Rock and Pillar Range
| Rock and Pillar Range | |
|---|---|
The Rock and Pillar Range near Summit Rock as observed in September, with snow and Celmisia viscosa plants | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Summit Rock |
| Elevation | 1,450 m (4,760 ft) |
| Coordinates | 45°25′30″S 170°04′16″E / 45.425°S 170.071°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 23 km (14 mi) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Patearoa (Māori) |
| Geography | |
6km 3.7miles R o c k a n d P i l l a r R a n g e G r e a t M o s s S w a m p The Window Round Hill The Castle McPhees Rock Museum Rock Summit Rock Named features in the Rock and Pillar Range | |
| Location | South Island, New Zealand |
| Range coordinates | 45°23′S 170°07′E / 45.383°S 170.117°E |
The Rock and Pillar Range (Māori: Patearoa), is a range of high hills is located in the Maniototo, an area of inland Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, about 53 km (33 mi) from the east coast.
The range is surrounded on three sides by the Taieri River, which has its source in the nearby Lammerlaw Range. The river flows out across the scroll plain at Paerau, along the north west flanks of the Rock and Pillar Range before almost doubling back on itself at Waipiata and flowing back along the eastern side past Hyde through the Strath-Taieri. The Great Moss Swamp lies on the upper surface of the range. The town of Middlemarch lies close to the Taieri River to the east of the range, and Patearoa lies to the northwest.
The Rock and Pillars are a horst range, caused by movement on two parallel faults uplifting the area in between. The range is characterised by a very flat plateau at the top that is approximately 23 km (14 mi) long and 6 km (3.7 mi) wide, with steep escarpments on either side.
There is an often persistent and unusual cloud formation associated with the range. This strange cloud formation is more or less stationary and is called the Taieri Pet by the local inhabitants. It is formed by high north-westerly winds being forced upward over the Rock and Pillar range.
The Rock and Pillar Range is the border separating the Central Otago District from the Dunedin City administrative area within the Otago Region.
Big Hut, situated near the summit of the range, is available for public use.