Rock and Pillar Range

The Rock and Pillar Range (Māori: Patearoa),^[1] is a range of high hills is located in the Maniototo, an area of inland Otago, New Zealand. The range is surrounded on three sides by the Taieri River, which has its source in the Lammerlaw Range. The river flows out across the scroll plain at Paerau, along the north west flanks of the Rock and Pillar Range before almost doubling back on itself at Waipiata and flowing back along the eastern side past Hyde through the Strath-Taieri. The town of Middlemarch lies close to the Taieri River to the east of the range, and Patearoa lies to the northwest.^[2]

Rock and Pillar Range
The north end of the Rock and Pillar Range is visible in the distance in this picture taken from near Ranfurly
Highest point
Peak	Summit Rock
Elevation	1,450 m (4,760 ft)
Coordinates	45.425°S 170.071°E / -45.425; 170.071
Naming
Native name	Patearoa (Māori)
Geography
6km 3.7miles R o c k a n d P i l l a r R a n g e G r e a t M o s s S w a m p The Window Round Hill The Castle McPhees Rock Museum Rock Summit Rock     Named features in the Rock and Pillar Range
Location	South Island, New Zealand
Range coordinates	45°23′S 170°07′E

The Rock and Pillars are a horst range, caused by movement on two parallel faults uplifting the area in between. Thus, the range is characterised by a very flat top, with steep escarpments on either side. The Great Moss Swamp lies on the upper surface of the range. There is a often persistent and unusual cloud formation associated with the range. This strange cloud formation, is more or less stationary and is called the Taieri Pet by the local inhabitants. It is formed by high north-westerly winds being forced upward over the Rock & Pillar range.^[1][3] Big Hut, situated near the summit of the range, is available for public use.^[4]

The Rock and Pillar Range is the border separating the Central Otago District from the Dunedin City administrative area within the Otago Region.

Peaks

Tors in the Rock and Pillar Range

The range takes its name from the rock formations that cover parts of it. The highest point in the range is Summit Rock at 1,450 metres (4,760 ft) which has also been called Summit Peak.^[5] Other named peaks include Museum Rock at 1,380 metres (4,530 ft)^[6] (locally also called Stonehenge, although this name is also used on the other side of the range near Paerau)^[7] and McPhee's Rock at 1,010 metres (3,310 ft).^[8]

Fauna and Flora

The nationally endangered Burgan Skink is endemic to the Rock and Pillar range.^[9] This range is also an area of narrow-range endemism for New Zealand endemic moths.^[10] The moth species Ichneutica schistella can only be found in this area.^[10]