Lake Sumner Forest Park, Forest park in Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Lake Sumner Forest Park covers 1,051 km2 of Canterbury, centred on Lewis Pass where State Highway 7 crosses it. It runs about 60 km south-southwest along the eastern side of the Southern Alps, between the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, Victoria Forest Park and Arthur's Pass National Park. Its ranges, from north to south, are the Libretto, Doubtful, Glynn Wye, Crawford and Studleigh ranges, with The Nelson Tops between them.
Lake Sumner Forest Park was established in 1974 and is managed by the Department of Conservation. It lies about 100 km northwest of Christchurch, between Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve and Arthur's Pass National Park, with access from State Highway 7 at Lewis Pass.
The park takes its name from Lake Sumner, which lies in its southern part, although the lake itself is not inside the park. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation, and its name links the protected forest to the lake beyond its boundary.
Access points lie along State Highway 7, which crosses the park at Lewis Pass; the park runs about 60 km south-southwest from there to the headwaters of the Lucy Stream. It borders Victoria Forest Park to the north and northwest and Arthur's Pass National Park to the southwest. The Department of Conservation manages the land.
Natural hot springs emerge in different areas throughout the park, and one of them is easy to reach, located between the Hurunui Hut and the Number 3 Hut. Visitors who find this spring can enjoy this unexpected natural feature during their hike.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,783 contributors worldwide.