Sir William Peak

Sir William Peak
Southwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation	2,610 m (8,563 ft) [1] [2]
Prominence	535 m (1,755 ft) [2]
Isolation	3.11 km (1.93 mi) [2]
Listing	Highest mountains of New Zealand
Coordinates	44°35′33″S168°24′16″E / 44.592378°S 168.404531°E / -44.592378; 168.404531 [2]
Geography
Sir William Peak Location in New Zealand
Interactive map of Sir William Peak
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Protected area	Mount Aspiring National Park
Parent range	Southern Alps Forbes Mountains [3]
Topo map(s)	NZMS260 E40 [4] Topo50 CA10 [3]
Climbing
First ascent	December 1930
Easiest route	North Face [3]

Sir William Peak is a 2,610-metre-elevation (8,563-foot) mountain in Otago, New Zealand.

Description

Sir William Peak is located 28 kilometres north of Glenorchy, New Zealand, in the Southern Alps of the South Island. It is set within Mount Aspiring National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. The peak is part of the Forbes Mountains which are a subrange of the Southern Alps. ^[3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's southwest slope drains to the Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu via Bedford Stream, whereas all other slopes drain to the Rees River via Hunter Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,150 metres (7,054 feet) above the Dart Valley in five kilometres, and 1,300 metres (4,265 feet) above the West Branch of Hunter Creek in 1.5 kilometre. The nearest higher neighbour is Mount Earnslaw, three kilometres to the south. ^[2] This mountain's toponym has been officially approved by the New Zealand Geographic Board. ^[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sir William Peak is located in a marine west coast climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit. ^[5] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. This climate supports the Frances Glacier on the southwest slope and an unnamed glacier on the east slope of the mountain. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak. ^[6]

Climbing

The first ascent of the summit was made in December 1930 by J.A. Sim, V.J. Leader, and K. Grinling. ^[3]

Climbing routes:

• South Ridge – G.N. Tunzelman, Bob Lidstone – (1963)
• North Face
• East Ridge

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height
• Sir William Fox
• Sir William Jackson Hooker

References

1. Sir William Peak, Otago, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
2. "Sir William Peak, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
3. Sir William Pk, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
4. Sir William Peak, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
5. Te Anau Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
6. The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 2 January 2025.

External links

• Sir William Peak: weather
• Sir William Peak: New Zealand Alpine Club