Kaipātiki Explorer

Chatswood Reserve

With entrances from surrounding streets and some well developed tracks and bridges this botanically rich reserve is a delight to visit. The reserve is a remnant of the kauri/hard beech forest that once covered much of North Shore City.

Although the area has had some of the larger trees extracted and the margins have been burned in the past, large kauri remain aged approximately 350 to 400 years. The forest association of cool climate hard beech growing beside warm climate kauri is similar to the nearby Kauri Park.

When the valley track is open again, you can follow the track downwards from Fitzpatrick Place or Mappin Place and you will see a wide range of native bush, plus native birds like tui and woodpigeon. When you get to the bottom have a rest on the seat overlooking the upper, of a series of four, Chelsea Sugar Refinery dams dating back to when the Chatswood Reserve was the refinery’s water catchment area.