A short loop through one of Canterbury’s last remnants of lowland beech forest. This is proper old-growth bush – the real deal, not a replanted area. It’s a 12-hectare private scenic reserve that’s open to the public, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to when this forest covered the entire Canterbury foothills.
| Distance | Time | Difficulty | Dogs | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650m (0.4 miles) | 15-40 minutes | Easy to Moderate | No dogs allowed | Free parking at entrance |
From Christchurch: Take the Great Alpine Highway (SH73) towards Arthur’s Pass. It’s about 73km (1 hour drive).
Directions: Less than 1km before you reach Springfield, turn right onto Domain Road. You’ll see signs for Kowai Pass Reserve at the railway crossing. Follow Domain Road for 2km, then it becomes Pococks Road. After less than 1km, turn right onto Kowai Road (signposted ‘Kowai Bush’). Drive 5km until you cross the railway line and the road turns to gravel. The reserve entrance is 300m on the right.
Parking: There’s free parking right at the trailhead. No parking fees or restrictions.
This is a set of meandering loop tracks through dense mountain beech forest. The main loop takes about 30-40 minutes if you walk slowly and actually look at things. You can knock it off in 15 minutes if you’re rushing, but honestly, what’s the point?
The track starts gently but has a few short steep sections – nothing major, but enough to get your heart rate up a bit. At the highest point there are good views across the surrounding countryside. The rest of the time you’re forest bathing in cool green shade where the light filters through the canopy with massive old beech trees and lush ferns covering the forest floor.
The surface is dirt with tree roots that get slippery when wet. You’ll need to navigate around natural obstacles – it’s a real forest walk, not a manicured path. Not suitable for prams or anyone with mobility issues.
The forest itself is the star – genuine old-growth mountain beech trees (black beech, or tawhiarauriki), the kind that once covered this whole region.
Birdlife is excellent: Bellbirds (korimako) are everywhere with their beautiful liquid song. Tūī are common too, along with fantails (pīwakawaka) that’ll follow you doing aerial acrobatics. If you’re lucky you might spot the South Island robin (toutouwai) or yellow-crowned parakeet (kākāriki).
The Kowai River flows nearby (the name means “between the waters”), though you won’t see much of it from the track.
Good for: Nature lovers who want to see real native forest, bird watchers, anyone interested in conservation history, people who enjoy authentic bush walks.
Not great for: Prams, wheelchairs, very young kids, anyone expecting smooth maintained paths.
Fitness level: You need to be reasonably mobile. A 4-year-old managed it fine according to one family, but they had to carry younger kids.
The sheltered beech forest means this walk is doable in most weather. Actually, I reckon it’s rather magical in light rain – everything smells incredible and the birds go crazy.
Best time: Spring and summer for bird activity. December is particularly good as some trees produce masses of berries that attract bellbirds.
Crowds: You’re unlikely to encounter many people. Most reviews mention having the place to themselves.
Dogs: Not allowed. This is a scenic reserve focused on native bird protection.
Drones: Not allowed. This is privately owned land and the owners often stay on site. Please respect their privacy.
Facilities: There’s a toilet at the entrance and a reserve map. That’s it – no water, no rubbish bins.
Want to Help? The reserve is owned by the Harris family (three siblings) who maintain it on weekends and holidays only. They welcome volunteers. It’s a big job keeping these tracks open and the bush protected.
What to bring:
Mobile coverage: Patchy at best. Tell someone where you’re going.
Safety: Take your time on the steep sections. It’s only 12 hectares so you can’t really get lost.
In the 1800s this was dense native bush noted for abundant birdlife, part of a thriving community built around farming and the Midland Railway.
The bush you’re walking through is one of the last remnants of lowland beech forest that once covered the Canterbury foothills. It survives thanks to Maurice Bevan-Brown (a doctor and psychiatrist) and the Harris Family, who purchased and protected it in the early 20th century. It’s also known as Bevan-Brown’s Bush.
Today it’s still privately owned by the Harris family who generously keep it open to the public.
This walk is properly special if you go in with the right expectations. It’s not a grand epic tramp, it’s a short wander through genuine old-growth forest that’s becoming increasingly rare in Canterbury.
The bird song alone is worth the drive from Christchurch. Standing under those massive beech trees with bellbirds singing overhead, you get a real sense of what this region looked like before it was cleared for farming.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s a real forest experience – natural obstacles, tree roots, the works. If you want perfect paths, stick to Christchurch’s city walks. If you want to experience actual native bush, this is brilliant.
The drive out is scenic too, and Springfield is right there if you want to grab lunch after.
Springfield is less than 10km away and has several cafés:
The Springfield Visitor Information Bureau at the railway station has historical information about the area if you’re interested.
Cave Stream (Castle Hill, 25km): Short walk to dramatic cave entrances, or the full cave walk for adventurous types
Kowai Forest Loop (Near Sheffield): A much longer, harder walk (5.4 miles) – note recent reviews say the loop section is overgrown and dangerous, stick to the main track only
McHughs Forest Park (Darfield, 25km): Easy family-friendly walks with fairy doors for kids
Mears Track (Oxford area): Another protected beech forest remnant with similar history and conservation story
