Pourangahau / Mount Robert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pourangahau |
|
|---|---|
| Mount Robert | |
Pourangahau / Mount Robert viewed from St Arnaud across Lake Rotoiti
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,421 m (4,662 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Pourangahau
Location in New Zealand
|
|
| Location | Tasman Region, New Zealand |
Pourangahau / Mount Robert is a cool mountain in New Zealand's South Island. It stands 1,421 meters (about 4,662 feet) high. You can find it inside the beautiful Nelson Lakes National Park. It's a popular spot for hikers and offers amazing views.
For many years, this mountain was part of a large farm. It belonged to a man named John Kerr, who was also a politician. A politician is someone who helps make rules for a country or area. After John Kerr passed away in 1898, the land became part of the government's property.
Contents
Exploring Pourangahau / Mount Robert
If you want to visit Pourangahau / Mount Robert, you can drive on the Mt Robert Road. This road is just west of the town of Saint Arnaud. It leads to a car park where many hiking trails begin.
Hiking Trails and Views
One popular trail is a 5-hour loop walk up the mountain. It's called The Pinchgut Track. This path zigzags steeply up towards the top of Mount Robert. Then, it follows a ridge to a place called Bushline Hut. From there, you can walk down a gentler path called Paddy's Track.
As you hike, you'll see incredible sights. The trails offer amazing views over Lake Rotoiti and the town of St Arnaud. It's a great way to experience the park's beauty.
Nature and Trees
The trees on the northeastern side of Mount Robert are quite short. This is because a big fire in 1887 destroyed the original beech forest. After the fire, animals grazed there, which stopped new trees from growing tall.
However, on the western and southern sides of the mountain, you can still see tall, old beech trees. These areas were not affected as much by the fire and grazing.
The Skiing Past
On the northern side of the mountain, there used to be a skifield. A skifield is a place where people go skiing. In 2005, the special ropes that pulled skiers up the mountain were taken away. They were moved to another nearby ski area called Rainbow Ski Area.
One of the main reasons the skifield closed was a lack of snow. Sometimes, helicopters even had to fly people up to the skifield because there wasn't enough snow to get there easily.
A Special Name
In August 2014, the official name for Mount Robert was changed. It became Pourangahau / Mount Robert. This change happened because of an agreement between the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō iwi (a Māori tribe) and the New Zealand government. This agreement was part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement. The Treaty of Waitangi is a very important document in New Zealand's history.
