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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 7 (October 1, 1937.)

Scenery of the Midland Railway District

page 34

Scenery of the Midland Railway District

[Copyright of photos, reserved.]

A view of the Torlesse Range from a point near Springfield, South Island, New Zealand.

A view of the Torlesse Range from a point near Springfield, South Island, New Zealand.

The average excursionist Arthur's Pass bound, is content with but a passing glance at the wealth of mountain, river and bush scenery that the train journey between Springfield and Arthur's Pass offers. But those who wish for a more enduring acquaintance, I would ask to leave the excursion train and make the trip to some of the lakes, valleys and hills easily accessible by the Midland Railway in its snake-like course through the outer mountain ranges.

At Springfield the dominating feature of the landscape is the Torlesse Range, the outside rampart of the barrier of mountains beyond. Nestling in a small basin at the foot of Mt. Torlesse is Lake Rubicon, a lakelet that offers good ice skating during a great part of the winter. It makes a comfortable day's outing from Springfield, and is comparatively well-known owing to the mystery train activities.

The Torlesse Range lies south-west from the Waimakariri River, between its tributaries the Kowai and Broken Rivers, and stretches from Porters Pass to Staircase. The range includes four main peaks, Rubicon Peak (6,442 feet) is the nearest to Springfield, and is the one usually referred to when speaking of Mt. Torlesse. Rubicon Peak, Back Peak (6,485 feet) and Otarama Peak (6,457 feet) form an amphitheatre enclosing the snow basin in which the Staircase Creek has its source.

These three peaks are separated from the highest point on the range—Castle Hill Peak (6,553 feet)—by a rock arete intersected by several gaps. In the old coaching days, this part of the range was a land-mark known as “the sleeping lady,” because seen from the flat, the rock gaps appear in outline as the clearly defined features of a recumbent human figure.

Between Kowai Bush and Staircase there are some fine views of the Waimakariri
The Broken River Viaduct, Midland Line, South Island, New Zealand.

The Broken River Viaduct, Midland Line, South Island, New Zealand.

Gorge. Immediately after leaving Staircase Station the train passes over a viaduct 237 feet from rails to riverbed, which is 27 feet higher than the spire of the Christchurch Cathedral.

Mt. Rosa (3,380 feet) rising off the Waimakariri tableland is reached by a four mile walk across the flat land to the right of the Avoca Station. From the summit there is a fine view up the Poulter and Esk Valleys. The Poulter and the Esk are two of the main tributaries of the Waimakariri River.

In the region near Craigieburn and Cass are a number of small lakes, Pearson and Grassmere on the West Coast Road being the best known. Marsh-fringed Sarah, however, can be seen from the train.

But leave the train at Craigieburn and go straight over the low hill at the back of the station. There will be found two gems—Hawdon and Marymere at the foot of a mountain (St. Bernard) that seems to rise out of the lakes themselves.

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Staircase Viaduct and the Waimakarirl River, Midland Line, South Island, New Zealand.

Staircase Viaduct and the Waimakarirl River, Midland Line, South Island, New Zealand.

Mount St. Bernard (5,505 feet) is not so difficult to scale as might appear. True it is steep, but the effort will be rewarded by the view to be obtained from the summit.

Within easy walking distance of Cass lies Lake Pearson, the largest lake in
Miss N. Menzles, who won the first prize awarded to the best dressed girl advertising the railways, at the Grand Carnival Ball, held recently at Hokitika.

Miss N. Menzles, who won the first prize awarded to the best dressed girl advertising the railways, at the Grand Carnival Ball, held recently at Hokitika.

the district. Four miles in length and almost divided in two where it narrows down to a straight twenty feet wide, its placid waters are often a perfect mirror of the surrounding hills. As a result Mt. St. Bernard towering high above the lake can sometimes be seen both above and below at the same time.

About two miles below Cass Station the Cass River flows into the Waimakariri, and here a great part of the heavily-bushed Hawdon Valley, the north branch of the Waimakariri, can be seen.

The Waimakariri takes its source from three small glaciers on the western face of Mt. Rolleston, and a large glacier between Mt. Rolleston and Mt. Armstrong. It then flows along a high level valley until it reaches the Waimakariri Falls. Thence it flows around the foot of Mt. Carrington to join the White River, and to set out on its eventual course, gathering the tribute of many rivers, making its way through the great gorge, and the open sweeping curve course across the plains.

This completes a brief survey of some of the most interesting points in the Midland district. The places mentioned make convenient one day outings from Christchurch, and there is no reason why this part of the country should not be more frequently visited instead of being, as at present, terra incognita to the average tramper.

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