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Robert Ridge climbs above Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park, following the route from Mount Robert towards Lake Angelus. This 75-minute walking video starts in the open alpine terrain, with tussock, rock and scree becoming more common as the track climbs.

The character of the trail changes quite a bit with the elevation. The lower sections are relatively sheltered and natural, while higher up the track becomes rougher and more exposed. There are rocky and uneven sections along the ridge, with some steeper parts and narrower stretches where the surrounding mountains are much more noticeable.

Lake Rotoiti can be seen below for much of the climb, while the views open out towards the mountains and valleys of Nelson Lakes National Park. Further along, the landscape becomes almost completely open, with alpine basins, rocky peaks and the area around Lake Angelus coming into view. Moving from the forest into this exposed mountain landscape is one of the highlights of the walk.

For the treadmill version, the pace is set at around 4 km/h with a 5% incline. This gives the walk a steady uphill feel and reflects the overall effort of climbing Robert Ridge, although the actual trail is much more varied, with steeper climbs, flatter sections and some descents. A 3–4% incline would make for an easier indoor session while still keeping that uphill hiking feel.

Robert Ridge is one of the main alpine sections of the route to Angelus Hut and is a popular walk in the Mount Robert area. Once above the forest, there is very little shelter, and the trail takes on a much more rugged mountain character.

At 75 minutes, this is a longer virtual hike with plenty of time to settle into a steady rhythm. The changing scenery, sustained climb and increasingly open alpine landscape make Robert Ridge a very different experience from the sheltered forest walking found lower on the mountain.