Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve

The vegetation in the reserve provides an excellent example of the type of fertile lowland forest which extended through the valleys of the region before European settlement. A mosaic of beech, podocarp and broadleaf species make up the forest, their distribution reflecting local variations in environmental conditions. Black beech is abundant on steeper slopes while hard beech is more common on the spurs and the more rounded slopes. On the moister and more fertile river terraces, the emergent crowns of podocarps: rimu, mataī, miro, tōtara and kahikatea, tower over a hardwood canopy of kāmahi, mixed beech, hīnau, broadleaf and tawa, the latter reaching its southern limit here. Closer to the ground is a variety of shrubs, saplings, ferns, mosses and liverworts. It is home to a variety of forest birds, both native and introduced. Although not always easy to see, their delightful songs can often be heard. A population of endangered native bats also roosts in the area and is the subject of a pest control trapping programme to assist in their protection. The Te Hoiere/Pelorus River drains a large, mostly forested catchment. The water is of a high quality and provides valuable habitat for many native plants and animals, as well as introduced trout.