Hakatere Conservation Area (Barrosa)
Introduction
When Barrosa pastoral lease completed the tenure review process in July 2010 around 4,840 hectares became public conservation land.
The Conservation Area forms an entrance to Ō Tū Wharekai (Ashburton Lakes and upper Rangitata River). The public conservation land is bounded by Ashburton Gorge Road to the south and adjoins Hakatere Conservation Park at the upper reaches of the Stour River and Mt Somers Range. It is 34 km west of Methven.
This public conservation land will eventually be added to Hakatere Conservation Park.
Features
Native plants
At higher altitudes slim-leaved snow tussock grasslands and cotton daisy predominate. In gullies and boulderfields are regenerating shrublands containing snow tōtara,
mountain ribbonwood/houhere, matagouri, broadleaf/kāpuka and Coprosma species.
Lake Emily
The significantly different vegetation on the western side of Stour River is a result of the rhyolite bedrock which occurs only here. The dry and rocky northern slopes have large
patches of kānuka, with mänuka and a few Halls tōtara, snow tōtara and bog pine. The south-facing slopes have mountain beech/tawhairauriki in a few deep gullies and broadleaf and mountain ribbonwood in areas of boulder field.
Red tussock was probably once extensive in the wetter parts of the west Branch Stour River. The only remaining large area is at the southern end, where individual tussocks
reach 1.8 m tall.
Native animals
A variety of native birds are found in different parts of the area. In the tussock lands are New Zealand pipit/pihoihoi, New Zealand falcon/kārearea and Australasian harrier/kāhu. Waxeye/tauhou and grey warbler/riroriro occupy shrub lands. Australian crested grebe/kāmana, Australasian bittern/matuku, black shag/kōau and paradise shelduck/pūtakitaki can be found at Lake Emily and other wetlands.
Location
Hakatere Conservation Area is in mid-Canterbury, Ashburton Lakes area. It is next to Hakatere Conservation Park.
Getting there
At Mt Somers village turn off Rakaia Gorge Road (Scenic Highway 72) and follow Ashburton Gorge Road towards Hakatere Corner.
Signs mark public access at Stour River and an easement 500 m east of Blowing Point Bridge. Keep to the marked tracks. Motor vehicles are not permitted.
Alternative access can be gained from Lake Emily, which is off the Hakatere Heron Road.
Tracks and walks
Maps: NZTopo50 - BX19 Hakatere
1. Stour River
A car park on Ashburton Gorge Road at the Stour River bridge is at the start of a track up the river to the public conservation land (3 km). The track gives easy access to Lake Emily (15 km) or to Manuka Hut (17 km).
2. Mt Barrosa access
An easement marked from a small car park on Ashburton Gorge Road about 500 m east of Blowing Point Bridge gives access to the public conservation land after a walk of 780 m.
3. Lake Emily
There is four-wheel-drive access from Hakatere Heron Road, just south of Castleridge Station, to public conservation land near Lake Emily (3 km). It is not surfaced and is unsuitable for winter use. Vehicles can be parked on the first section of the access road. Note: Do not block access into paddocks or Castle Ridge Station.
Places to stay
There are no huts within the conservation area.
Plan and prepare
Guides and commercial tourism providers