Visiting the forests

Press, 5 January 1987, Page 20

Visiting the forests

Mount Fyffe, Kaikoura

Mt Fyffe (1602 m above sea level) is an outlier of the Seaward Kaikoura Range, dominating the western skyline of the small, steeply sloping Kaikoura Plain and township. Mt Fyffe Forest is on the eastern face of the mountain approximately 9km from Kaikoura. Soil and water conservation is the basis of management of the 2155 ha forest. Public recreation in the area is encouraged. A variety of interesting walks are provided, and a picnic and car parking area has been established at the southern edge of the forest.

There are two points of entry into the forest. One is from the end of Mt Fyffe Road which leads to the Forest Walk, and the other is from the western end of Postmans Road providing access to the Hinau Picnic Area and foot access to Mt Fyffe summit. Both car parks are clearly marked by AA signposts on the junction of Postmans Road and Mt Fyffe Road. Geologically Mt Fyffe is young and unstable, made up of folded and contorted greywacke and argilite. Earthquake fault lines near the summit of the mountain, part way up the east side, and at the foot of the mountain, can be seen. The descent on Mt Fyffe’s frontal faces is approximately 718 metres per km.

The eastern side of the mountain gives rise to four major streams: Floodgate, Middle and Luke Creeks and the Waimangarara River. The streams are deeply gorged in their headwaters, and flow underground to cross the Kaikoura Plain. When in flood these streams can break, out depositing gravel over farmland. The Marlborough Catchment Board has prescribed a control scheme to reduce this risk of flooding by stabilising the stream channels and erosion-prone areas in the catchments. Climate

The summit of Mt Fyffe receives about 2000 mm of rain a year compared with about 1400 mm at the foot of the mountain. Rainfall is usually associated with south-easterly storms, but occasionally the prevailing north-easterly will bring downpours. More often, the north-easterly is accompanied by coastal fog which may reach up to the middle slopes of the mountain. Snow is present above the bushline for three to four months of the year.

The forests of the Seaward Kaikoura Range are complex. Within the region, beech, podocarp, mixed hardwood and coastal forests all occur in close proximity. The forests are unusual be-

cause they contain several tree and shrub species more common in the North island than in the South.

Below 1000 m the- vegetation is a complicated mosaic of forest and scrub types. Podocarp-mahoe forest with rimu, miro, matai and totara occurs on moist stable sites only in the Waimangarara Catchment.

This forest has been depleted in extent by logging and burning. Mountain beech and Hall’s totara can be found on spur sites in the headwaters of Luke Creek and the Waimangarara River. Red beech is scattered on spur sites and stable faces up to 800 m.

Hardwood forest areas are dominated by mahoe, with kohuhu and putaputaweta. Fuchsia, broadleaf and putaputaweta grow at higher altitudes. Coastal scrub hardwood forests include trees such as ngaio, olearia and five-finger. Hinau trees, uncommon on the east coast of the South Island, feature at the base of Mt Fyffe, near the Hinau Picnic Area. The tall climber supplejack and many understorey species are found amongst the hinau.

Fires, slips and screes have reduced the turpentine scrub, hebe and cassinia alpine scrub to limited areas. Alpine grasslands, snow fescue, tussock and mountain daisies also extend beyond the forest edge. Revegeiation

Severe erosion has developed in areas where a long history of grazing, burning or logging has depleted the original vegetation and exposed the thin unstable soils Since 1970 the Forest Service has carried out an annual revegetation programme to stabilise eroding slopes on Mt Fyffe. To produce greater stability and encourage, re-establishment of native species, areas have been oversown and top dressed with fertiliser, grass seed and legume seed; and hardy alpine trees such as mountain pine (Pinus mugo) and green alder (Alnus viridis) have been planted. Please do not damage revegetation plantings or assessment plot markers. Birds The fruit of miro, fivefinger, supplejack and fuchsia, the flowers of lemonwood, mahoe, kowhai and wineberry, and forest insects all attract various native and introduced birds. Wood pigeons are common near the picnic areas, as are bellbirds, riflemen, tomtits, brown creepers, grey warblers, and bush robins. The introduced blackbird, thrush and chaffinch also live in and around the forest. Keas, pipits and chukor can be found above the bushline. Forest Walk A walking track leads from the end of the Mt Fyffe

