Mount Cargill and the Organ Pipes, Coastal Otago, NZ - 0 travel reviews for Mount Cargill and the Organ Pipes

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Marios Gavalas

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Dunedin, Coastal Otago

Camping near Dunedin

Photos

Marios Gavalas

View out from Mt Cargill

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Information

Mount Cargill and the Organ Pipes

Organ Pipes: 2.8 km return | 40 minutes return Mount Cargill: 7 km return | 2 hour return

Sacred geometry in the rocks with the vertical Organ Pipes thrusting upwards and a view of Dunedin, the harbour and Otago Peninsula.

Walking Track

Access

From Dunedin town centre follow North East Valley, then North Road into Mount Cargill Road. On the summit plateau there is a small parking area (unsuitable for large campervans).

The walk is signposted on the left.

Track

This is a steep, rough and slippery track winding up through remnant pocket of native totara forest. After 15 minutes the Organ Pipes are signposted to the left.

The real views only start as your approach the mast on the summit (676 m).

Geology

Mount Cargill forms part of the large extinct volcano that dominated the Dunedin region around 10 million years ago.

Like other hexagonally jointed basalt flows around the world, most notably Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway, the magical geometric patterns are a response to cooling. When the (usually basalt) lava cools, it contracts, and the fracture pattern determined at the surface migrates downwards, guarding it’s parent form. If the cooling centres are regularly spaced, then hexagonal jointing will follow.

Flora

A small cloud forest is reserved at the top. Cloud forests form in places it is cloudy. And Mount Cargill is often cloudy. It is the region’s weather vane. If you want to know what the humidity level in the air is doing, just check out Mount Cargill.

European History

Mount Cargill is the highest peak around and has a transmitter for radio and TV on the summit.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Otago

Central government organisation

Location

South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin

Categories

Walking
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-45.8069358624056

170.571870708466

Latitude
-45.8069358624056
Longitude
170.571870708466

Feature	Value	Info
Track Duration	1 to 2 hours Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 1 to 2 hours Organ Pipes: 40 minutes return Mount Cargill: 2 hour return	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 1 to 2 hours Organ Pipes: 40 minutes return Mount Cargill: 2 hour return
Track Difficulty	Moderate walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	No large vehicles Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? No large vehicles The site is not accessible for large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? No large vehicles The site is not accessible for large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
Track Length	3km to 10km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 3km to 10km Organ Pipes: 2.8 km return Mount Cargill: 7 km return	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 3km to 10km Organ Pipes: 2.8 km return Mount Cargill: 7 km return
Disabled Access	No disabled access Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Lesser Known Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting (But more locals at the weekends)	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting (But more locals at the weekends)
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.