Peel Forest Park walking tracks
Track category
Walking track
Description
Kahikatea Walk
Time: 1 hr round trip
Easy track next to camping ground. A remnant of Kahikatea swamp forest and old sawpits are a reminder of the forests in this part of South Canterbury. Clearing reduced 3500 hectares of forest to the 500 hectares surviving today.
This walk can be joined from the camping ground, Clarke Flat or the roadside at Te Wanahu Flat.
Acland Falls
Time: 1 hr round trip
The track climbs steeply, levels off a little, and then drops to a small stream.
The falls (14 metres high) are a short walk up the streambed. Fuchsia, mahoe, kowhai and kanuka are the main vegetation.
Fern Walk
Time: 1 hr 30 min each way
The track follows the bush edge from near Te Wanahu Flat along the southern boundary of the reserve to Blandswood. The early part of the track passes through Mills Bush, 16.2 hectares of virgin podocarp forest. Many of the 68 species of ferns in Peel Forest can be seen along this track.
Big Tree Walk
Time: 30 min round trip
This short easy walk starts from the Te Wanahu picnic shelter and leads into Mills Bush where fine specimens of huge Totara, one almost three metres across, are thought to be about 1,000 years old.
Allans Track
Time: 2 - 3 hr round trip - returning via Fern Walk
This track commences from Te Wanahu Flat passing through both tall podocarp forest near the valley floor and subalpine vegetation on the higher slopes. After passing the junction to Deer Spur the track drops steeply to join Fern Walk which will return you via Mills Bush to Te Wanahu Flat.
Acland Falls
Time: 45 min one way
An alternative entry into Acland Falls leaves from Te Wanahu Flat to Allans Track, it branches to the right at the top of the ridge, and provides a pleasant round trip. From the higher points on the track there are great views over the plains and foothills.
Dennistoun Bush
Time: 1 hr round trip
Flat easy walk through about 40 hectares of magnificent podocarp forest (totara, matai and kahikatea) with a short sidetrack to one of the historic sawpits in the area.
Guides and commercial tourism providers