Banks Peninsula tramping tracks - Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve

Suggest an Edit

Write Review

Your Nature Guide

Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

Maps

FREE

Deep Nature NEW

Author Marios Gavalas, Rankers and hundreds of contributors bring you a free web map to help you get lost (and find yourself) in Aotearoa's nature.

Open Map

Banks Peninsula, Canterbury

Camping near Banks Peninsula

Photos

Marios Gavalas

Massive totara

Marios Gavalas

zoom

Information

Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve

600 m return | 10 minutes return

An outstanding feature of this reserve is a huge forked lowland tōtara which may be 2,000 years old and measures 8.5 metres around its trunk.

Walking Track

Access

From the junction of SH75 and Hilltop Road continue 300m to a small parking area on the left-hand side of the road.

The Summit Walkway is signposted.

Track

Follow Summit Walkway on the ascent to the unmissable totara.

Flora

Some estimates put this tree at 1,000 year old. Others at 2,000. Whatever the age, it is a large forking tree.

Polynesian History

The totara was revered amongst Maori for its strength. They carved waka, built whare and carved food boxes from the hard wood.

European History

For early settlers, totara was the preferred wood for use in fence posts, power poles, railway sleepers and bridges. As it was resistant to the teredo worm, it also found favour in the construction of wharves.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Canterbury

Central government organisation

Location

South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula

Categories

Walking
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-43.7468245213327

172.869665527344

Latitude
-43.7468245213327
Longitude
172.869665527344

Feature	Value	Info
Track Length	From 500m to 1km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? From 500m to 1km
Track Duration	10 to 30mins Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins
Track Difficulty	Easy walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easy walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easy walk
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	Large vehicle accessible Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
Disabled Access	No disabled access Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Lesser Known Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.