This is one of their favoured habitats, particularly in open areas
beneath Manuka and Kanuka.

Here it's fairly easy to find a wide variety of Sun Orchids, various
Caladenia, Gnat Orchids, the small forms of Leek Orchid, Onion
Orchids, as well as certain species of Greenhood and Spider Orchid.

Good examples of this environment can be found at Albany Scenic
Reserve near Auckland, Rainbow Mountain near Rotorua, and the
Puffer Track at Kaitoke near Wellington.

Scrubland Orchids Include:
Most Thelymitra species - Caladenia Species - Corybas cheesemanii
Molloybas cryptanthus - Singularybas oblongus - Nematoceras trilobum
Cyrtostylis species - Calochilus robertsonii - Calochilus paludosus
Acianthus sinclairii - Gastrodia minor - Corunastylis species
Microtis species - Orthoceras novae zeelandiae - Prasophyllum colensoi Diplodium alobulum - Diplodium trullifolium - Pterostylis foliata
Pterostylis graminea - Pterostylis montana - Diplodium puberula
Plumatichilos tasmanicum - Caladenia atradenia

Kauri Forest
Two species of Greenhood ( Pterostylis agathicola and Diplodium
brumale ) are confined to this type of forest. Kauri forest also
contains a wide selection of the other forest dwelling species.

It's possible to see the bush dwelling species in just about all of
the natural forest environments, except for the darkest stands,
or those with a dense ground covering of fern.

Orchids prefer a reasonable amount of light, therefore the edges
of tracks make an ideal location for them.

Most Greenhood species are forest dwellers, along with many
of the Spider Orchids, the Epiphytic Orchids, Simpliglottis, some
Caladenia, and the Potato Orchids. Adenochilus is confined
almost solely to Beech Forest.

For those living in Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges are an
excellent place to start looking. Most forest tracks have some
species growing beside them.

Forest Orchids Include:
Acianthus sinclairii - Adenochilus gracilis - Ichthyostomum pygmaeum Adelopetalum tuberculatum - Caladenia species - Simpliglottis cornuta Nematoceras acuminatum - Nematoceras macranthum - Singularybas oblongus - Nematoceras trilobum - Drymoanthus species - Earina species - Gastrodia species - Pterostylis agathicola - Diplodium alobulum Pterostylis australis - Pterostylis banksii - Diplodium brumale
Pterostylis cardiostigma - Pterostylis cernua - Pterostylis graminea
Pterostylis irsoniana - Pterostylis irwinii - Pterostylis aff montana agg Pterostylis oliveri - Pterostylis patens - Pterostylis porrecta
Diplodium trullifolium - Winika cunninghamii

These cooler, higher rainfall forests with a floor
covered in mosses are home to species like:

Adenochilus gracilis - Simpliglottis cornuta
Nematoceras acuminatum - Nematoceras trilobum agg
Gastrodia cunninghamii - Pterostylis irsoniana
Pterostylis patens - Pterostylis venosa - Pterostylis
humilis - Aporostylis bifolia - Prasophyllum colensoi
Townsonia deflexa

This cold wind-blown environment consists of
small shrubs, tussock, and stunted Mountain Beech.
Nestled in sheltered areas grow the following:

Pterostylis humilis - Aporostylis bifolia - Prasophyllum colensoi
Pterostylis irsoniana - Caladenia lyallii - Caladenia aff lyallii
Waireia stenopetala - Thelymitra cyanea - Thelymitra hatchii
Thelymitra nervosa - Hymenochilus tanypodus - Hymenochilus
tristis - Nematoceras trilobum agg - Microtis oligantha

Mossy banks with constant dripping water are a
favourite home to several species of Spider Orchid.
They're a particularly good place to find:

Nematoceras iridescens - Nematoceras macranthum
Singularybas oblongus - Nematoceras orbiculatum
Nematoceras papa - Nematoceras longipetalum
Nematoceras rivulare - Nematoceras "Whiskers"

Surprisingly, a number of species thrive in this
environment, even growing in open water.
Wetland orchids include:

Anzybas carsei - Cryptostylis subulata
Prasophyllum hectorii - Pterostylis micromega
Pterostylis paludosa - Spiranthes novae zeelandiae
Thelymitra cyanea - and some Nematoceras species

Fairy Falls Track, Waitakere Range.
Nematoceras acuminatum, Nematoceras "Whiskers", Acianthus sinclairii, Earina mucronata.

Destruction Gully, Whatipu, Waitakere Range.
Acianthus sinclairii, Cyrtostylis oblonga, Diplodium alobulum, Pterostylis agathicola, Diplodium trullifolium, Pterostylis graminea, Singularybas oblongus.

Ricker Walk, Waipoua Forest, Northland.
Diplodium brumale, Singularybas oblongus, Pterostylis agathicola, Cyrtostylis oblonga.

Albany Scenic Reserve, North Shore.
Thelymitra tholiformis, Thelymitra aemula, Thelymitra longifolia, Thelymitra pulchella, Pterostylis graminea, Pterostylis cardiostigma, Corunastylis pumila, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Caladenia chlorostyla.

Rainbow Mountain, Waiotapu, Rotorua.
Calochilus robertsonii, Calochilus paludosus, Thelymitra nervosa, Thelymitra carnea, Thelymitra longifolia, Caladenia alata, Caladenia chlorostyla, Caladenia atradenia, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Diplodium trullifolium.

Kapuni Walk, Dawson falls, Mt Taranaki.
Pterostylis venosa, Adenochilus gracilis, Nematoceras acuminatum, Simpliglottis cornuta, Aporostylis bifolia, Pterostylis patens, Nematoceras aff trilobum.

Horopito Area, Mount Ruapehu.
Singularybas oblongus, Nematoceras trilobum agg, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis aff montana, Adenochilus gracilis, Gastrodia minor, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Caladenia chlorostyla, Caladenia lyallii, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Spiranthes novae zeelandiae, Prasophyllum "B", Thelymitra "Whakapapa", Thelymitra formosa, Thelymitra longifolia, Microtis oligantha.

Puffer Track, Kaitoke, Upper Hutt.
Thelymitra pulchella, Thelymitra x dentata, Thelymitra aff ixioides, Thelymitra nervosa, Orthoceras novae zeelandiae, Singularybas oblongus, Plumatichilos tasmanicum, Cyrtostylis rotundifolia, Prasophyllum colensoi.

Whakapapa, Mount Ruapehu.
Pterostylis humilis, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis aff montana, Thelymitra cyanea, Prasophyllum colensoi, Thelymitra longifolia, Thelymitra "Whakapapa", Thelymitra formosa, Thelymitra hatchii, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Aporostylis bifolia.

Native Orchid Reserve, Iwitahi, Taupo.

Includes amongst others:   Caladenia species, Caladenia atradenia, Caladenia lyallii, Simpliglottis cornuta, Simpliglottis valida, Myrmechila trapeziformis, Thelymitra nervosa, Pterostylis patens, Pterostylis foliata, Adenochilus gracilis, Aporostylis bifolia, Gastrodia minor, Gastrodia aff sesamoides, Gastrodia cunninghamii, Nematoceras trilobum agg.

Click Here for Iwitahi Location Map & Information