Motutere / Castle Rock is a 525-metre-high (1,722 ft) mountain southeast of Coromandel, Waikato, on New Zealand's North Island.[1] It was formerly popular for rock climbing, with a number of high bolted routes.
| Motutere / Castle Rock | |
|---|---|
 Castle Rock from the northwest | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 525 m (1,722 ft) |
| Coordinates | 36°48′13″S 175°33′46″E / 36.80361°S 175.56278°E[1] |
| Naming | |
| English translation | floating island |
| Language of name | Māori |
| Geography | |
.png)  Motutere / Castle Rock North Island, New Zealand | |
| Parent range | Coromandel |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Māori explorers |
Geography
editCastle Rock is a prominent peak in the Coromandel Range that lies 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi) southeast of Coromandel town,[2] north of a 532-metre (1,745 ft) peak also called Motutere[Note 1] and south of an unnamed 573-metre (1,880 ft) peak in the headwaters of the westward-flowing Pukewhau Stream.[1]
The mountain is a volcanic plug made from remnants of solidified magma, the softer surrounding rock having been eroded away.[2]
Māori exploration
editMotutere means "floating island" a name bestowed by Ruamano, a descendant of Tama-te-kapua. Māori explorers of the area tended to travel along the hill ridges, so avoiding the thick vegetation in the sheltered valleys. Once dusk came they would seek shelter in order to avoid the patupaiarehe who they believed inhabited these hills. The summit of Motutere would be eschewed after dark for this reason.[3]
In 2018, the name of the peak was officially gazetted as Motutere / Castle Rock, to incorporate its original Māori name.[4]
Climbing
editAs of April 2014[update], there are 17 different ascents for rock climbers to attempt at the summit of Castle Rock. Routes include Kookmeyer, Budda Wall and the Quiet Earth Wall, with bolted climbs of up to 125 metres (410 ft) on solid rock. Access is via a forestry track that leaves the 309 Road near the Waiau Waterworks visitor centre and involves a 25–40 minute walk in. The track is also suitable for cycling and at the top ridge there are fine views of Great Mercury Island, Cuvier Island, Great Barrier Island and the Firth of Thames.[5][6][7] In 2018, two deaths lead iwi to place an indefinite rāhui on the crag.[8]
Notes
edit- ^ It is not clear why an adjacent peak, only 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) distant, apparently bears the same Māori name as Castle Rock.
References
edit- ^ a b c "NZ Topo Map". Latitude: -36.807 Longitude: 175.562. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Castle Rock". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Story: First peoples in Māori tradition. Motutere (Castle Rock)". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Motutere / Castle Rock". Land Information New Zealand. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Castle Rock". Climb NZ. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Castle Rock". Mountain Project. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Local Rides: The 309 Road to Kuatuna via Castle Rock Track" Archived 2015-01-13 at the Wayback Machine. Whitianaga Bike Club. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Iwi closes popular Coromandel climbing spot Castle Rock after two deaths"Archived 2020-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2020.