The park was established in 2005, and includes the Birchwood Station leasehold farm the
New Zealand Government bought back for NZ$10 million in 2004. It contained extensive wetlands that had remained largely undeveloped. Birchwood Station continued normal farming operations until the end of the leasehold in 2010. The road to the former Birchwood Station homestead stopped being regularly maintained by
Waitaki District Council in 2011. In 2014, ecologist Peter Espie reported a decrease in native plant species in the park, and suggested introducing grazing management. Parts of the 2020 Disney film
Mulan were filmed in the Ahuriri Valley near the conservation park, including the training camp scenes and some battle scenes. ==See also==