Area 7.73 km² Established 1909 | Nearest city Geraldine | |
 | ||
Location Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand Governing body Department of Conservation | ||
The Peel Forest Park is a 773-hectare (1,910-acre) forest preserve in the Canterbury region on the South Island of New Zealand. It is located near the Rangitata River and is in the foothills of the Southern Alps. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation.
Contents
The community of Peel Forest is located nearby.
Flora and fauna
The Peel Forest is the remnant of a large Podocarpaceae forest. The three major tree types are the kahikatea (white pine), tōtara and matai (black pine). Logging reduced the forest to its current size. For his lengthy botanical study of Mount Peel, Harry Allan was awarded a Doctor of Science in 1923.
The forest is also home to many birds including the New Zealand pigeon/kererū, fantail/pïwakawaka, and the tomtit/miromiro.
Activities
Tramping is a popular activity in the park. There are several short walks, tramps, and one longer route that leads to the summit of Little Mt Peel.