Hanmer Cycle Trail

Flora and Fauna

Flora: Much of Canterbury was covered by tall forests. Matai and Kahikatea trees flourished in fertile, damp sites, while totara dominated stony soils.

Beech forest covered the hills. In the higher altitude forests there was mainly celery pine, mountain totara and cedar. Growing above the forest line in sub alpine areas were small-leafed shrubs, broadleaf, and dracophyllum.

Maori lit fires and destroyed the forests. In their place grew tussock grasslands. Matagouri, manuka, kowhai, wild Spaniard and kanuka thrived after the fires.

On the arrival of the Europeans there was less than a tenth of the area was forested. Timber was cut or burnt to create pasture, further reducing forests. High country farmer’s lit fires to promote pasture growth for sheep

On the plains introduced grasses which totally dominated native grassland. Other introduced trees were planted.

Today, a small amount of original vegetation, mainly beech forest, survives in the alpine zone and in the foothills.

Fauna: The Hanmer Springs and wider North Canterbury area contains excellent examples of both native New Zealand wildlife and introduced species. Many native birds, for example the kiwi, kea, kaka, yellowhead and more, can be found in the region. There are also game animals and birds, fish and the wild horses on the St James Station, making the region a popular tourist, hunter, angler and nature-lover’s paradise.

Our national icon, the kiwi (great-spotted kiwi, or in Maori ‘roroa’) can be found here, particularly in the Lake Sumner Forest Park area. According to the Department of Conservation (DOC), the Lake Sumner Forest Park has the richest forest bird diversity in Canterbury.

Bats or pekapeka may also be found in the Lake Sumner Forest Park area. The bat is the only native New Zealand land mammal.

DOC has made extensive steps to control introduced species in an endeavour to preserve the native species of flora and fauna. Along with their programme encouraging recreational hunting, they have initiated commercial ventures to cull and exterminate pests.

Big game hunters enjoy the abundance of game that the area supplies – chamois abound in the upper regions, red stags just above the timberline and forests, and wild boar in the valleys and bush-clad slopes. Despite being regular victims of roadkill, possums range over most of the country causing havoc to native vegetation.

It is a different kind of introduced species that is providing a major attraction on the St James Station, between Hanmer and the Lewis Pass. Wild horses roam the environs of the station in the Ada Valley, to the delight of passing trampers on the St James Walkway.