Tākaka Hill facts for kids
Tākaka Hill is a range of hills located in the northwest part of New Zealand's South Island. It's famous for its unique landscape, which is mostly made of a type of rock called marble. This marble has been shaped by nature over a very long time, creating many interesting forms and lots of sinkholes. This kind of landscape is known as karst country. The marble itself is very old, dating back to the Ordovician period.
This hill range rises to 791 metres at its highest point. It acts like a natural barrier, separating the coastal towns of Golden Bay from the larger communities around Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere to the southeast. Because the only road over it is very winding, Tākaka Hill makes Golden Bay feel a bit cut off from the rest of the South Island.
The only main road that goes over and around Tākaka Hill is State Highway 60. This road follows the valleys of two rivers: the Tākaka River to the northwest and the Riuwaka River to the southeast. In July 2020, the official name for the pass on this road became Tākaka Hill Saddle, as named by the New Zealand Geographic Board.
Contents
Exploring Tākaka Hill's Unique Geology
Tākaka Hill is well-known for its special geological features. It once had a marble quarry, which is a place where marble rock is dug out of the ground. The hill is also home to many amazing caves and sinkholes, which are natural holes in the ground that can lead to underground spaces.
Discovering Ancient Caves
Among the many caves, Ngarua Caves are open for visitors to explore. Inside these caves, you can find deposits of moa bones. Moa were large, flightless birds that used to live in New Zealand but are now extinct. Exploring these caves is like taking a step back in time!
Another famous cave on Tākaka Hill is Harwood's Hole. This cave was once known as the deepest cave in New Zealand. It's a very impressive natural wonder.
The Resurgence Spring
Many of the underground caves and sinkholes on Tākaka Hill drain their water into a special spring called The Resurgence. This spring is located at the foot of the hill and is where the underground water comes back to the surface. It's a great example of how water moves through the karst landscape.
Tākaka Hill in Movies
Tākaka Hill, along with other areas around Golden Bay, has been used as a filming location for many scenes in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Its beautiful and unique landscapes made it a perfect setting for the fantasy world of Middle-earth.
