Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve

Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve, known colloquially as "Eaves Bush", is 16ha forest located at the northern end of Orewa. It is named after Mrs Alice Caroline Eaves (d. 1955), whose family bequeathed the land to the nation in 1960.

Historical Background

The area was previously a defensive Pa, built by Te Kawerau sub-tribes, occupied until as recently as 1827. The Ngai Paoa Tribe ceded the land to the Crown on 5 January 1854, which was subsequently granted to an Austrian, Captain Martin Krippner, in 1860.

In the 1870s, Major de Grut took over the land until it was sold to the Eaves family in 1919.

Features

A series of pedestrian walkways have been constructed through the reserve, as well as a wooden look out point over Orewa Beach that was built in 1997.

The reserve includes kauri trees as old as 300 years. In addition, the bush contains native trees such as Tōtara, Mataī, Kahikatea, Puriri, Rātā, Karaka, Rimu, Rewarewa, Nikau and Taraire. A number of these trees can be identified by labels along the walkway.

Several small streams feed the Nukumea Stream, which marks the reserve's southern boundary.

References

Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve Management Plan