The Silverpeaks facts for kids
The Silverpeaks (sometimes spelled Silver Peaks) is a wild and beautiful area of hills, forests, and grassy plains in New Zealand. It's located inland from Dunedin, a city on the South Island. This special place is mostly empty of people, making it a great spot for nature and adventure. One of the few signs of human activity is the historic Taieri Gorge Railway, which winds through the steep valleys of the Taieri River. A big part of the Silverpeaks is protected as the Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve, helping to keep its natural beauty safe.
Exploring the Silverpeaks
The Silverpeaks area has many walking tracks for adventurers. From a spot called Pulpit Rock, hikers can go down the "Devil's Staircase" into a green valley. This valley is close to a small cabin known as Jubilee Hut.
You can reach these tracks mainly by using Double Hill Road. This country road leaves State Highway 1 (SH1) near a town called Waitati. Other roads from State Highway 87 (SH87) also lead into the area. These roads are found between the towns of Outram and Middlemarch.
High Peaks and Rivers
Several hills in the Silverpeaks rise very high, some over 600 meters (about 2,000 feet). The tallest points include:
- Silver Peak (753 meters), which is called Huatea in the Māori language.
- Pulpit Rock (750 meters).
- Mount Allen (705 meters).
- Mount Misery (702 meters).
Many small streams that feed into the Taieri River start on the western slopes of the Silverpeaks. Other streams that flow into the Waikouaiti River begin on the eastern side.
A Bit of History
Long ago, a metal called antimony was dug up (mined) near Hindon. Hindon is the largest small town in the Silverpeaks area.
