road. Although classified as a high hill in official databases, it is a well-loved day hike thanks to its outsized reward: a 360-degree summit panorama over the turquoise waters of Lake Ōhau, Lake Ruataniwha, Lake Benmore and Lake Pūkaki, backed by the Southern Alps. The route starts around 550 m, passes Back Hut — an old 1890s musterer's hut — then climbs the western flank on a 4WD-style track to a saddle at 1,380 m (about 2 hours over 5 km). From the saddle, walkers must leave the marked track and pick their own line to the true summit. Many complete the outing as a roughly 16 km circuit by descending the longer Greta Stream Track, which crosses the stream several times.

Routes

Ben Ohau Peak — sisi barat (4WD track) → saddle 1.380 m → puncak 1.522 m

Menengah–menantang (track menanjak menyerupai jalan 4WD + dorongan off-track ke puncak)

±6 jam pulang-pergi

Rute utama ke puncak: dari area parkir di Glen Lyon Road (±22 km dari Twizel, sisi utara Lake Ōhau) jalur melewati Back Hut tua era 1890-an lalu menanjak menyusuri sisi barat lewat track menyerupai jalan 4WD hingga saddle di 1.380 m (±2 jam, 5 km). Dari saddle, pendaki keluar dari jalur bertanda dan memilih rute sendiri ke puncak sejati 1.522 m dengan panorama 360 derajat ke Lake Ōhau, Ruataniwha, Benmore, dan Pūkaki serta Alpen Selatan.

Source

Sirkuit Ben Ōhau + Greta Stream Track (turun)

Menantang (jalur turun panjang dengan beberapa penyeberangan sungai)

±16 km sirkuit (seharian)

Pilihan sirkuit: setelah puncak, turun lewat Greta Stream Track yang lebih panjang alih-alih menapak balik jalur naik. Jalur turun relatif landai tetapi menyeberangi Greta Stream beberapa kali — penyeberangan bisa dalam dan berbahaya setelah hujan. Total sirkuit sekitar 16 km, dikelola sebagai bagian jalur kawasan Lake Ōhau oleh DOC di Ruataniwha Conservation Park.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Hikers' accounts of Ben Ohau repeatedly highlight one thing: the reward of a summit panorama over the Mackenzie Basin's turquoise lakes and the Southern Alps in exchange for a persistent climb. Many vlogs describe the route as a 4WD-style track climbing steadily up the western flank to a saddle, followed by an off-track push to the true summit. Recurring themes: a long, tiring ascent, a wind-exposed ridge, and the common pairing with the Greta Stream Track as a circuit descent. Some sources also feature trail running in the area, showing the variety of ways the mountain is enjoyed.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.