Tararua Range
|
North Island New Zealand and position of Tararua Range |
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 1570 metres.
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.
Serving as a
tramping location for Wellington, amongst the possible trips is the famous "
Southern Crossing" running from Otaki Forks in the west, over Mt Hector and exiting via
Kaitoke.
