In reply to pchaggar:
In case people were wondering about the hold ups, we were the second party on the route (a pair got on just before us but went off up Astral Highway) and we were in a three, with one of our party in increasing pain from a foot injury inflicted the previous day (in a bouldering fall, of all things!). I suppose first come, first served - we set off from the car park at 3.30am. There seemed to be quite a few parties on the route - apparently at least four behind us, with another party opting for an alternative finish. We topped out at 6.20pm, shortly followed by a couple of other parties. Were you the guy we met in the hostel on Sunday morning? What a great route, shame the visibility wasn't great.