Craigieburn Forest Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craigieburn Forest Park |
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View to Black Range from Cass River
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 Craigieburn Forest Park
Location in New Zealand
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| Location | South Island, New Zealand |
| Nearest city | Greymouth |
| Area | 44,694.78 hectares (110,443.2 acres) |
| Governing body | Department of Conservation |
Craigieburn Forest Park is a huge protected area in the South Island of New Zealand. It covers about 447 square kilometers (173 square miles). This park is right next to Arthur's Pass National Park in the north.
Part of its border runs along State Highway 73. It sits on the eastern side of the amazing Southern Alps. Inside the park, you'll find popular places like the Broken River Ski Area and the Craigieburn Valley Ski Area. The Department of Conservation looks after the park. They work to protect nature and manage activities there.
Contents
Hiking the Cass-Lagoon Track
The Cass-Lagoon Tramping Track is a very popular hike. It's a great weekend trip for experienced hikers. The track is about 34 kilometers (21 miles) long. It goes up and down a total of 2100 meters (6,890 feet).
On the first day, you cross the Cass saddle. This saddle is 1326 meters (4,350 feet) high. Then you walk downhill to Hamilton Hut. This hut is a comfortable place with 20 bunks. It's a good spot to rest for the night.
The second day starts with crossing Hamilton Creek. You'll use a cool three-wire bridge to get over it. Next, you cross the Harper River using a swing bridge. The path then winds along the Harper River. You'll pass Harper Hut before reaching the Lagoon saddle. Near the top of this saddle is the Lagoon Saddle shelter. It's built in a unique A-frame style. Finally, the track goes down Mount Bruce. It ends at the car park at Cora Lynn.
What are Wilding Pines?
Wilding pines are a big problem in the park. These are pine trees (called Pinus contorta) that spread very quickly. They were first planted in the 1960s. The idea was to stop soil from washing away. But now, they are causing environmental issues.
These trees can spread their seeds up to 30 kilometers (18 miles) away. This means they can take over native plants. They also increase the risk of wildfires. Experts were worried that wilding pines could cover a quarter of New Zealand. This could happen in just 15 to 30 years if nothing was done.
Fighting the Wilding Pines
The Department of Conservation is working hard to remove these unwanted trees. In 2020, they put a lot of effort into this. Workers on the ground were pulling out young pine trees. At Mount Bruce, chainsaws were used to cut down 30 hectares (74 acres) of older trees. Helicopters helped by flying the cut wood out of the park. This work helps protect the native plants and reduce fire danger.
Images for kids
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Panoramics of Cass Saddle in Craigieburn Forest Park
See also
In Spanish: Parque forestal Craigieburn para niños
