Photos by sbaclimber

It is actually a nice looking line, but the rock is kinda friable. The cracks definitely need to be cleaned up a bit to safely hold pro.

1) NE Arete 2) Shagedelic Two good routes for beginning trad leaders to have a go at placing some solid gear while climbing easy routes

This is probably the best route on Shag Rock. Too bad it is so loose and covered in pigeon poo at the top.

.....actually 'trying' to pull the crux on Hotlegs..... It just wasn't Hamish's day today, but he ended up doing Exposition with style anyway!

These are both very good quality crack climbs (for the Christchurch area at least). I, on the left am climbing Black Bitch, and Hamish is on Silk Toprpedo. Photo by Katrin

Gary was having an absolute ball placing crazy amounts of gear while climbing Black Bitch. Photo by Hamish

Actually, not withstanding Kit's 'what the!?' expresion, there were plenty of placements on Far Out And Solid.

This is what you are climbing next to, when you climb at Charleston. Unfortunately, it had clouded over by the time I took this shot, giving it more of a stormy feel, rather than the bright sunshine earlier in the day.

I tend to avoid offwidths, so I don't get to place my #5 BD cam very often, but Lonely On The Lead just screams, "stick a big cam in me". Right at the start at that, so I couldn't say no....

An excellent route in an incredible setting. I am standing at the #4 cam slot, getting prepared to takle the crux. Photo by kadiez

Tori is on the left doing Grunt, Grip and Grasp and I am on Lonely On The Lead. Photo by kadiez

When it isn't raining, you can't do any better than Charleston for an absolutely incredible setting for climbing. Kit is belaying me climbing Lonely On The Lead. Photo by kadiez

After getting rid of the #5 cam, at waist level, I felt much lighter and ready to takle the route ahead. It just looked awefully steep from there. Photo by kadiez

This was supposed to be a photo of me climbing Out Of Your Mind, but when we looked at the shot, we saw this face! Photo by Tori

If you are feeling strong, and a few loose bits of rock don't bother you, Main E Yank might be for you.

Kit is trying to figure out where we were and what we wanted to start with. Unfortunately, we settled on Curly for our first route.

Kit sorting out the rope after climbing Mission Creep. The rope is coming down the Up-rising line.

This shows 2 of the 4 best routes on the this crag. Note the vegetation in The Heaphy Track though.

From left to right: 1) Bosun's Chair 2) Monkee Poop 3) Galley Gulley 4) The Bridge Too Far 5) Forecourse 6) Main Royale 7) Yardarm 8) Mizzen 9) Flying Jib

From left to right: 1) Granfalloon 2) Pantagruel 3) No Nirvanas 4) Smaug 5) Mr. Baggins 6) Gollum 7) Crapbreech 8) Hotlegs 9) Mirage 10) Collateral Damage 11) Gargantua 12) Exposition 13) Jumbilicus 14) Nudity

By far the most popular crag in the Port Hills for beginners and groups. Decent for trad climbing and great for toproping.

Hamish enjoying a one of the better routes climb on lead at Rapaki Rock. Micha is belaying.

Hamish starting the final stretch past the nose and to the top of one of the better trad routes at Rapaki Rock.

This crag offers climbs up to 25m high of variable quality. Take care.

One of the best trad crags in the Port Hills. Can be a bit exposed to winds, but faces west and gets sun most of the afternoon.