The river flows out across the scroll plain at Paerau, along the north west flanks of the Rock and Pillar Range before almost doubling back on itself at Waipiata and flowing back along the eastern side past Hyde through the Strath-Taieri.

[2] The Rock and Pillars are a horst range, caused by movement on two parallel faults uplifting the area in between.

This strange cloud formation, is more or less stationary and is called the Taieri Pet by the local inhabitants.

It is formed by high north-westerly winds being forced upward over the Rock & Pillar range.

[8] The nationally endangered Burgan Skink is endemic to the Rock and Pillar range.