At the far southern end of the Hinewai Reserve West Track, you will reach the best-protected red beech trees (tawhairaunui) on the Banks Peninsula. These ancient trees, mostly straight and up to 35 metres tall, are an example of what the forest on the peninsula was like pre-clearance for farming.
The lack of thick undergrowth is also a feature and a sharp contrast to the clambering for position and space of the shrubs and smaller trees that dominate the nearby recovering forest. Take your time as you walk through; few places have such easy access to big beech trees around NZ.
Continue on the track through the forest, then either head downhill all the way to the low point at the east end of the reserve (you need a waiting car, or it’s a 450-metre hike back to the top), or continue on the loop back to the visitor centre.
