Punchbowl Falls

The challenge

Set within the unique natural environment of Arthur’s Pass National Park and bordering Bealey River, this project renovating the parking and associated amenities at Punchbowl Falls required collaborative efforts across our expertise to develop innovative, technical solutions that would mitigate potential environmental disturbances.

With existing conditions presenting a range of hazards, ensuring visitor safety was of top priority to the Department. Early after being approached, our landscape architects sketched a concept to communicate our design approach, before then being engaged to undertake a full design process from concept to detailing for the site. The initial design upgrade extended included the carpark and accessibility, with consideration to accommodate campervans. This was followed by a new ablution block, perimeter track, and associated landscape design

The solution

Ensuring our design considered and incorporated features from the surrounding landscape was a key consideration when developing concept solutions. Local railway sleepers inlayed into the track will form a welcome mat threshold for hikers, effectively extending the visitor experience of Punchbowl Falls into the national park walkways.

Wanting plantings to reflect the surrounding environmental region, our landscape architects collaborated with local DOC rangers and specialists to curate a vegetation palette to mimic the endemic species found in this area of Arthur’s Pass.

Additionally, our design solution integrated various elements that reflect the surrounding natural features, like replicating the mountainous ridgeline in the ablution block roofline, using railways sleepers, and beech timber to ground the design into its local identity, characteristic of its location. An integrated stormwater management solution rounded out the site restoration, providing both functionality and future resilience to the project.