REGION
from N to S |
FOREST |
DETAILS
|
| Check the location of these forests
in maps: North
Island - South
Island |
| Northland
|
Northland
Forest Park |
Forest park in several
blocks: Waipoua, Puketi-Omahuta, Warawara, Russell, Mangamuka,
Herekino, Marlborough, Kaihu, Tangihua. These forests are
famous for their kauris, but they are rich in podocarp and
broadleaf species. Short walks in Waipoua, Puketi-Omahuta
and Russell Forests. |
| Auckland
|
Waitakere
Ranges Regional Park |
Podocarp-broadleaf
forest dominates the ranges, with many fine tracts, usually
regenerating. The canopy species include rewarewa, mahoe,
tawa, taraire, pururi, and kohekohe. Rimu is the most common
of the emergents. There are many walks to discover the diverse
nature of the forest, in the coastal areas as well as inland. |
| Auckland
|
Hunua
Ranges Regional Park |
Tawa is dominant
among the canopy species there. A range of tracks and walks
is available. |
Coromandel
Peninsula,
Waikato |
Coromandel
Forest Park |
Forest
park in several blocks, covering most of the axial zone
of the peninsula, from Moehau in the north to the Karangahake
Gorge in the south. Kauri and podocarp-broadleaf forest,
mostly regenerating, with some unlogged areas. A choice
of fine short walks. |
| Waikato |
Pirongia Forest Park
|
Located at the limit
between northern and southern forests, the park contains
no kauri or beech. The vegetation is rich, ranging from
lowland podocarp forest to dense subalpine scrub and kaikawaka
(mountain cedar) forest. |
| Waikato |
South Kawhia forests |
|
Waikato
and Taupo/Ruapehu
|
Pureora
Forest Park |
The park
is one of the most significant remnants of the podocarp
forests than once covered most of the North Island. Contains
very large trees, especially totara. Large tracts of unlogged
forest. A few fine short walks. |
| Taupo-Ruapehu |
Tongariro
National Park |
The park contains
large areas of superb podocarp and mixed beech-podocarp
forest, both in the isolated area north of Lake Rotoaira,
and west and south of Ruapehu. Several fine short walks. |
| Bay
of Plenty |
Kaimai-Mamaku Forest
Park |
Podocarp/hardwood
forest in the north. Some relict kauri as well. |
| Bay
of Plenty |
Whirinaki Forest
Park |
With Pureora and
Urewera National Park, this park includes the best lowland
podocarp forest in the North Island, mostly in its original
state. Magnificent examples of large mature podocarps. A
few fine short and medium walks. |
Bay
of Plenty
Hawkes Bay |
Urewera
National Park |
This is the largest
area of untouched native forest in the North Island. Forest
types vary with altitude and location, from lowland podocarp-broadleaf
forest in the north and west, to podocarp-beech associations,
and to pure beech at highest altitudes. Several short and
medium walks. |
| Hawke's
Bay |
Northern Maungaharuru
reserves |
Four reserves in
the Maungaharuru range area, approximately 1 1/2 hours drive
north of Napier. Diverse native forest, mostly podocarp-broadleaf,
home to native birds. A number of good short walks through
the forest, and fine views over Hawkes Bay as well as the
surrounding ranges, all the way to Ruapehu on clear days.
Other interesting features include Lake Opouahi, eroded
limestone (karst) formations, and Shines Waterfall (58 m/190')
at Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve. Boundary Stream is one
of the country's 'mainland islands' where exotic flora and
fauna species are managed in order to re-establish native
species. |
| Hawke's
Bay |
Puketitiri Reserves |
Four reserves located
near the eastern boundary of Kaweka Forest Park, north-east
of Napier. They include fine stands of mature as well as
regenerating native forest, mostly podocarp-broadleaf. Numerous
native forest birds, as well as colonies of the native long-tailed
bat. A choice of short walks. |
| Hawkes's
Bay |
Maraetotara Plateau |
Four reserves located
south-east of Havelock North. They include fine stands of
podocarp and broadleaf forest and several tracks provide
for short walks. |
| Hawke's
Bay |
Central Hawke's Bay
reserves and walkways |
Several reserves
protect the best remnants of native lowland forest in that
area. They include fine stands or specimens of podocarp
trees such as kahikatea, matai, miro, rimu, and totara.
Good short walks. |
| Hawkes'
Bay |
Southern Hawke's
Bay reserves |
These reserves protect
some of the last remnants of the mainly podocarp and broadleaf
native forests that covered that area extensively little
more than 120 years ago. Mangapuaka Stream Scenic Reserve
presents the unusual association of kahikatea and black
beach, while Waihi Falls Scenic Reserve has a number of
kowhai that attract the native honeyeaters bellbird and
tui during the flowering season. A choice of short walks. |
Hawke's Bay
Manawatu |
Ruahine Forest Park |
The Ruahine Ranges
are part of the main axial mountain ranges of the North
Island. There is podocarp-broadleaf forest on the lower
slopes, with occasional large trees that have escaped milling.
Beech dominates at higher altitude. No real oppportunity
for short and easy walks, but the roads leading to the start
of the tramping tracks offer an opportunity to discover
the forest. |
| Manawatu |
Kawhatau and Mangaweka
Scenic Reserves |
Fine examples of
podocarp forest with diverse native flora. Good short walks. |
| East
Cape |
Gray's Bush Scenic
Reserve |
This is a rare and
significant remnant of the kahikatea forest that was common
in the Gisborne Plains, before being cleared for agriculture.
Under the kahikatea canopy the forest is also rich in puriri,
thus forming an unusual association with a coastal character.
