Thomsons Bush
Walking Tracks
Access: both sides of Queens Drive, Waihopai Walkway, Gimblett Street and Preston Street.
A network of 3514m of well-graded walking tracks wind through Thomsons Bush on both sides of Queens Drive.
Please note, no mountain biking is allowed in Thomsons Bush.
Facilities
- Carparking
- Playground
- Picnic tables
- Toilet
Playground
Playground equipment
- Tyre swings
- Seesaw
- Play module – including hanging, sliding and climbing features
- Platform – including a pole and steps to the platform.
Access
Thomsons Bush is located on both sides of Queens Drive on the northern side of the Waihopai River approximately 2.5km north of the Invercargill City centre.
Parking is available off Queens Drive and pedestrians can access the reserve from Queens Drive, Preston Street and Waihopai Walkway.
Dogs
Thomsons Bush is a dog-on-lead area. Dogs are required to be leashed at all times.
History
A boat shed on the old waterway at Thomsons Bush. Image: Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
Thomsons Bush, along with the native bush in Anderson Park, is one of the few remnants of the kahikatea dominated swamp forest that was characteristic of the southern Southland area prior to European settlement. The local Māori who had strong spiritual ties to the native forest knew this vast forest as Taurakitewaru.
The earliest map prepared by J T Thomson in 1857 illustrates the extent of this forest - however, within 20 years much of the forest had been cleared.
From the turn of the twentieth century, the Waihopai River and associated reserve land proved to be popular venues for picnicking, swimming and an annual regatta.
In the 1960s the Waihopai River was diverted to provide improved drainage and to lessen the effects of flooding in the vicinity. The resulting backwater remains a part of the Thomsons Bush Reserve.
In 1990 subsequent minor realignments of the Waihopai River near Thomsons Bush resulted in the layout and flood banks as we see them today.
In July 1998 a proposal to close the second loop road in Thomsons Bush was advertised and approved following consultation. The remains of this road are used as one of the walkways within the reserve.
584 Queens Dr, Rosedale, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand