Mount Bealey

Mount Bealey is an 1,836-metre-elevation (6,024-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

Mount Bealey
North face
Highest point
Elevation	1,836 m (6,024 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	196 m (643 ft)[2]
Parent peak	Mount Rolleston[3]
Isolation	2.67 km (1.66 mi)[2]
Coordinates	42.966368°S 171.545036°E / -42.966368; 171.545036[2]
Naming
Etymology	Samuel Bealey
Geography
Mount Bealey Location in New Zealand
Interactive map of Mount Bealey
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Protected area	Arthur's Pass National Park
Parent range	Southern Alps
Topo map(s)	NZMS260 K33[4] Topo50 BV20 813 419[5]
Geology
Rock age	Triassic[6]
Rock type	Rakaia Terrane[6]

Description

Mount Bealey is located three kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of Arthur's Pass in Arthur's Pass National Park. It is set in the Southern Alps of the South Island.^[3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to the Crow River, and east into the Bealey River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,130 metres (3,707 feet) above the Waimakariri River Valley in three kilometres, and 1,050 metres (3,445 feet) above the Crow Valley in 2.5 kilometres. The nearest higher peak is Mount Stewart, 4.5 kilometres to the west.^[3] The mountain's toponym honours Samuel Bealey (1821–1909), the third superintendent of the Canterbury Provincial Council.^[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Bealey is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone.^[7] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.^[8]

Climate data for Arthurs Pass Village (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1978–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32.1 (89.8)	29.5 (85.1)	26.4 (79.5)	22.5 (72.5)	17.6 (63.7)	14.0 (57.2)	12.8 (55.0)	14.3 (57.7)	20.0 (68.0)	22.5 (72.5)	26.2 (79.2)	27.6 (81.7)	32.1 (89.8)
Mean maximum °C (°F)	25.6 (78.1)	25.4 (77.7)	22.4 (72.3)	17.8 (64.0)	14.4 (57.9)	11.1 (52.0)	9.9 (49.8)	12.0 (53.6)	14.9 (58.8)	18.0 (64.4)	20.7 (69.3)	23.4 (74.1)	27.2 (81.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	18.3 (64.9)	18.6 (65.5)	16.1 (61.0)	12.7 (54.9)	9.7 (49.5)	6.7 (44.1)	6.0 (42.8)	7.6 (45.7)	9.8 (49.6)	11.7 (53.1)	13.9 (57.0)	16.5 (61.7)	12.3 (54.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	13.3 (55.9)	13.4 (56.1)	11.2 (52.2)	8.3 (46.9)	5.8 (42.4)	3.0 (37.4)	2.2 (36.0)	3.5 (38.3)	5.5 (41.9)	7.3 (45.1)	9.3 (48.7)	11.8 (53.2)	7.9 (46.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	8.3 (46.9)	8.2 (46.8)	6.3 (43.3)	4.0 (39.2)	1.9 (35.4)	−0.6 (30.9)	−1.6 (29.1)	−0.7 (30.7)	1.3 (34.3)	3.0 (37.4)	4.7 (40.5)	7.2 (45.0)	3.5 (38.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F)	2.5 (36.5)	2.3 (36.1)	−0.4 (31.3)	−2.2 (28.0)	−3.9 (25.0)	−6.7 (19.9)	−7.5 (18.5)	−6.2 (20.8)	−4.5 (23.9)	−2.7 (27.1)	−1.4 (29.5)	1.3 (34.3)	−8.3 (17.1)
Record low °C (°F)	−1.0 (30.2)	−1.5 (29.3)	−8.5 (16.7)	−7.8 (18.0)	−7.5 (18.5)	−11.5 (11.3)	−12.5 (9.5)	−11.0 (12.2)	−8.2 (17.2)	−6.1 (21.0)	−5.0 (23.0)	−1.4 (29.5)	−12.5 (9.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	413.5 (16.28)	272.6 (10.73)	321.2 (12.65)	370.3 (14.58)	395.0 (15.55)	378.1 (14.89)	328.4 (12.93)	353.0 (13.90)	452.5 (17.81)	489.4 (19.27)	438.6 (17.27)	447.7 (17.63)	4,660.3 (183.49)
Average relative humidity (%)	77	78	82	86	88	90	88	87	84	81	78	78	83
Source 1: NIWA [9]
Source 2: "Arthur's Pass – Weather Database"[10]

Climbing

Climbing routes:^[5]

• Via Mount Bealey Track
• Via Rough Creek

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height