Kaituna Vally Banks Peninsula

Kaituna Valley has always been popular for recreational walking especially up through the reserve to the Mt Herbert Walkway along the crater Rim.

Recently the last farm on the road has been retired to revert to native bush and plants. The owners have had the whole farm convented with the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.

The farm road to the crater Rim Walkway is now open to the public to walk right up the last part of the valley to the Crater Rim. The Crater Rim Walkway follows the southern edge of a long extinct volcano. The sea now comes into part of this to form Lyttleton Port of Christchurch.

here are some photographs taken on our walk last week.

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides - Kahikatea 

Kaituna Reserve before the start of the walk

Kahiatea at ground level showing the base of this  tree probably 4-500 years old.

Kahikatea tree above the surround forest

Kahikatea on the right and Matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia) on the left 

Podocarpus totara - Totara

Looking up to the Crater Rim from about 75% of the way there

At the top looking down on Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) and Kaitorete Spit

Totara Logs left to weather after many years - an erie but interesting sight

Panorama of Kaituna Valley

Kaituna Valley

Totara trees sculptured by the southerly wind

Totara trees still standing guard over the valley.