Castle Hill
Midway along highway 73, Castle Hill got its name due to the large grey boulders of limestone resembling the ruins of an old castle. With boulders reaching over 50 metres in height, it’s quite a sight. The front of ChristChurch Cathedral in Christchurch was made from Castle Hill limestone. Castle Hill New Zealand is an incredible natural, historical and cultural wonder of New Zealand’s South Island. Castle Hill, also known as Kura Tawhiti by the indigenous Maori Tribe Ngai Tahu, is one of the most popular stops on the scenic Arthur’s Pass Drive. Visiting this geological wonder serves much more than the usual pit-stop, with plenty of things to do and much to learn about New Zealand’s geology and history.
Region: Canterbury
City: Castle Hill
Distance: 33.71 km
Elevation Gain: 586 m
Elevation Loss: 426 m
Difficulty: 431 (Moderate)
FIETS Index: 0.4 FIETS
Avg Grade: 1.44 %
Max cat climb: 3
Min elevation: 543 m
Max elevation: 823 m
Ride Category: Hilly