Peel Forest Park Information & Map

Peel Forest, located south of the Rangitata River, covers 700 hectares of rich and diverse forest that provides a variety of native bush, bird-life and a series of tracks for walkers.

Distance:

71.5 kms, approx 1 hour 20 mins from Methven

Directions:

From the Methven i-SITE Visitor Centre head north along the Main Street and turn left onto Forest Drive. Forest Drive turns slightly left and becomes Pudding Hill Road. Follow this road until you reach the Inland Scenic Route 72 junction. Turn left and follow road to the Rangitata River. After crossing the Rangiatata River, turn right onto Bridge Street. Take the 1st right onto Ferry Road and turn right to stay on Ferry Road.

Kahikatea Walk

Distance:	1 hour round trip
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	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.

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Acland Falls

Distance:	1 hour round trip
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	The track climbs steeply, levels off a little, and then drops to a small stream. The falls (14 m high) are a short walk up the streambed. Fuchsia, mähoe, köwhai and känuka are the main vegetation.

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Fern Walk

Distance:	1.5 hours each way
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	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.

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Big Tree Walk

Distance:	30 minutes round trip
Classification:	Path/Short Walk (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	This short easy walk starts from the Te Wanahu picnic shelter and leads into Mills Bush where fine specimens of huge tötara, one almost three metres across, are thought to be about 1,000 years old.

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Allans Track

Distance:	2-3 hours round trip - returning via Fern Walk
Classification:	Easy Tramping Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the 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.

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Acland Falls

Distance:	45 minutes one way
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	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.

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Dennistoun Bush

Distance:	1 hour round trip
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	Flat easy walk through about 40 hectares of magnificent pododcarp forest (tötara, mataï and kahikatea) with a short sidetrack to one of the historic sawpits in the area.

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Emily Falls

Distance:	1.5 hours return trip
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	The track entrance is on the left, part way up the steep lookout road at Blandswood. After a short steep walk the track forks left and leads down into Rata Stream. Go left down the streambed for 100 m then exit right onto the track again. Continue following the track, crossing another small stream and finally dropping steeply into Emily Stream at the base of the falls.

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Rata Falls

Distance:	2 hours return trip
Classification:	Walking Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	Start on Emily Falls track but turn right at the fork. Continue until dropping down into Rata Stream. A short walk upstream will bring you to the falls. An alternative return to Blandswood is to follow the Rata streambed down through a short gorge. This requires continuous walking on stony riverbed. Rata is in flower from late December to about mid January.

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Deer Spur

Distance:	2 hours return
Classification:	Tramping Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	This steep but well formed track begins from the Blandswood Lookout, or can be joined near the bush line by either of the Allans Track approaches. Above the bush line the track becomes steeper, but the views and alpine flora are worth the effort.

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Little Mt Peel/Huatekerekere

Distance:	4-6 hours return
Classification:	Tramping Track (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	Begin as for Deer Spur and continue on beyond the tarn, joining the main ridge and following it to the summit (1311 m). On a clear day the views extend to Mt Somers, Mt Hutt and across the plains to the coast. The Tristram Harper Memorial Shelter is just below the summit.

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South Ridge Route

Classification:	Route (Click on link for more information on walkway classification)
About the walk:	A steep descent off little Mt Peel may be made by experienced trampers or climbers taking the main ridge behind the shelter. Keep strictly to the ridge until a track sign directs left, down a tussock-covered spur to the bush line. Then zigzag steeply until emerging into Emily Stream just above Emily Falls.

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For more information:

- Collect a Peel Forest Park brochure from the Methven i-SITE Visitor Centre
- Contact the local Department of Conservation office
- Visit the Department of Conservation's website

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Many thanks to Vicky O'Connor from E R Imaging Photography for the use of the header image.

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