Dolamore Park

Dolamore Park is named in honour of the Dolamore family whose gift allowed the camping area to be developed. The land was originally bought by the Gore Borough Council is 1940 to establish a public picnic area and provide access into the adjacent Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve in order to maintain it as a wildlife sanctuary.

Walking tracks enable visitors to view the native birdlife, such as wood pigeons, fantails, bellbirds and tui especially in spring when the kowhai and flax flower. This native forested area forms a green backdrop for the park and is the largest lowland broadleaf podocarp forest in the region, featuring substantial stands of southern rata and rimu, totara and matai over 500 years old. The Waimumu Stream and Whisky Creek running through the park are home to trout, eels, crayfish, ducks, geese and native shags, herons and kingfishers. Extensive lawns are bordered by stone wall terracing. In spring the mature rhododendrons feature, followed by the red rata flowers in summer.

Fine selections of conifers can be seen in the Bert Newman Arboretum and the Ian Gilchrist Conifer Collection. The park includes a childrens playground and is popular for picnics, parties, barbecues and camping. A country music festival is held here each February.

An Education Centre is open by appointment, displaying interactive information which shows the balance of biodiversity in native forests.