Canterbury: Castle Hill (2)
In the Waimakariri Basin, about an hour's drive towards the mountains on SH73 from Christchurch, is a scattering of hundreds of weathered limestone tors that erupt from golden tussocky hills.
These limestone rock formations are the water-eroded remnants of limestone, formed during the Oligocene age 30-40 million years ago when much of present day New Zealand was covered by the sea.
Officially called a karst landscape, these ancient rocks are smooth, sculpted, spectacular, and irresistibly photogenic. In fact, some of a 'Narnia' movie was filmed nearby.
With some up to 50m high, the rocks are a magnet for climbers and boulderers, who you'll see eagerly tackling what they call "problems" without the benefit of ropes or harnesses: just chalk, balance, strength, experience, and brainpower.
Note the two miniscule climbers on the skyline...
Canterbury: Castle Hill (2)
In the Waimakariri Basin, about an hour's drive towards the mountains on SH73 from Christchurch, is a scattering of hundreds of weathered limestone tors that erupt from golden tussocky hills.
These limestone rock formations are the water-eroded remnants of limestone, formed during the Oligocene age 30-40 million years ago when much of present day New Zealand was covered by the sea.
Officially called a karst landscape, these ancient rocks are smooth, sculpted, spectacular, and irresistibly photogenic. In fact, some of a 'Narnia' movie was filmed nearby.
With some up to 50m high, the rocks are a magnet for climbers and boulderers, who you'll see eagerly tackling what they call "problems" without the benefit of ropes or harnesses: just chalk, balance, strength, experience, and brainpower.
Note the two miniscule climbers on the skyline...