Motutere / Castle Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Motutere / Castle Rock |
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Castle Rock from the northwest
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 525 m (1,722 ft) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | floating island |
| Language of name | Māori |
| Geography | |
 Motutere / Castle Rock
Location in New Zealand
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| Parent range | Coromandel |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Māori explorers |
Motutere / Castle Rock is a high mountain in New Zealand. It stands about 525 meters (1,722 feet) tall. You can find it south-east of Coromandel town in the Waikato region. This mountain is a popular spot for rock climbing, with many exciting routes for climbers to try.
What is Motutere / Castle Rock?
Motutere / Castle Rock is a special kind of mountain in the Coromandel Range. It's located about 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles) south-east of Coromandel town.
This mountain is actually what's left of an ancient volcano. Imagine a volcano that was once active; inside it, hot, melted rock called magma cooled down and became very hard. Over a very long time, the softer rocks around this hard core wore away due to erosion (like wind and rain). What's left is the tough, solid core, which we call a volcanic plug. That's why Castle Rock stands out so much!
The Māori Name and History
The name Motutere means "floating island" in the Māori language. This name was given by an important Māori explorer named Ruamano.
Long ago, Māori explorers traveled through these hills. They often walked along the top of the ridges to avoid the thick plants in the valleys below. When night came, they would look for shelter because they believed in spirits called patupaiarehe who lived in the hills. For this reason, they would not stay on the summit of Motutere after dark.
In 2018, the mountain's name was officially changed to Motutere / Castle Rock. This was done to include its original Māori name, honoring the history and culture of the land.
Rock Climbing Adventures
Motutere / Castle Rock is a fantastic place for rock climbing. As of April 2014, there are 17 different climbing routes for people to try. Some of these routes have cool names like Kookmeyer, Budda Wall, and the Quiet Earth Wall.
Climbers use special equipment, including bolts that are fixed into the rock to help them climb safely. Some climbs here can be as long as 125 meters (410 feet) on very solid rock.
To get to the climbing area, you can use a forestry track. This track starts near the Waiau Waterworks visitor center, which is on the 309 Road. It's a walk of about 25 to 40 minutes to reach the climbing spots. The track is also good for cycling. Once you reach the top ridge, you'll see amazing views of nearby islands like Great Mercury Island, Cuvier Island, Great Barrier Island, and the Firth of Thames.
