Henga Scenic Reserve
Introduction
Henga Scenic Reserve
This 170 hectare kopi forest was gifted by Denise and John Sutherland. The reserve was fenced in 1982 and features spectacular regeneration by kopi (karaka) and mahoe under a canopy of kopi.
Location
Petre Bay, Chatham Island.
Getting there
Henga Reserve is located on the Chatham Island's west coast. Proceed north from Waitangi township and take the North Road until just past the airport, then turn off at the Chatham Lodge driveway on the left. Public entry is provided by walking from the car park in front of the lodge to the northern lawn where the track starts.
Features
The reserve is an excellent example of how rapidly this forest type can regenerate in the absence of stock. Other features are limestone outcrops and extensive dunes with endemic plants, providing views over Petre Bay.
In pre-European times most of the surrounding area was forested. The long beach foredunes would have been fringed by pingao and herb field, with some akeake forest behind them. The inland dunes were almost entirely forested, and merged with the kopi and tarahinau forests that covered the limestone between Long Beach and Te Whanga Lagoon.
This area was occupied by the Moriori, and shell midden heaps can be seen in the dune lands. Their settlement areas were inland, where the forest provided shelter from the weather.
Tracks and walks
This reserve features spectacular regeneration by kopi (karaka) and mahoe. The walk takes you out onto coastal dunes towards the south and then back through the bush to your starting point.