Bushtown Waimate

Bushtown Waimate WELCOME TO BUSHTOWN HERITAGE SITE in Waimate, South Canterbury
Bushtown Heritage Site is a window int

Bushtown Heritage Site is a visitor attraction recreating the mighty Tōtara tree forest, showcasing life of the era through bushman's huts and early Edwardian township "Main Street", a working steam operated vintage sawmill and a miniature steam train rail under development

STEP BACK IN TIME TO THE BUSHMAN'S ERA

Heritage Tōtara Forest Planting
The mighty Tōtara was a prized species for the early

European bushman who settled in Waimate in the mid 1800’s. They were drawn to the area due to the abundance of Tōtara timber available for the development of settlements and infrastructure in the surrounding regions. The Tōtara lumber sourced from the Waimate area quickly gained a reputation for quality and was often shipped to many parts of New Zealand as well as overseas. The Bushtown Heritage Forest Project sets out to recreate the mighty Tōtara forest that once adorned the Waimate District landscape. Individuals, families, interest groups or companies now have the opportunity to participate in this project by planting their own commemorative Tōtara tree on designated areas within the Bushtown Heritage Park.

10/04/2026

Interesting Steam Extravaganza in Christchurch this weekend

Some interesting information about logging & forestry business & life in New Zealand - in a time that our own Bushtown W...
06/04/2026

Some interesting information about logging & forestry business & life in New Zealand - in a time that our own Bushtown Waimate Heritage Park Site documents & celebrates.

Click on the link for some great reading.

Tree felling Gangs of ‘bushmen’ felled trees using axes and two-man crosscut saws. A scarf (wedge-shaped cut) was chopped in the trunk, on the side where the tree was expected to fall. The tree was then sawn through from the other side. Usually trees were cut singly, but a skilled bushman could ...

Steam Up Even Sunday 8 March 2026
10/03/2026

Steam Up Even Sunday 8 March 2026

22/02/2026
3pm this afternoon at Bushtown for the launch of the Miniature Railway and a ride on the Train.
20/02/2026

3pm this afternoon at Bushtown for the launch of the Miniature Railway and a ride on the Train.

03/02/2026

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Dobson Street
Waimate
7924

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