Christchurch, Walks & Parks

Expansive parkland (around 160 hectares) in central Christchurch, Hagley Park public reserve is totally flat and a perfect escape from city life, without leaving the city. Drive in off Rolleston Avenue – there’s plenty of parking, a licensed café and information centre. Nearby is a large playground, lake and extensive gardens. There are walking, cycling or rollerblading tracks throughout the park and indoor/outdoor Botanic Gardens. Numerous recreation areas provide tennis courts, rugby fields, fitness track, netball courts and cricket pavilion. Look out for open air concerts during summer.

This Kidz Go! favourite has it all! Immerse yourself in miles of sandy beaches, walking tracks galore, superb forest mountain bike trails that are easy yet varied and fun, mountain bike terrain park and a recreation area with adventure playground, flying fox, paddling pool, tennis courts, sandy volleyball and BBQ pits. The flat trails are ideal for buggies but this area really comes into it’s own as a perfect place to take the kids mountain biking. Try the Pegasus Bay track which skirts the forest, following the beach from Spencer Park to New Brighton’s North Shore. Otherwise discover the maze of fun, winding mountain bike trails that criss-cross the forest. You can pick up maps of the forest from the information centre at Spencer Park (Off Lower Styx Road.) Alternative access and recreation area off Waitikiri Drive.

If arriving by ferry turn left from the wharf and follow the pathway nearest the sea, rather then walking up the road. The track itself is very clear, but not well signposted. Follow the flat path alongside the cliff edge, through natural bush. You come out in the center of Diamond Harbour village, near Stoddart’s cottage. From here you can wander back through the township towards the wharf. Features: This walk has a stunning outlook across the harbour and there’s lots of woodland to play in. However, during the first few minutes of the walk the path takes you very close to steep drop offs. Keep children with you for the first section and take extra care if biking. (Half hour via drive/ferry or 1 hour drive from city centre)

Parklands galore – 85 hectares of reserve, streams, lakes, playground, fishing, BBQ spots and walking trails. Off Johns Road, near the airport and 15 minutes drive from the city centre The Groynes is a perfect place to picnic, feed the ducks or go for a walk. All trails are flat and there are short walks that follow the lakes and streams. Otherwise follow signs for the Waimairi Walkway for an easy 1 – 2 hour return stroll. Fishing is allowed and is definitely kid-friendly – restricted to under 17s.

This easy waterside stroll winds from the Cass Bay playground back to Lyttelton. The path meanders round tiny inlets, including Corsair Bay – a favourite swimming spot with changing rooms and picnic area. You come out at Magazine Bay – follow the marina from here into Lyttelton or take the road or walking path back to Cass Bay. Features: Cass Bay playground, with flying fox. Corsair Bay picnic and swimming spot, Magazine Bay: marina and museum, Lyttelton port town.

Akaroa Heritage Park is accessible from Long Bay Road or on foot via Woodill's Track. Since it was established in 1992, over 1000 native trees have been planted by individual tree enthusiasts.  It is an great place to park up and go for a whole or a part walk on the Woodhills Track (even a short 15min walk takes you into some really interesting bush) finishing back at the car to get out your picnic and enter the park with its absolutely stunning views of the peninsular, and sculptures. Facilities include picnic benches and toilets.

Entrance to this 'park' is located on the Summit Road, between the Gondola and Sumner. As you drive up towards the summit from the Sumner direction you'll pass a wooded area on your right and a gate to a field on your left. This is signed Greenwood Park. There's a not-too-steep track to walk up, that is wide and easy for buggies. Views are panoramic - from one point you can see the Southern Alps, Christchurch City, Sumner, Lyttelton Harbour and the Banks Peninsula! Great for unusual scenic photo angles! The track comes out overlooking Lyttelton township at some old World War II gun enplacements (great for sheltered picnics!). There's also mountain bike tracks through Greenwood Park, which are well-marked, crossing the walking path about half way along.

40 minutes return, 1.1 km. From Akaroa, take the Akaroa Lighthouse Road - 11 km of steep, narrow rough road, suitable for four wheel-drive vehicles. From the car park wander down the road, entering the reserve through a gate; take the road down past the foundations of the lighthouse keeper’s house and other buildings, to the site of the old lighthouse (now relocated at Akaroa). From here, follow the old supply road, constructed 1878–79, which ends at an iron ladder descending to a rock shelf in Little Haylocks Bay. The walk is suitable for buggies and offers views of towering cliffs. Fur seals/kekeno are seen in the bay, with local colonies of white-fronted terns/tara, black-backed gulls/karoro and white-flippered penguins/kororä.

Part of the Waimakariri River Regional Park, the McLeans Track is a well-built, smooth 10km mountain bike track that is ideal for family biking. There are plenty of twists and turns, bumps and small ups and downs, to make it great fun, without being too technical. Ideal for beginner bikers or family groups! Plenty of parking at the start of the track, and there's also a cabin open at weekends, selling bottled water, drinks, muffins and other goodies. You can even rent bikes (for both kids and adults) and helmets, at the start of the track (weekends only, or by arrangement from On Your Bike - 03 348 1738).

This spot is easily missed when travelling down summit road as It's not very well sign posted ! But being only a short 5 minute walk I would definitely recommend stopping. It's one of the best views of Governors Bay/ Lyttelton Harbor I've seen (yet) Travel to this spot using the GPS coordinates below, it will take you to a grass 'carpark', follow the grass foot path up the hill, but keep an eye out as there's a small turn off that's easily missed. Take a picnic and relax, let the kids explore.

Spencer Park is just 15 minutes drive north from the city centre, right on the beach at Spencerville. Facilities include: BBQ pits, sandy volleyball court, tennis, mini golf, adventure playground, flying fox, toddlers' pool and tons of running around space. It's just a stone's throw from a sandy beach and the popular Bottle Lake Forest Park - a perfect forest for walks and family-suited mountain bike trails. Spencer Park is also right opposite the fantastic Adrenalin Forest - a great outdoor climbing adventure for kids and adults (see our activities section for more information.) If you want to stay on-site, right next door is Spencer Beach Holiday Park. Check our accommodation section for more on this great family accommodation.