| Ahuriri Conservation Park | |
| Photo Alt: | Photograph of Ahuriri Valley, taken near Omarama |
| Map: | New Zealand |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Map Alt: | New Zealand relief map |
| Label: | Ahuriri Conservation Park |
| Label Position: | right |
| Location: | Canterbury Region, New Zealand |
| Nearest City: | Christchurch |
| Coordinates: | -44.3333°N 209°W |
| Established: | 2004 |
| Governing Body: | Department of Conservation |
Ahuriri Conservation Park is a protected area of 49,000 hectares including tussock grasslands, forest, and river habitat, located in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, and centred around the headwaters of the Ahuriri River.[1] [2]
The park includes trails and huts.[3] [4] [5] The mountains, forests, tussock lands and river valleys are used for tramping, fishing kayaking, horse riding and hunting.[6]
Both the park and neighbouring Ben Avon Station are located near the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, a dark-sky reserve, and are used for astronomy.[7]
The town is serviced by the tourist town of Omarama.[8] [9]
The park was established in 2005, and includes the Birchwood Station leasehold farm the New Zealand Government bought back for NZ$10 million in 2004. It contained extensive wetlands that had remained largely undeveloped.[10] Birchwood Station continued normal farming operations until the end of the leasehold in 2010.[11]
The road to the former Birchwood Station homestead stopped being regularly maintained by Waitaki District Council in 2011.[12]
In 2014, ecologist Peter Espie reported a decrease in native plant species in the park, and suggested introducing grazing management.[13]
Parts of the 2020 Disney film Mulan were filmed in Ahuriri Valley near the conservation park, including the training camp scenes and some battle scenes.[14]