The first significant mountain most people climb in Arthur’s Pass is Avalanche Peak. The views are spectacular, but you’ll likely share them with a small crowd, even on a weekday. 

For greater adventure and solitude, try looking east across the valley to the unassuming peak of Mt O’Malley (1703m). 

The route starts at the Devils Punchbowl Waterfall car park on the edge of Arthur’s Pass village. Follow directions to the waterfall via bridged crossings of the Bealey River and Devils Punchbowl Creek. Then, it’s uphill on a formed track to the start of the Mt Aicken Track (on the right). 

These first 10 to 15 minutes are very civilised, and you could carry on to the waterfall (it’s an impressive sight). But the route up the mountain follows the steep and rugged Mt Aicken Track – with an occasional scramble – through beech forest to the bushline. There are views from a few clearings, including of Mt Rolleston and Avalanche Peak and later the upper reaches of Devils Punchbowl Creek. 

Once above the bushline the track continues for a few hundred metres, guided by orange markers. Those visiting Mt Aicken will continue to 1844m, but to visit Mt O’Malley walkers need to turn south-east. It’s easy enough at first through tussock and patches of rocks to cross a spur at roughly 1650m. 

The next section is where that promised adventure and solitude begin. It’s through rocky terrain, under bluffs and up steep slopes on sometimes loose rock to the next spur. In winter and spring there will be snow, and avalanches are not uncommon.

The best route leads directly down into a rocky basin below and south of Pt1844, and then hugs the base of tall bluffs. The slopes under these bluffs are steep, and with snow cover it’s ice axe territory. At other times it’s shallow scree with some loose rocks. 

Climb to the next spur where there are views of a tarn and Mt O’Malley, then descend steep slopes covered by shallow scree and rocks into another boulder-strewn basin. The rest of the walk is straightforward as it roughly follows the 1650m contour below Pt1768m to reach a saddle between this and Mt O’Malley. The route now turns south for the final easy climb to the summit with views of mountains and valleys in all directions. Especially impressive are high peaks in the Polar and Aicken ranges to the north-east. Retrace your steps for the return journey.