Rangitata Island
Encyclopedia
Rangitata Island is a long lens
-shaped island in the delta
of the braided
Rangitata River
in Canterbury, New Zealand
, approximately halfway between Timaru
and Ashburton, New Zealand
. The island is approximately 17 kilometres in length, and is about five kilometres wide at its widest point. Low lying, it is mostly fertile farmland.
One of the country's largest delta islands, it is also the only one crossed by State Highway 1
(at the island's northern end), and the only place where the highway leaves both of the country's two main islands.
Rangitata Island Aerodrome
is located just East of the State Highway 1 bridges, on Brodie Road, just off the Rangitata Island Road. The private field is available for public use and has two vectors. The field is the home of the Geraldine Flying Group.
The airfield also houses a collection of older microlight aircraft, as well as assorted aircraft parts, airframes and items of interest.
Lens (geometry)
In geometry, a lens is a biconvex shape comprising two circular arcs, joined at their endpoints. If the arcs have equal radii, it is called a symmetric lens.A concave-convex shape is called a lune...
-shaped island in the delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
of the braided
Braided river
A braided river is one of a number of channel types and has a channel that consists of a network of small channels separated by small and often temporary islands called braid bars or, in British usage, aits or eyots. Braided streams occur in rivers with high slope and/or large sediment load...
Rangitata River
Rangitata River
The Rangitata River is one of the braided rivers that helped form the Canterbury Plains in southern New Zealand. It flows southeast for 120 kilometres from the Southern Alps, entering the Pacific Ocean 30 kilometres northeast of Timaru...
in Canterbury, New Zealand
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
, approximately halfway between Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
and Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
. The island is approximately 17 kilometres in length, and is about five kilometres wide at its widest point. Low lying, it is mostly fertile farmland.
One of the country's largest delta islands, it is also the only one crossed by State Highway 1
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
(at the island's northern end), and the only place where the highway leaves both of the country's two main islands.
Rangitata Island Aerodrome
Rangitata Island Aerodrome
Rangitata Island Aerodrome is a small airfield located on Rangitata Island halfway between Timaru and Ashburton. It is owned and operated by the Brodie family and is home to the Geraldine Flying Group, De Havillands over New Zealand collection, New Zealand Microlight heritage museum, Shadows of...
is located just East of the State Highway 1 bridges, on Brodie Road, just off the Rangitata Island Road. The private field is available for public use and has two vectors. The field is the home of the Geraldine Flying Group.
The airfield also houses a collection of older microlight aircraft, as well as assorted aircraft parts, airframes and items of interest.