Ahuriri Conservation Park
Photograph of Ahuriri Valley, taken near Omarama
Ahuriri Valley, as viewed from Omarama
New Zealand relief map
New Zealand relief map
Ahuriri Conservation Park
LocationCanterbury Region, New Zealand
Nearest cityChristchurch
Coordinates44°20′S 169°40′E / 44.333°S 169.667°E / -44.333; 169.667
Area49 hectares (120 acres)
Established2004
Governing bodyDepartment of Conservation

Ahuriri Conservation Park is a protected area of 49,000 hectares including tussock grasslands, forest, and river habitat, located in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, and centred around the headwaters of the Ahuriri River.[1][2]

The park includes trails and huts.[3][4][5] The mountains, forests, tussock lands and river valleys are used for tramping, fishing kayaking, horse riding and hunting.[6]

Both the park and neighbouring Ben Avon Station are located near the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, a dark-sky reserve, and are used for astronomy.[7]

The town is serviced by the tourist town of Omarama.[8][9]

History

The park was established in 2005, and includes the Birchwood Station leasehold farm the New Zealand Government bought back for NZ$10 million in 2004. It contained extensive wetlands that had remained largely undeveloped.[10] Birchwood Station continued normal farming operations until the end of the leasehold in 2010.[11]

The road to the former Birchwood Station homestead stopped being regularly maintained by Waitaki District Council in 2011.[12]

In 2014, ecologist Peter Espie reported a decrease in native plant species in the park, and suggested introducing grazing management.[13]

Parts of the 2020 Disney film Mulan were filmed in Ahuriri Valley near the conservation park, including the training camp scenes and some battle scenes.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Speech: Opening of Ahuriri Conservation Park". The Beehive. New Zealand: Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  2. ↑ "Ahuriri hunting block". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  3. ↑ "Ahuriri Conservation Park". www.doc.govt.nz. Government of New Zealand.
  4. ↑ "Ahuriri Conservation Park" (PDF). New Zealand: Government of New Zealand.
  5. ↑ "Ahuriri Conservation Park: Discover Omarama". Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  6. ↑ Thornber, Lorna (28 July 2021). "NZ's top winter towns: Where to go in August for a last-minute escape". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Travel.
  7. ↑ Wallace, Sue (1 October 2020). "Dark skies and designer lodges in the Ahuriri Valley". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
  8. ↑ Waterworth, Kerrie (25 November 2020). "A quieter time for Omarama this year". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  9. ↑ Editorial (24 May 2018). "Omarama at a crossroads". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  10. ↑ Woodward, Keith (14 February 2018). "Keith Woodford: clamour for other uses drives high country reform". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Farming.
  11. ↑ Birchwood, Matthew (24 September 2010). "Birchwood Homestead ideas sought". stuff.co.nz. Timaru Herald.
  12. ↑ Bruce, David (21 February 2011). "Ahuriri access compromised". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  13. ↑ Rae, Sally (13 May 2013). "Many facets to heritage 'jewel'". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  14. ↑ Polianskaya, Alina (14 September 2020). "Where was Mulan filmed? Filming locations for the new Disney remake, and why filming in China's Xinjiang province is controversial". iNews.
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