Banks Peninsula

Banks Peninsula is located in the Canterbury region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, partly surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and adjacent to the largest city in the South Island, Christchurch, which has approximately 340,000 residents. The peninsula has a land area of approximately 1,000 km². The Banks Peninsula District Council has 7,833 residents (2001 census).

Land use

Estimates suggest that native forest once covered 98% of the peninsula. However, Maori and European settlers successively denuded the forest cover and less than 2% remains today, although some reafforestation has started. European settlers have planted many English trees, notably walnut.

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Several sites off the coast of the peninsula serve for mariculture cultivation of mussels.

Related Topics:
Mariculture - Mussels

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A large Marine Mammal Sanctuary, mainly restricting set-net fishing, surrounds much of the peninsula. This has the principal aim of the conservation of Hector's dolphin, the smallest of all dolphin species. Eco-tourism based around the playful dolphins has now become a significant industry in Akaroa.

Related Topics:
Set-net fishing - Hector's dolphin - Dolphin

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A relatively small marine reserve called Pohatu centres on Flea Bay on the south-east side of the peninsula.

Related Topics:
Marine reserve - Pohatu

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The Summit Road forms notable feature on the peninsula. Built in the 1930s, the road comes in two sections:

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• one section runs along the crest of the Port Hills from Godley Head (the northern head of Lyttelton Harbour) to Gebbies Pass at the head of the harbour
• the other section runs around the crater rim of Akaroa Harbour from 'Hill Top' - the junction with the main Christchurch-Akaroa highway - to a point above Akaroa. Both roads afford spectacular views as well as providing vehicular access to many parks, walkways and other recreational features.