Craigieburn Forest Park


Craigieburn Forest Park is a protected area in the South Island of New Zealand, adjacent to Arthur's Pass National Park to the north.
The park is administered by the Department of Conservation, and features the Broken River Ski Area and the Craigieburn Valley Ski Area. The park is popular for a range of recreational activities, particularly for people from Christchurch.

Geography

The forest park covers of mostly mountainous landscape. One of its boundaries lies in part alongside State Highway 73 and is adjacent to the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps.
There is a range of vegetation, including mountain beech on lower areas. The bush provides a habitat for the tītīpounamu, korimako, miromiro and riroriro. During summer, pikirangi produce red flowers in the tree canopy.
On higher area, native tussock and other ground-covering plants dominate.

History

20th century

Craigieburn Forest Park was established in 1967. The New Zealand Forest Service used the area as an experimental forestry area, and planted wilding pines in the 1960s for erosion control.

21st century

In the 2010s, the wilding pines were recognised as a fire risk. They were spreading quickly and threatening nearby native plantings, with seeds blowing up to 30 kilometres. By 2020, wilding pines were expected to cover 25% of New Zealand by 2035 to 2050 if action wasn't taken.
In 2020, the Department of Conservation began trying to eradicate wilding pines from the ground, including taking out conifer seedlings by hand. At Mount Bruce, chainsaws were used to cut down 30 hectares of mature Douglas Fir and helicopters were used to fly the wood out.

Recreation

Craigieburn Valley Track

Craigieburn Valley Track begins beside the Craigieburn Valley ski field road, 1.5 km from State Highway 73, and passes through mountain beech forest until it reaches alpine tussocks near the ski field huts and car park.
From 1948 until the road was built in 1961 this was the only access to the Craigieburn Valley ski field. Materials for the early ski-field huts carried up this track.
The track is 4.5 km one way, taking 1–2 hours. A circuit, returning via the ski field road, takes 2–3 hours. There is a risk of avalanches.

Other walking tracks

  • Nature Trail, a short walk through a mountain beech forest.
  • Bridge Hill Walk a walk from the lookout carpark to a carpark with panoramic views.
  • Hut Creek Walk, a walk from the between the Nature Trail and Bridge Hut Walk, following the trial planting area.
  • Dracophyllum Flat Track, a walk to a picnic site covered by Dracophyllum, native tussock and small herbs.
  • Lyndon Saddle, a track from the picnic area, across Cave Stream, through grassy terrace and down through mountain beech forest to Lyndon Saddle.
  • Lyndon Saddle to Helicopter Hill summit, a track up a steep ridge with open screes between the mountain beech forest.
  • Lyndon Saddle to Broken River ski field road, a track down through low glacial terraces and then along Cave Stream.
  • Lyndon Saddle to Craigieburn Valley Track, a track up a Dracophyllum and tussock-covered face and down through beech forest to the Craigieburn Valley Track.

Cass-Lagoon Tramping Track

This tramp crosses the Cass saddle before descending to the comfortable 20 bunk Hamilton Hut. On the second day, after crossing over the Hamilton Creek and the Harper river, the track meanders up the Harper river passing the Harper Hut before crossing the Lagoon saddle. Near the top of the saddle stands the Lagoon Saddle shelter, built in an A frame style. The track then descends Mount Bruce to the car park at Cora Lynn.
It is a very popular weekend trip as it is easily accessible from Christchurch. It is suitable for experienced trampers only. It is roughly 34 kilometers long and climbs and descends a total of 2100 meters.

Camp Saddle tramping tracks

The Camp Saddle tracks are mountain tracks, with the danger of extreme weather, avalanches and rockfall.
  • Broken River Skifield Road to Camp Saddle, the easiest way to Camp Sadde.
  • Camp Saddle to Lyndon Saddle, a track along the ridge and then down a scree slope to beech forest.
  • Craigieburn Valley Track to Camp Saddle, a track through beech forest and up a scree slope.

Ski field basin tramping tracks

There is walking access to the Broken River and Craigieburn ski field basins during summer months. The areas are harsh and alpine, and there are no marked routes above the bush-line. Fit trampers will be able to get to the main ridge and rocky peaks, while other walkers may prefer the lower bush.
  • Broken River Skifield Basin huts, a walk following the zig-zag bush track or the main ski road.
  • Broken River Skifield Basin ridge, a road to the tussock basin with further obvious routes up to the main ridge and onto Nervous Knob.
  • Craigieburn Skifield Basin, an access road up the steep valley to the 1923 metre Hamilton Peak.
  • Craigieburn Skifield Basin to Broken River ski field basin, a route traversing the ridge to Nervous Knob which is suitable for experienced trampers and climbers only.