
View of Mokihinui River from the ridge.
Old Forest is the name of our property in the Mokihinui Preserve near Seddonville which is in the South Island. It is 10.22 hectares of native bush; a very rough piece of land but beautiful with many native trees and plants which include beech, nikau, king tree ferns (mamaku) and a stand of rimu, plus native birds, not far from the Mokihinui River and the wild West Coast. This blog is to record our annual holidays on Old Forest so isn't updated between our visits.




We've been dreading writing this description, because we hate to part with this noble piece of earth. But life moves on, so here goes.
Murphy's Creek crosses the far point of the property, to which, by the way, there is an alternative legal (but logistically problematic) access. For a bit of magic, creek hike or fish this stream … and please take us with you. On the way, you can cross your 530 metre boundary with Department of Conservation estate.
Above Murphy's, back toward the rest of the Mokihinui Preserve, the section is home to a high flat expanse of mature rimu trees. It's a park-like treasure, pure and simple. We encourage the fortunate new owner of Section Eight to consider placing this area into a QEII Covenant; it certainly deserves the honour.
From up on the plateau, one encounters a small, deep canyon. Very odd, and beautiful, with a small waterfall ("Lost World" stuff). Who knows what else awaits discovery?
Heading back toward "civilisation" there's a sharp backbone ridge - we call it Bellbird Spur - which is where your homesite is perched. The ridge hosts giant beech, rimu and rata, and boasts 360ยบ views taking in the Mokihinui River up towards the gorge and all the way to the Tasman Sea, the Radiant Range toward the north and the Glasgow Range in the east. The driveway to your homesite will wind up to the ridge through king ponga and mature nikau.
A truly world class property.