Each year, the Christchurch City Council facilitates a Walking Festival – a festival of walks that can be undertaken by the public in various parts of the city. You are invited to join the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network on any of our guided walks in 2025 as below:
Walking Festival – guided walks
Walk 1: Historic Ōpāwaho Towpath
Learn about the ecological, cultural and historical journey of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River as we guide your walk along the route of the old towpath. Starting and finishing at The Tannery, you will be shown many points of interest including old wharf sites, the Woolston Cut and Barrage and some outstanding examples of recent and not-so-recent biodiversity and bank restoration.
Date: Sunday, 13 April 2025
Time: Start at 1.00pm, finish before 4.00pm. Plan to arrive a little early for registration and a safety briefing.
Where to meet: Opposite The Tannery, 107 Rutherford Street, Woolston. The overflow car park of The Tannery is available as well as street parking.
Walk Grade: Medium It is flat but can be a little uneven a times.
Distance: approx. 4km
Bookings: Not required. Just turn up.
Dogs: Yes but they must remain on a short leash at all times
Bus Route: Use either 28 or 155 See map
Walk 2: Reserves on the Awa
Starting and finishing at the South Library, Colombo Street, this relatively easy walk will take in 4 reserves along the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River that community groups are helping to restore and manage. The reserves will include Farnley Reserve, Ernle Clark Reserve, the Donkey Track and Purau Reserve, all within Beckenham and Lower Cashmere.
Date: Easter Monday, 21 April 2025
Time: Start at 10.00am, finish before 1.00pm. Plan to arrive a little early for registration and a safety briefing.
Where to meet: On the grass in front of the South Library, 66 Colombo Street.
Walk Grade: Medium Note that there are a considerable number of steps encountered, both up and down. NOT suitable for prams.
Distance: approx. 6.5km but there is an option to shorten it to 4.00km if you wish
Bookings: Not required. Just turn up.
Dogs: Yes but they must remain on a short leash at all times
Bus Route: Use Route 1 See map
Walk 3: Headwater springs
Starting and finishing at the Te Kuru Wetland carpark in Cashmere Road, take a walk on the site of an old swamp re-imagined to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, reduce flooding and improve amenity values. Discover some of the many magical sources of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River and learn what you can do to enhance this taonga of our city.
Date: Sunday, 27 April 2025
Time: Start at 1.00pm, finish before 4.00pm. Plan to arrive a little early for registration and a safety briefing.
Where to meet: In the carpark for the Te Kuru Wetlands, Cashmere Road.
Walk Grade: Easy
Distance: approx. 3.5km
Bookings: Not required. Just turn up.
Dogs: Preferred not – this is a sensitive bird breeding and feeding area but if you must bring your dog, it must remain on a short leash at all times
Bus Route: None available