The Lindis Pass area is known for its dramatic high-country landscapes and sweeping vistas. Most people only get to experience this from a car as SH8 winds its way across Lindis Pass (971m), linking the Mackenzie Basin and Central Otago. 

There is a car park and lookout near the top of the pass from which a short walk on a well-trodden path leads to Double Peak (1323m). However, if you want to immerse yourself fully in this tussock wonderland, a walk to Longslip Mountain (1494m), on the other side of the road, provides a longer and more remote experience.

There is no track, but the route follows a distinct tussock-covered ridgeline and is straightforward. 

Park at the gravel pull-over area 400m west of the pass (on the Central Otago side). Sidle up to the obvious ridge north of the road that meets the ridge between Pt1005 and Pt1006. Starting here avoids the unnecessary climb and subsequent drop off the first knob. The ridge undulates over a series of knobs, climbing gently for the first couple of kilometres and getting steeper after that. As height is gained, new vistas open up.

From Pt1415 the ridge drops down to a low saddle at 1300m, where an old farm track is reached. Follow this track, plus a short steep section up tussocks, to an unnamed round summit at 1500m, and on to the trig on Longslip Mountain, around which an intriguing circle of flat stones has been laid.

The views from the summit are extensive and include the peaks of The Remarkables, Tititea and Mt Earnslaw to the south, and Mt Bath and Aoraki Mt Cook to the north. But it’s the sheer expanse of the high-country tussock grasslands across the ridges and basins in the immediate vicinity that really impresses: ridge after ridge of golden tussock, much of which has been retired from grazing and is now public conservation land, dominate the view.

This is an untracked route with no marker poles or cairns. The ridge is easy to follow but some rocky, scrambly sections are loose under foot and require care. While this is an alpine environment and snow can fall at any time of the year, it can also be oppressively hot in summer and there is no water along the way.

Longslip Mountain is a perfect walk for an autumn or early winter’s day. For photographers, early morning or late afternoon give the best conditions, as the low light casts shadows across the folds and ridges of the landscape and the colours of the tussock shift between golden browns, oranges and reds depending on the season and time of day. We started out in the early afternoon to catch the best light at sunset, had a picnic dinner and retraced our steps as the full moon rose, using our headtorches for the last couple of hours.