Follow Tantragee Road from either one of the car parks (in Brook Valley or Maitai Valley) to Tantragee Saddle, and at the top turn onto Fringed Hill Road, which continues uphill (you will see Nelson City Council signposts directing you).

The road climbs in up and around Groom Creek gully, and then around the northern aspect of Fringed Hill, before switching back westward for the final climb. The average gradient of Fringed Hill Road is 11% and is reasonably consistent the whole way up. The hillside is covered in young pine trees which are low enough to allow amazing views north and west across Tasman Bay. The road rounds the upper slopes of Groom Creek gully again, before reaching the top of the unnamed spur that forms the western side of the gully. The road forks here.

To access the summit, turn left at the fork, (it is signposted) and continue up a couple more zig-zags. The summit hosts transmission masts and associated buildings, and there is a trig and a couple of wooden benches to relax on after your climb. Beech forest begins immediately behind the buildings, and a signs indicate the respective beginnings of Black Diamond Ridge (expert difficulty) and Te Ara Koa (advanced difficulty).

Instead of climbing to the summit, heading straight at the fork will take you to a clearing where Fringed Downhill (expert difficulty) descends down Bullock Spur into Brook Valley. Continue straight to head onto Fringed Hill Classic, which descends Cummins Spur through native bush and pine forest, and intersects Coppermine Trail at Four Corners.