• Wildlife
• Geological landforms
• Taieri Pet

Weta

The tops of Rock and Pillars is home to the so-called Giant Weta, a mountain weta (Hermideina maori) growing up to 65 mm in length. It is notable for its ability to survive in the cold, snow covered winter months due to its "anti freeze" like blood.

Skinks

At the time of European settlements, the Otago Skink and Grand Skinks were wide spread. Now limited to the Strath Taieri and Lindis Pass areas, these members of the lizard family grow up to 28 cm in length and live in the schist outcrops. For conservation information visit the .

New Zealand Falcon - Kaearea

A spectacular, lightening fast bird of prey, this uncommon creature frequents the Taieri Gorge and hills above the Strath Taieri. It is smaller than the more common Australian Harrier but no less territorial.

Sutton Salt Lake

Department of Conservation walk trail to New Zealand's only inland salt lake is located on Kidd's Road (turn off from S.H. 87 near the Sutton railway crossing), the south end of the Strath Taieri Valley. Now included in a large scenic reserve (administered by Department of Conservation ) there is a pleasant, marked walkway, with some information at the lake. The lake evaporates in dry periods, and is 30 cm deep at its highest.

Rock and Pillar Range

Reaching 1450m above sea level and with a severe and changeable climate, the Rock and Pillar Range, named for its magnificent tors along the ridge, is available for the experienced tramper and ski tourer. The Department of Conservation is currently planning and setting up formal public access ways to enable greater, safe recreational use of the mountain.

Volcanic Outcrops

Visible on Eastern Ridge, the most prominent being Smooth Cone with its single pine tree planted on Armistice Day 1921.

Nearby, at Foulden Hill, a short distance further up the Macraes' road, a shallow basin is visible indicating the location of a crater lake, the result of a volcanic eruption some 20 million years ago.

The Sisters

Two similar, but less noticeable volcanic rock outcrops further north of the Taieri Ridge, from Smooth Cone.

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The Redan or The Crater

This large and distinct crater is the best example of a volcanic crater in Otago. It is on the Taieri ridge, but access to it requires the consent of the private landowner.

The crater lake

There is a less obvious crater on Foulden Hill Station at the south of the Taieri ridge. Formed from an eruption 20 million years ago, it filled with rainwater when cooled. the result was a lake 1 km long and 200m deep. Now much smaller, the area is rich in fossils. The area though is private land and permission is necessary to visit it.

The Tors

These schist rock outcrops, which rise out of the tussock to the south and west of the valley, have recently been encompassed in an outstanding landscape zone in the Dunedin District Plan. The rock is exposed when lighter surrounding material is eroded, leaving the remaining irregularly shaped and imposing rock structures.

Taieri River

The Taieri River is a river of huge importance to the area. It's catchment is almost 20% of Otago and it is New Zealand's third longest river at 318 km. It has a variety of fish life, most notable the introduced brown trout and salmon. Many of the tributaries are important breeding or spawning grounds. There are some tributaries that still have the koura, or freshwater lobster, although they are less common than they have been in the past. There are several good fishing sites, while in the lower stretches there are also opportunities for other recreational pursuits. In the Strath Taieri Valley it is spanned by three bridges: the Swing Bridge near Sutton, the modern bridge north of the township, and the historic stone bridge near the Hyde township.

 For further detailed information see also "Wild Dunedin" by Neville Peat and Brian Patrick, University of Otago Press, 1995 available at Railhead Store, Middlemarch.

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