Tararua Range
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The Tararua Range (often referred to as the Tararua Ranges) is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington.
The ridge is at its most pronounced in the southern part of the island, where it comprises the Rimutaka, Ruahine, and Tararua Ranges.
The Tararuas run northeast-southwest for 80 kilometres from near Palmerston North to the upper reaches of the Hutt Valley, where the northern tip of the Rimutaka Range begins. It is separated in the north from the southern end of the Ruahine Range by the Manawatu Gorge.
The highest peak in the Tararuas is Mitre (not to be confused with Mitre Peak) at 1,570 metres (5,150 ft). Other prominent peaks include Mount Bannister (1,537 metres (5,043 ft)) and Mount Hector (1,529 metres (5,016 ft)).
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[edit] History
The Tararua Range is significant in the history of tramping in New Zealand, due to its accessibility for people in Wellington and nearby towns. In April 1933, it was the focus of what later came to be known as The Sutch Search when Mr Eric Hill, Miss Morva Williams, Mr Bert O’Keefe and Dr. Bill Sutch went missing for more than two weeks during an attempt to follow a particular route during winter. An accident slowed the group enough that they became stuck in bad weather, after which it took more than two weeks for them to find a way out despite having planned for no longer than a single night.[1] The group was noticed to be missing after a week, at which time a search developed that eventually involved roughly 200 people and solicited many donations from members of the public. The search was the first in New Zealand to involve radio communications and aircraft, and is generally considered to be one of the major contributing events towards the formation of New Zealand's voluntary Land Search and Rescue service.[2] It was covered intensely by media at the time, and when the group finally returned they sparked strong public debate regarding the responsibilities of those who enter the wilderness.[3]
[edit] Roads
The only all-weather road right across the range is the "Pahiatua Track", which joins Palmerston North and Pahiatua and is much used when the Manawatu Gorge road is closed.
[edit] Recreation
The Tararua Ranges serve as a popular tramping location for the greater Wellington district. Amongst the available tracks is the well known "Southern Crossing" running from Otaki Forks in the west, over Mount Hector and exiting via Kaitoke.
Coordinates: 40°46′S 175°23′E / 40.767°S 175.383°E
[edit] External links
Maclean, Chris (2009-03-03). "Wellington places - Tararua Range". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/wellington-places/16. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
[edit] References
- ^ Chris MacLean (December 1994). Tararua: The Story of a Mountain Range. Whitcombe Press. ISBN 978-0-473-02613-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=CMVHAAAACAAJ. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "History of LandSAR in New Zealand". New Zealand Land Search and Rescue. http://www.landsar.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=934. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ Mike McGavin (27 August 2010). "Re-living the Sutch Search". Windy Hilltops. http://www.windy.gen.nz/?p=498. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
