Plumes of smoke coming from Walter Peak Station in recent weeks are part of a clean-up after the eradication of Douglas fir trees in the area.
Contractors for tourism operator Real Journeys are in the middle of a ''slash and trim'' process following a 10-week project to fell 35ha of the species.
The project began in February when 16ha of Douglas fir were sprayed with herbicide in a joint operation with the Department of Conservation (Doc) and the Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group.
It is part of a long-term land restoration project by the company to clear wilding trees and invasive weeds on land it owns in the area.
About 70% of the felled trees were on the Von Hill Peninsula, a familiar landmark across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown.
The peninsula overlooks the Colonel's Homestead and Walter Peak High Country Farm, to which the company operates the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw.
Real Journeys commercial director Tony McQuilkin said the clean-up would continue for another two months.
Tree stumps were pulled out and either buried or burned, while branches and unsaleable logs were being burned.
About 4000 tonnes of Douglas fir logs had been trucked south, with the best lumber going to a mill in Riverton and the remainder to Bluff for export to China.
Low prices for the timber and high transportation costs meant the proceeds only offset a fraction of the restoration project's cost.
The cleared land would be sown in grass in the spring, Mr McQuilkin said.
''If we turn that land into pasture, it will be the best way to control the regrowth of Douglas fir and broom and other noxious weeds.''
Some exotic trees had been retained and pockets of native trees and shrubs would be planted along the peninsula's lake shore from September.
''We've retained the gum trees and natives on the foreshore, so it's not denuded. The exercise is enhancing things.''
The company was being environmentally responsible by getting rid of seeding trees, and feedback from observers had been ''very positive''.
As part of a land-swap deal with Doc, the company will build a public walkway and camping site on the peninsula, to be completed by next June.
