Wairau/ Awatere Resource Management Plan inland hill ranges, the dry eastern hills, the high country plateau of Molesworth, glaciated mountains of the St Arnaud and Raglan Ranges, the high rugged Inland Kaikoura Mountains and the coast. Within this coarse level it is necessary to identify smaller units with which to work. The following table provides a breakdown of the study area placing an emphasis on the core characteristics of each area rather than defining the precise boundary between each. Summary of Landscape Characteristics and Values of the Wairau/Awatere Landscape Places Landscape Features Visual Outstanding Landscape Type Character Areas Quality Sensitivity Bush clad Lake Chalice Very High Yes High mountains and Richmond Range High High forested hills Eastern hills & valleys Medium Low (Onamalutu, Kaituna, Tuamarina) Onamalutu Scenic High High Reserve Tuamarina River Medium High Medium Para Swamp Medium Low High Ultramaphic Red Hills Ridge High High grasslands and shrublands Glaciated St Arnaud Range Rainbow skifield and High High mountain ranges Rainbow/ Wairau Valley road High country Molesworth High Yes High plateau Sedgemere Very High Yes High Lake McRae Very High Yes High High rugged Inland Kaikouras Tapuae-o-Uenuku High Yes High mountain range High inland hills Upper Waihopai, Medium High Medium Low Awatere, Medway, and Waima River Gorges High Medium Large river valley Tophouse Locality Six Mile Reserve High High Upper Wairau Valley Medium Medium Mid Wairau Valley Medium Low Low Wairau Plain Medium Low Intensive horticultural landscape Wairau River Medium High Medium High Spring Creek Medium Medium Tributary river valleys Medium Low (Waihopai, Taylor, Omaka) Lower Awatere Valley Medium Low Seddon rail/ road Medium Low bridge 5 - 2