Hanmer Springs- Forest Walk

Forest Walk - 1 hour return It is worth obtaining the DOC pamphlet Hanmer Forest Recreation for this one as it has numbers and information which correspond to various stands of trees numbered on the walk. Easy, but keep a sense of direction. If confused, near the middle of the day, go north towards the sun and you will find Jollies Pass Road.
This track starts on the right, 1 km along Jollies Pass Road. On this track you’ll pass a wide variety of trees, both broadleaf and conifer, and some of the oldest stands in the forest. Autumn is a beautiful season for this walk because of the displays of colour from the sycamore, oak, silver birch and rowan. This was the section prepared by prison labour back in 1902 when they hand dug the channels to drain the land.
By 1906, 100 hectares of trees had been established, notably European larch and Corsican pine. The European alder is the tree that especially attracts bird life. But pinus radiata is the most numerous tree planted in this forest and in NZ generally because of its quick growth and versatility for sawn timber, treated fence posts, pulp, and panel products such as plywood. The tree is normally harvested when it is from 25 to 30 years old