Visiting the forests

Press, 6 January 1987, Page 12

Visiting the forests

Lake Sumner Forest Park

Lake Sumner State Forest Park lies west of State Highway 7 105 kilometres northwest by road from Christchurch. The 74,000 ha forest park is an amalgamation of former State forest: 5.F.7 Lake Sumner, 5.F.43 Glens of Te Koa, 5.F.10 Esk Head, and part of 5.F.6 Waiau. Its name is derived from Lake Sumner which, though outside the park, is centrally located in relation to the forests of the region. The principal aims of management are to ensure the protection of water, soil, and vegetation values under multiple-use principles of management, and to promote, recreational use of the forest park complementary to adjoining Arthur’s Pass National Park and scenic reserves. On the eroded land in the south-east revegetation trials have been undertaken. PHYSICAL FEATURES About 50 per cent of the total area is under forest. The rest consist of alpine tussock grasslands, herbfields, rock, scree, and river flats. The forested areas are dominated by the three species of beech — mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides), silver beech (Nothofagus mensiesii), and red beech (Nothofagus fusca), which are often intermingled. The forests of the upper Hope and Hurunui Rivers are generally of mixed beech below 1200 metres and of mountain beech above. In the Jollie Brook and Glenrae there are stands of pure mountain beech. Most of the beech forest does not support a dense understorey, but there are areas of fire-induced beech regeneration, and to the east of the park large areas of fire-induced grassland which are reverting to manuka scrub. The sub-alpine scrub, containing broadleaf, wineberry, flax, Draco-phyllum, Coprosmam and Hebe, is discontinuous and access to the alpine grasslands is not difficult. Above 1200 metres there are extensive areas of alpine herbfields and grasslands, with a variety of alpine species. The giant buttercup (Ranunculus lyallii), popularly known as the “Mount Cook Lily,” is regaining prominence in the Harper Pass area. The main divide of the Southern Alps forms the western boundary of the park and the Garfield Tops, Nelson Tops, and Crawford, Studleigh and Dampier Ranges extend eastward into the park and form the dominant subsidiary ranges. Peaks between 1500 and 1800 m are common. Mt Longfellow, 1888 m, just outside of the park boundary, forms a back-drop to the eastern end of the lake. Two low saddles cross the main divide, the Hope Pass at 941 m, and Harper Pass at 957 m. Two main rivers flowing through the park from the main divide are the Hope and the two branches of the Hurunui.. The Jollie Brook and Glenrae to the east are major tributaries of the Hurunui. Lake Sumner (Hakakura), with an area of 13 square kilometres, and Lake Mason are partly bounded by the park. Two small lakes, Marion and Morris, are within its boundaries. Three more lakes, Sheppard, Taylor, and Loch Katrine, lie near the park.

Several hot springs flow in the forest, the most accessible being two springs on the south bank of the Hurunui River near the confluence with the Mackenzie Stream. The Harper Pass track, formed during the gold rush era of the 1860 s, passes close by. RECREATION Lake Sumner Forest park provides opportunities for tramping, climbing, camping, fishing, hunting, nature study, and photography. Permits are required only for hunting and can be obtained from . the Forest Service office in Christchurch. Fishermen must, of course hold appropriate licences. Because freehold or leasehold land abuts the park, people wanting access other than up the Hope River from the Lewis Pass Road, or to No. 2 hut and the Jollie Brook via the Lake Sumner Road, should seek information from the Forest Service officers listed on page 8. Vehicle entry is discouraged beyond the park boundary. Free accommodation is provided in a. total of 18 huts throughout the park. Hut capacities range from 2 to 30 persons. • However, huts are for overnight use only, except in an emergency, and cannot be booked. As they are much in demand during holidays and may be fully occupied,, all visitors should have tents and some means of cooking. Adequate warm, wind-proof, water-proof clothing and strong boots are essential, as are sleeping bags. TRAMPING The best known tramping route is that from the Hope River, via the Kiwi Saddle track to the Hurunui River and Harper Pass, to the Taramakau River. There are various other marked tracks which experienced trampers and hunters can use. Information can be obtained from a Forest Service office. Hope River Track. From the Lewis Pass State Highway, turn off through a signposted cyclone gate about 3

kilometres west of the Poplars Station homestead to a car park near the Boyle River. Just upstream from the car park, below the Forest Service patrolmen’s headquarters, is the footbridge. On the far side of the bridge the track gains height to the upper terrace and crosses to the bush edge above the Hope River. A cut and benched track . follows up the Hope and gradually descends to emerge from the bush on to the river flats at about the midsection of the route. From here it follows up the river edge to the open flats below the junction of the Kiwi Stream. Following close to the bush edge, the track

leads to the footbridge in the gorge. After crossing the bridge the track follows downstream a short distance before passing through some bush to follow up the Kiwi Stream. Kiwi Saddle Track. From the head of the Kiwi Stream flats, the track then climbs at an easy slope a short distance to the saddle and descends to the Three Mile Stream, over a walkway bridge, through terrace beech forest to emerge at the head of Lake Sumner. The Hurunui River flats can then be followed to No. 2 Hut on the south side over a walkway bridge sited just up river from the hut. A mini-

mum of two days should be allowed for this trip. From the top of the Kiwi Saddle track there is a short detour track to Lake Marion. Harper Pass Track. From No. 2 Hut, which can be reached by four-wheel-drive track from Lake Taylor, or from the Kiwi Saddle track, the route to Harper Pass follows up the true right of , the Hurunui River through ' beech forest and across open river flats. Having crossed the pass, the track descends through Westland State Forest on the true right and Arthur’s Pass National Park on the true left down the Taramakau River to Aickens. A minimum of 5 days

should be allowed for this trip from the Lewis Pass Road. The Harper Pass sectftn, although well defined, can be hazardous, particularly in adverse weather, and only persons with reasonable experience and fitness should attempt it. A good deal of climbing is necessary if the route is followed in reverse, that is, to reach the Harper Pass from the Taramakau. On the Lewis Pass RoadHarper Pass route are three large accommodation huts sleeping 16 or more people; one on the Kiwi Flats, No. 2 above Lake Sumner, and No. 3 opposite Waterfall Stream towards Harper Pass.