A bush walk

Press, 28 December 1977, Page 14

A bush walk

Those who enjoy walking in the bush — and who would like to see the -before" stage of a major Christchurch City Council park development — can make an easy day trip to the Bottle Lake Forest Park these holidays. They will see a combination of pine forests in different growth stages, and sand dunes, and a rarely-frequented seascape. Bottle Lake Forest, which is also a working plantation with logging going on at most times, will be developed more fully in years to come — with a network of walking tracks, picnic spots, fishing ponds, and a one-way loop drive for private cars. But it has already been effectively opened to the public through a narrow track that leads to all places of interest in the park, making a full, threehours walking circle back to the parking area north of the intersection of Burwood and Prestons Roads. A walking track through mature bush forms a shorter loop just past the sawmill. Further signs will probably be erected along that track to point the best way towards the sea track. Most of the track is dry now, after a very wet winter, and the few bogs (some with quite a bit of water, still) are easily skirted. But waterproof boots and a change of socks would be advisable

for those walking the whole distance. Outside the mature forest areas, there are trees growing even in the apparent “wastelands” of scrub and brush in the forest centre. They are quite small, and care should be taken to keep to the trail to avoid squashing them. In many places along the way, pines are old enough ’to be growing very close together. In other places, they are scattered in growth similar to mountain timberline. Most of the swamp remnants covered by water much of the year are obvious and soft underfoot, with matted grass. At the dunes, there is an obvious road through to the sea, past two rough toilet buildings. There are some good side walks through the sand and along the beach. One of the prettiest parts of the forest is where the track winds among young trees near the southern boundary, about 15 minutes from the parking area. The trail is a narrow corridor between thick growth. For those without private cars, the 198 Christchurch Transport Board bus leaves regularly from Cathedral Square for Burwood Hospital. Although that is the end of the line, it is less than a mile further along Burwood Road to the park entrance.