Central North Island Rock.
Central North Island Rock.
Crags covered by this guidebook lie in the central part of the North Island. To be more precise, it includes well known and lesser known crags in the following areas: Tongariro National Park, around Lake Taupo, King Country, Waitomo and Waikato. One very notable exception is Whanganui Bay and satellites, as a major guidebook exists and a new edition is under way. There are several reasons for producing this guidebook. First and most obvious is to provide rockclimbers with information about crags in the area. The need for a comprehensive guide to the region is strong. Second is to avoid the old routes being re-done and/or altered in ignorance, as has happened already. Third, to provide pertinent information on issues facing rockclimbing today. Access to crags in particular is crucial, and a guidebook is a good means of providing information that could help to avoid conflict and therefore safeguard access. A guidebook is more than just a collection of crag notes, it also documents the climbing history of an area. The development of crags in the central North Island has been sporadic, often poorly recorded, and somewhat confusing in detail. Previous publications form the basis of much of this guidebook. In addition to these references there are incorporated crag notes that lay festering in dusty folders, and certainly some details have only come to light during discussions. Some crags are known by several names. This book brings together much of what has happened in the region over the past twenty years, while trying not to distort it too much, and presents it before details become even dimmer. Although overdue in many respects, this guidebook comes on the heels of increased rockclimbing activity throughout the region. The last few years in particular are notable for development of both new crags and routes, and a visible increase in the number of climbers out and about as evidenced by the increasing popularity of climbing competitions. With an increase in activity the issue of access become even more important. This guidebook will awaken climbers to the existing and potential climbing in the region. There is great rockclimbing outside of Mt Eden Quarry, Whanganui Bay, and even Canterbury! The nicest consequence of this awakening will be a deluge of new routes and new crags. For a guide exclusively covering Whanganui Bay see Whanganui Rock.
Page created by Murray Scott. Last modified 26 June 1996.