Department of Conservation Wakatipu area community relations ranger Anna Humphries beside the centuries-old log cross-section, which will become an interpretation panel on the revamped Routeburn Nature Walk. Photo by James Beech.
A cross-section has been cut from a centuries-old beech tree, which fell naturally years ago and was found by Department of Conservation (Doc) rangers near the track.
It took four rangers to roll the log into the department's Queenstown workshop last week.
The log will be sanded and its rings counted to determine its age, but it will not be treated.
The slice will be mounted as one of five interpretation panels along the revamped Routeburn Nature Walk, planned to open this summer.
Doc Wakatipu area community relations ranger Anna Humphries said landmark moments in time would be noted on the log to illustrate the tree's life span.
