At 1528 metres, 21 kilometres south of Nelson, Mt Starveall is a superb viewpoint. The Marlborough Sounds, Richmond Range, Inland Kaikouras, Red Hills Ridge, Nelson’s Western Ranges as well as Tasman Bay are all on Mt Starveall’s viewing menu.
A cloud drifts across the Lowther Saddle between the Hacket Peaks and Mt Starveall (right, 1528 m). Dominating in the distance are Little Rintoul (left, 1643 m) and Mt Rintoul (1731 m).
Looking back to the Hacket Peaks (1438 m and 1437 m) and Mt Gale (1425 m).
Clouds hover above Mt Starveall summit (1528 m).
A few ridges to the east lies the Richmond Range with North Peak (point 1496), Mt Fell (1599 m) and Mt Richmond (1756 m).
To the south are Little Rintoul (1643 m), Mt Rintoul (1731 m) and Purple Top (1532 m).
Glowing in the distance is the Red Hills Ridge which features Red Hill (1791 m), Mt Richmond Forest Park’s highest mountain. In the foreground are Purple Top (left) and Bishops Cap (right).
Nearby neighbour Kahurangi National Park and its Marino Mountains.
Tasman Bay looks close.
Tasman Bay with Rabbit Island (centre) and the coast of Abel Tasman National Park (top right).
Mt Starveall’s southern panorama ranges from the Marlborough Sounds along the Richmond Range to Ben Nevis.
For info on backcountry huts in the vicinity of Mt Starveall refer to my articles Starveall Hut—an ‘isolated barn’? and Ada Flat—walking on slate.
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Dam you continually teasing me – Starvell is the only peak I haven’t stood on in the Eastern ranges – tried to get there at Easter by the track was closed due to tree fell – Ended up going north from Hackett hut to Rocks Hut. I meet a DOC guy at Middy who said they are going to mark a new track up to starvell hut via a SE ridge after crossing the bridge over the Hackett river – has this been done yet? I am coming down on Labour w/e and will attemp this again. Cheers Rob
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Rob, you’re welcome
I’m not aware that the new track from the Hacket to Starveall Hut has gone in. I’ll let you know if I can find out anything through my DOC contacts.There used to be a track from Lee Valley to Starveall Hut. In the old, 1986 brochure The Alpine Route it says “Lee Road end to Starveall Hut 5–6 hours”. I’m unsure if that track is still maintained and whether the Lee Valley is still open to the public. Again, I’ll see what I can find out.
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Hi Mark. Another inspirational set of amazing photos with the accompanying names of relevant peaks. I thought certain names rather apt, eg. ‘The Red & Purple Range, viewed according to the excellent photography which captured the relevant colours, & the Bishops peak… How may I find out more about the origin of the naming of the said places? It’s just that I find it hard to think of any bishop who may have actually tramped that high in ‘his’ robes to claim the fame! – Hopefully with my reduced working scedule I’ll make & have the time to actually start discovering the beauty of our beautiful nature backyard. Looking fwd to your return. Have a safe trip… ian
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Thank you, Ian. As far as the origin of the place names you mentioned is concerned, I found the following in the old, 1986 brochure The Alpine Route:
Purple Top: “The name is derived from the colour of the slabs of purplish-red siltstone which occur in patches across the face.”
Bishops Cap: “…the name derives from its distinctive symmetrical peaked shape which can be seen from both north and south…”With regard to the Red Hills Ridge, I found the following in A guide to Mt Richmond State Forest Park (1st edition, 1985): “Deposits of copper and chrome occur in the ultramafic rocks of the ‘mineral belt’, a thin band of igneous rock only a few kilometres wide, which extends north-east within the park from near Tophouse to D’Urville Island. These were mined from the 1850s to 1910…The rocks of the mineral belt are derived from deep within the earth and are extremely dense, being rich in magnesium and iron. These minerals weather readily to a red brown (dun) colour, hence the names Dun Mountain and Red Hills.”
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Hi Markus, Wow! What’s the walk like along the saddle from Starveall to Hackett Peaks? I understand it will involve a bit of bush-bashing? I have always wanted to do this, and it’s on my to-do list for the upcoming holidays. Cheers, Reuben
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Reuben, yes, you are correct, from Mt Starveall across the Lowther Saddle to the Hacket Peaks does involve a bit of bush-bashing. It’s mainly stunted mountain beech and there is a trail which makes navigating straightforward.
A few years ago I traversed the Bryant Range from Roebuck Hut to Mt Starveall via points 856, 872, Mt Stewart, Weka Saddle, Mt Gale, Hacket Peaks and Lowther Saddle. Except for the lack of water (which I was aware of) it was a great trip. I may write an article about it some time soon.
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