The Wick Mountains are shaded purple. This map also shows the approximate extent of the geological magma origin Darran Suite of gabbronorite and dioriticorthogneiss in red shading which composes most of the mountains.
The Wick Mountains are a range within New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, the country's biggest national park. Their highest peak is Mount Elliot 1,990 metres (6,530 ft),[1] and this can be seen in fine weather from the Milford Track, a popular tourist walking track.
Mount Wilmer is to the right. This picture taken in high summer 2014 also shows to the left Mount Elliot with Jervois Glacier and can be compared to another picture on this page.
Geology
The Wick Mountains are predominantly composed of a biotite from volcanic diorite dated just to their north to 138 ± 2.9 Ma and with younger intusion dykes of say quartzmonzodiorite dated at 136 ± 1.9 Ma.[4] These rocks are part of the Median Tectonic Zone that separates the Western and Eastern provinces of Zealandia rocks. They cover an area of about 740 km2 (290 sq mi).[4] The mountains also have components to their southwest of orthogneiss.[5]
Climbing
Some of the mountains have known mountain climbing routes[6] on what has been described as "amazing diorite".[7]
The Hirere Falls on the Milford Track are on the south western extreme of the Wick Mountains. The peaks behind at up to 1,920 metres (6,300 ft) do not have official names.[1]
Clinton River Valley showing Wicks Mountains to right in view towards McKinnon Pass (Oil, John Elder Moultray about 1910, Auckland Museum).
![The Hirere Falls on the Milford Track are on the south western extreme of the Wick Mountains. The peaks behind at up to 1,920 metres (6,300 ft) do not have official names.[1]](File:Milford_Track_Hirere_Falls.jpg)
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