Arundel, New Zealand

Arundel is a small rural village about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Geraldine, in the Canterbury region on the South Island of New Zealand. It is near the south bank of the Rangitata River, 3 kilometres (2 mi) from Peel Forest, an extensive podocarp forest with abundant birdlife. Arundel is flat and fertile, with fields and many mature trees.

Map of Arundel, New Zealand

Arundel has some historical importance. The nearby bridge over the Rangitata River was built in 1872, and was the only bridge linking South Canterbury with the rest of Canterbury until the 1930s when the road bridges on State Highway 1 were constructed. This gave Arundel an important position at the South Canterbury end of the bridge, and the village site was reserved in 1874, two years after the bridge was built. However, the population of Arundel has never exceeded 100.

Arundel Lumber Company Ltd has operated in Arundel since 1951, processing Pinus radiata wood from production forests in South Canterbury, producing around 30 cubic metres (1,100 cu ft) of sawn timber per day.

There is a small cemetery south-west of the village, with over 160 graves approached through an avenue of flowering cherry trees.