Silverpeaks
Encyclopedia
The Silverpeaks is an area of rough forest
and tussock
and scrub covered hill country inland and to the northwest of Dunedin
, New Zealand
. The area is largely uninhabited; the main indication of human activity is the Taieri Gorge Railway
, which preserves the route of the former Otago Central Railway that runs along the steep-sided valley of the Taieri River
. Much of the area lies within the Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve.
As the name suggests, the region is often snow-coated in winter, and the weather in the Silverpeaks is notoriously unpredictable. A network of walking tracks crisscross the area, but these are regarded as being for expert trampers only, due to the dangers associated with the weather. Access to these tracks is mainly via Double Hill Road, a rural road which leaves leaves SH1
close to Waitati
, and from several rural roads which leave SH87 between Outram
and Middlemarch
.
Several of the peaks rise to above 600 metres. The highest points in the Silverpeaks include Silver Peak (753 m), Pulpit Rock (750 m), Mount Allen (705 m), Mount Misery (702 m). Several tributaries of the Taieri River
have their sources on the slopes of the Silverpeaks to the west, as do several tributaries of the Waikouaiti River
in the east.
Antimony
was once mined near Hindon, the largest settlement in the area.
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
and tussock
Tussock
Tussock most often refers to a small hillock of grassy, or grass-like plant growth, but may also refer to Plants and ecology, Insects.- Plants and ecology :*Tussock *New Zealand tussock grasslands*Serrated Tussock...
and scrub covered hill country inland and to the northwest of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The area is largely uninhabited; the main indication of human activity is the Taieri Gorge Railway
Taieri Gorge Railway
The Taieri Gorge Railway is a railway line and tourist train operation based at Dunedin Railway Station in the South Island of New Zealand...
, which preserves the route of the former Otago Central Railway that runs along the steep-sided valley of the Taieri River
Taieri River
The Taieri River is the fourth-longest river in New Zealand and is located in Otago in the South Island. Rising in the Lammerlaw ranges, it initially flows north, then east around the Rock and Pillar range before turning southeast, reaching the sea 30 km south of Dunedin.The upper reaches meander...
. Much of the area lies within the Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve.
As the name suggests, the region is often snow-coated in winter, and the weather in the Silverpeaks is notoriously unpredictable. A network of walking tracks crisscross the area, but these are regarded as being for expert trampers only, due to the dangers associated with the weather. Access to these tracks is mainly via Double Hill Road, a rural road which leaves leaves SH1
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
close to Waitati
Waitati
Waitati is a small seaside settlement in Otago, New Zealand, within the city limits of Dunedin. It is located close to the tidal mudflats of Blueskin Bay, 19 kilometres north of the Dunedin city centre...
, and from several rural roads which leave SH87 between Outram
Outram, New Zealand
Outram is a rural suburb of Dunedin, New Zealand, with a population of 642 . It is located 28 kilometres west of the central city at the edge of the Taieri Plains, close to the foot of Maungatua. The Taieri River flows close to the southeast of the town...
and Middlemarch
Middlemarch, New Zealand
Middlemarch is a small town within the limits of Dunedin city in New Zealand with 300 inhabitants. It lies some 80km to the west of the city centre, at the foot of the Rock and Pillar Range of hills in the broad Strath-Taieri valley, through which flows the middle reaches of the Taieri...
.
Several of the peaks rise to above 600 metres. The highest points in the Silverpeaks include Silver Peak (753 m), Pulpit Rock (750 m), Mount Allen (705 m), Mount Misery (702 m). Several tributaries of the Taieri River
Taieri River
The Taieri River is the fourth-longest river in New Zealand and is located in Otago in the South Island. Rising in the Lammerlaw ranges, it initially flows north, then east around the Rock and Pillar range before turning southeast, reaching the sea 30 km south of Dunedin.The upper reaches meander...
have their sources on the slopes of the Silverpeaks to the west, as do several tributaries of the Waikouaiti River
Waikouaiti River
240px|thumb|Waikouaiti River estuary at [[Karitane]]; fishing wharf and channel to the [[Pacific Ocean]] at right, [[Matanaka]] headland at left background....
in the east.
Antimony
Antimony
Antimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
was once mined near Hindon, the largest settlement in the area.