Banks peninsula

Banks Peninsula is the South Island's predominant volcanic feature with Akaroa and the older Lyttelton Harbour being the ancient craters. It was at that time, about 12 Million years ago, an island.

Three successive phases of Maori settlement took place on Banks Peninsula ending with Ngai Tahu.

Banks Peninsula was once 98% covered in forest and only 1% remained by 1920. The Maori removed out about 1/3 of the forest. After European settlement most bays had a saw mill in action to harvest the wood, enable more stock to be grazed and to enhance the value of land. The forests were generally of totara, kahikatea, matai and red beech. 15% of Banks Peninsula is now in regenerating bush and some lost species may be reintroduced such as the tui in 2008.

Two or three species of moa lived on Banks Peninsula, and some evidence suggests that kiwi were also present. Other species no longer present on included kakapo, takahe, pelicans, geese, swans, nightjars, stout legged wrens, saddleback, kokako, pio pio, kakariki, NZ thrush, robins, kaka. In addition, large populations of sea birds have been lost from the peninsula or become extinct in relatively recent times.

Bank Peninsula having originally been an island for so long had its own endemic species such as the Banks Peninsula Sun Hebe, Akaroa Daisy, and Akaroa Weta.

Images © nhc.

Okain's Bay

Not far from Menzie's Bay

Near Raupo Bay

Raupo Bay