Road carpark to the Forest Walk, where an impressive stand of virgin podocarp forest can be seen. The signposted track initially passes through farmland and then leads through the cut-over and regenerating forest of the FyffePalmer Scenic Reserve. There is picnic area with tables and a toilet along the track, where excellent views of the Kaikoura Plain and Peninsula can be seen. The virgin podocarp forest of the Forest Walk is dominated by large specimens of matai, totara and rimu but many other tree and shrub species are thriving. A number of these are labelled to aid identification. Walking time from the carpark is 1H/2 hours return but it is recommended that half a day be set aside to explore this area. The track is well defined and suitable for people of average physical fitness. Stout footwear may be needed, depending on ground conditions. Additional signposted tracks can be walked within the FyffePalmer Scenic Reserve. Hinau Walk This area is reached by driving to the western end of Postmans Road and following the State forest signs to the Hinau Picnic Area where there are tables, barbecue fireplaces and toilets suitable for the disabled. There is an interesting 40 minute loop track through the forest. The main feature of this walk is a number of large hinau trees. There are also many manoe, putaputaweta, broadleaf, tree fuchsia and pigeonwood > trees,... and s a

variety of ferns bordering the track. For a contrast in vegetation the track also passes through a stand of kanuka. The track is well formed and most suitable for families. Mt Fyffe Summit Walking time to the summit is approximately five hours. This is a popular day or overnight trip for the more active. A six-bunk Forest Service hut at Tarn Saddle (known at Mt Fyffe Hut) has a wood range and is suitable for a rest or an overnight stay. From the summit of the mountain there are impressive views of the Kaikoura Plain and Peninsula, and on a clear day, Banks Peninsula to the south' and Cape Palliser in the North Island. Inland are views into the Kowhai and Hapuku Rivers and the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range. There are two possible routes to the summit. The first is via a vehicle track which follows the main Mt Fyffe ridge from the Hinau Picnic Area. For safety reasons, this Forest Service vehicle track is not available for public vehicle use. The second is a track which starts from the signpost on the roadway into the Hinau Picnic Area, and leads up Goldmine Creek on to the steep Fenceline Spur Track which emerges onto the vehicle track near Mt Fyffe Hut (1100 m above sea level). It is possible to make a round trip walking up the Fenceline Spur track to the hut and then returning to the .picnic area via-, the vehicle

track — between five and six hours should be allowed for this return walk. Tracks to the hut and summit are well defined and suitable for people of good physical fitness. Tramping The Hinau Picnic Area is also a convenient starting point for more strenuous tramping trips. Parties can reach the Hapuku River to the north by walking up the Kowhai River or climbing to the Mt Fyffe summit and traversing along the northern ridge. There are two sixbunk huts either side of Kowhai Saddle, one by the Kowhai River and the other by the Hapuku River. The four-bunk Snowflake Hut is sited on the lower reaches of the Kowhai River. All have open fireplaces. Routes between huts are marked by rock cairns and markers. However, they should only be used by reasonably experienced trampers, particularly during the winter months. Allow three hours from the Hinau Picnic Area to the Snowflake Hut. Two hours from the Snowflake Hut to the Kowhai Hut and

five hours between the Kowhai and Hapuku Huts. History No other part of the South Island had greater attraction for the pre-European Maori than. Kaikoura. Its rich fishing grounds and abundance of timber made Kaikoura the most populated district of the South Island. Remnants of a partially completed canoe can still be found in Mt Fyffe Forest. Records show that the native bird life of the forest region was so plentiful that local tribesmen (Ngai Tahu) would transport vast quantities of preserved native pigeon further south by canoe as gifts or in exchange for mutton birds from Otago and Southland. In 1843 Scottish-born Robert Fyffe started the first shore whaling station at Kaikoura. Six years later he began sheep farming, introducing the first sheep and milking goats to Kaikoura. During 1854 he was joined by his cousin George Fyffe, who leased an area north of Kaikoura known as the “Mt Fyffe Run” — thus Mt Fyffe was named.