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Plantation pine, Douglas fir and blue gum are widely available from Canterbury Good Wood merchants and are the best woods to burn a warmer, cheaper, smoke free fire.
1) Plantation pine
Great for kindling. One of the most common firewoods used throughout Aotearoa New Zealand as it comes from pine plantations and burns very cleanly. Thin compact bark.
Description when split
Smooth grained wood, mostly free of knots, light coloured. Drying time (ready to burn) 1 to 2 years. Moisture content 15-20%
2) Douglas fir/Oregon
Great for kindling. Normally taken from plantations when 25-30 years old. Light smooth bark.
Description when split
Has a distinctive orange centre with a whitish ring towards the bark. Ideal for splitting to make kindling. Very few knots, lightweight. Drying time (ready to burn) 1 to 2 years. Moisture content 15-20%
3) Blue gum
Great for a long burn. In the hardwood category, light-coloured smooth bark. When aged shows radial cracking, which indicates low moisture. Heavier than pine.
Description when split
Light to dark in colour. Normally smooth-grained wood with no knots. Drying time (ready to burn) 5 to 6 years. Moisture content 15-20%.
4) Macrocarpa
Usually cut from farm shelter belts. Similar to old man pine but with thin bark.
Description when split
Brownish dark colour with knots showing and little gum. Heavier than pine. Drying time (ready to burn) 3 to 5 years. Moisture content 15-20%.
5) Tea tree/mānuka
Normally cleared from farmland as scrub. One of our heavier hardwoods. Stringy light bark.
Description when split
Deep brown in colour. Shows small knots. Clean-grained wood. Drying time (ready to burn) 3 to 5 years. Moisture content 15-20%.
6) Pōhutukawa
Grown on coastal properties. Usually only used as firewood from pruning or trees blown over from coastal high winds. Light stringy bark. Heavy in weight.
Description when split
Medium brown with knots present. Drying time (ready to burn) 3 to 5 years. Moisture content 15-20%.
7) Willow
Normally grown on the side of waterways and only used when dead and still standing. In this state, it becomes a light greyish colour, with very thin bark. Can be washed down rivers and end up on beaches and, if found above a high water line, could be used. Very light in weight.
Description when split
Very light in colour. Smooth-grained with no knots or gum. The cleanest of firewood to work with. Drying time (ready to burn) - as it is only used when dead, has extremely low moisture content, and can be used immediately.