The forest has a relatively rich undergrowth of trees, shrubs,
nikau palms, ferns and tree ferns, and is home to a diversity
of bird species. Good walking tracks. |
| East
Cape |
Whinray Scenic Reserve |
The East Cape area
is remote, rugged, and has a large cover of dense intact
native forest, especially within the Raukumara Forest Park.
On the south-western outskirts of this park, Whinray Scenic
Reserve contains 429 hectares (172 acres) of native forest
with fine old rimu, matai, miro, rata and kahikatea. Abundant
native birdlife, including less common species like kaka,
weka and kiwi. The reserve is further enhanced by waterfalls
on the Motu river, one of the wildest and most scenic rivers
in the North Island. 5 km (3 miles) track through the forest. |
| Wanganui |
Whanganui
National Park |
Much
of the park is covered in native podocarp-broadleaf forest,
and the central part is one of the most extensive areas
of intact forest of this type in the North Island. A few
good short walks in the peripheral areas. |
| Taranaki |
Egmont
National Park |
The
forests that surround Mt Taranaki (Mt Egmont) are dominated
by kamahi. At low altitude large rimu and rata tower high
above that canopy, and the luxuriance of the forest is unsurpassed
anywhere in New Zealand. At higher altitudes the undergrowth
is less dense but the trees are often multi-trunked, gnarled
and all festooned with mosses, liverworts and filmy-ferns.
This forest has long been called 'goblin forest' for its
somewhat unreal appearance. Several fine short walks from
the road ends. |
| Taranaki |
North Taranaki Forests |
This area is relatively
undeveloped and retains a substantial native forest cover.
Of very special interest are some remnants of lowland and
coastal podocarp forest associations. These are rare and
of scientific significance. Several scenic reserves with
short walks. The Mokau River scenic reserves are of particular
interest for their lowland kahikatea forest. |
| Wellington |
Papaitonga Scenic
Reserve |
Reserve of great
significance as one of the rare remnants of coastal podocarp
and broadleaf forest, in an area otherwise almost entirely
cleared for agriculture. Loop walk to lookout over lake
Papaitonga. |
| Wellington |
Hemi Matenga Memorial
Park Scenic Reserve |
One of the largest
areas of native kohekohe forest. Several short walks and
lookout. |
| Wellington |
Tararua Forest Park |
The Tararua Ranges
have an extensive forest cover, with podocarp and broadleaf
forest at lower altitudes, and up to the treeline in the
north. Some of it unlogged. Short walks from several road
ends. |
| Wellington |
Rimutaka Forest Park |
|
| Wellington |
Haurangi Forest Park |
|
| Nelson |
Aorere Valley, Kahurangi
National Park |
Beech dominates the
park, but there is fine podocarp forest in the north, in
the Aorere Valley. |
| Nelson |
Westhaven Inlet Marine
Reserve |
A place of outstanding
scenery and value. Much of the inlet is bordered by native
forest, with kahikatea, rata, rimu, nikau palm and beech.
Uninterrupted sequence of native forest, from the hill tops
to the sea. Short walk to Knuckle Hill with fine views. |
| Nelson |
Nelson
Lakes National Park, lake Rotoroa |
Fine podocarp and
beech forest on the lake edge. A few short and medium walks.
|
| Marlborough |
Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough
Sounds |
This is one of the
most beautiful areas of the Sounds, with its native forest
cover still intact. Half-day return walk from Penzance Bay
to Deep Bay. |
| Marlborough |
Onamalutu Reserve,
The Northbank, Mt Richmond Forest Park |
The reserve contains
a unique remnant of the tall podocarp forest that once would
have covered much of the Wairau valley. Short walks. Camping. |
| Marlborough |
Pelorus
Bridge Scenic Reserve, Richmond Ranges |
The reserve
protects one of the last stands of river flat forest in
Marlborough. Podocarp and broadleaf forest occupies the
moist and fertile river flats, with species such as rimu,
matai, miro, totara, kahikatea, kamahi and tawa. Black and
hard beech are more common on the steeper slopes. Several
fine short walks. |
| Canterbury |
Peel Forest |
This is the 500 hectare
remnant of a larger podocarp forest that was milled until
1908. It contains fine virgin forest and large trees. The
fern flora is particularly rich. A good choice of fine short
and medium walks. |
| West
Coast/Greymouth |
Arthur's
Pass National Park |
In the park west
of the divide the forests are mixed and diverse, and podocarp
are commonly found on the valley floors and the lower hillsides.
Cockayne Nature Walk in the Otira Valley offers a good opportunity
to visit. |
| West
Coast/Fox & Franz-Joseph |
Westland
National Park and environs |
South Westland contains
the largest areas of intact lowland podocarp forest in New
Zealand. In Westland National Park in particular the forest
covers the whole cross-section of the land, from mountain
to sea. It is the prevalence of these unique forests, set
in the most dramatic and spectacular of landscapes, that
make South Westland as a whole a place of truly unique natural
beauty. Westland National Park offers a good choice of walks
through podocarp and broadleaf forest. |
| West
Coast/Haast |
Haast
Pass Highway |
Several
short walks in fine podocarp forest along the highway, both
west (Billy Goat Creek) and east (Makarora) of the divide. |
| Southland |
Catlins
Forest Park |
The park protects
a large area of diverse native forest, some of it intact.
There are fine areas of podocarp forests in the lowlands
and coastal areas, with large rimu, miro, rata. A good selection
of fine short walks, sometimes enhanced by wildlife encounters
(seabirds, seals). |
