Canterbury Park to Halswell Quarry Park: Christchurch 360 Trail

..on the Christchurch 360 Trail in Halswell...

Over the Queens Birthday Weekend I managed to get out for a ride along one of the 360 Trail sections on the south side of town. I rode the section from Curlett's Road to Halswell Quarry Park through the back roads of Aidenfield, Westlake and Halswell. This section is a combination of parkland, reserves, road cycling and the Halswell Quarry Park. 

Entrance to Canterbury Park off Curlett's Road

Map: Opawaho-Divide section of Christchurch 360 Trail

The section started at the Curlett's Road entrance to Canterbury Park which is where the Canterbury Agricultural Fair is held each year. The trail goes along the edge of the park past the Nga Puna Wai sports complex and out into Aidenfield on McMahon Drive. 

Christchurch 360 Trail goes around the outside of Canterbury Park

I was riding my MTB which I think is the best way to cover this section. There are paths, walkways, cycleways and roads the whole way so you can more easily cover them riding. For the most part they are cycle friendly but watch when crossing the major roads like Dunbar's, Halswell Junction and Halswell Road. 

Heathcote River at edge of Canterbury Park

I was riding my MTB on this section as it seemed the most economical way to cover the distance. I am trying to get bike fit again after many years so I can start riding some of the cycle trails...it is definitely a work in progress. On these urban trail sections I recommend you mount up and ride, ride, ride...

My MTB is a Merida Big Nine 20

The track takes you through the Canterbury Park on a series of gravel and paved walkways...these are dual use and I saw many other cyclists and walkers out enjoying the day. Nga Puna Wai is a big sports complex with courts for various sports and some football field sized pitches for ball games. It is less than a decade old and gets a huge amount of use from local groups. 

Gravel pathway around Canterbury Park

Nga Puna Wai sport complex in Hillmorton

The headwaters of the Heathcote River start near Canterbury Park and it is a small and shallow stream running right around the Hillmorton side of the park. It continues from here down to the estuary near Mt Pleasant gathering life force as it goes...

The Heathcote River flows around Canterbury Park

There are public toilets at the Nga Puna Wai carpark

Crossing Augustine Drive at Nga Puna Wai

I diverted from the official route along here...the route I followed was around to the western side of Canterbury Park and then down McMahon Drive. I was reading the trail notes after I finished and the real route zigs and zags through the reserves in Aidenfield. Some of them do not have pathways so it was just easier to follow the roads...

Western side of Canterbury Park

McMahon Drive entrance to Canterbury Park

From the edge of Canterbury Park you follow the following roads/walkways/cycleways: McMahon Drive to Bibiana Street and turn left through Burbank Reserve. You cross the reserve to Burbank Drive and then left into Cyclamen Place.

360 Trail logo at Canterbury Park

McMahon Drive in Aidenfield

Burbank Reserve goes through to Burbank Drive

 Half way down Cyclamen Place cross Dunbar's Reserve through to Dunbar's Road. It is very confusing and I got lost...I recommend you get the instructions from the Christchurch 360 Trail website and follow those.  

Dunbar's Reserve goes to Dunbar's Road

If you want to miss all these streets just ride down McMahon Drive to Dunbar's Road turn left and then cycle down Lancewood Drive to Westlake Drive. You have to cross Dunbar's Road which is a major and very busy thoroughfare so take care as there is a lot of traffic. From Aidenfield you cross Dunbar's Road and head along Lancewood Drive and Westlake Drive towards Westlake Park. 

On Lancewood Drive in Westpark

Westlake Drive goes to Westlake Park

You enter the park at the eastern edge and cycle through the reserve and around the lake before heading towards Wales Street. You end up circling the lake at Westlake Park and it is a bit confusing as the signs are indistinct...

Westlake Park in the suburb of Westlake

From Westlake Drive we head to Wales Street

The old quarry lake at Westlake Park

There is a cycleway along the edge of the playing fields at Westlake Park which links Westlake Drive and Wales Street. There are 360 Trail logos on the light post's so just follow them to stay on the right route...

...follow the pathway past the sports fields to Wales Street...

You go down Wales Street heading in the direction of the Halswell shopping complex and then turn right into Oakfield Street and right into Nichols Street. This will deposit you onto Halswell Junction Road. 

Heading down Wales Street towards Oakfield Road

...turn right up Oakfield to Nichols Road...

...and then to Halswell Junction Road...

The direct route would take you down Halswell Junction Road to Halswell Road where you head out of town towards Tai Tapu. The 360 Trail does not do the easy thing...instead it has you turn into Sabys Road before going through a walkway about 400 meters up that road. 

Junction of Halswell Junction Road and Sabys Road

Sabys Street is off Halswell Junction Road

Walkway between Sabys Road and Muir Reserve

The walkway goes to Muir Drive which you follow for a couple of hundred meters to the Muir Reserve. I stopped here for a 10 minute break as it was a lovely reserve with some picnic tables and a small playground. There is a walkway from Muir Reserve through to Halswell Road which is the major highway to Akaroa, Tai Tapu and the area around the bottom of the Port Hills. 

...you cross Muir Reserve to Halswell Road...

Take care crossing Halswell Road before heading down Larsen's Road and Kennedys Bush Road towards the Halswell Quarry Park. 

On Larsen Street heading for Halswell Quarry Park

Turning into Kennedys Bush Road

On Cashmere Road heading for Halswell Quarry

The 360 Trail goes into Halswell Quarry Park from the carpark off Cashmere Road and you just need to head for the gate that joins onto the walking/MTB track network through the Park. You are heading for the main car park near the old quarry which eventually leads out to Kennedys Bush Road. 

Entrance to Halswell Quarry from Cashmere Road

Cashmere Road car park at Halswell Quarry Park

...we head through these gates...

Bush margin at Halswell Quarry Park

Halswell Quarry Park is set around an old quarry site and it has been developed a lot over the last decade. There are now a series of very nice gardens in the reserve and an extensive MTB and walking track network. There is a large dog exercise area here but watch your dogs as there are a lot of people here so keep them close so they don't bite someone. 

Dog walking field at Halswell Quarry

The old Halswell Quarry workings

We follow this path to the Korean Gardens, Halswell Quarry Park

You pass by the Korean and Japanese Gardens and both looked very nice and worth exploring. The Korean Garden has a number of statutes, pavilions, totems and planting of Korean species of Pine Trees, Maples and shrubs. 

Korean Garden, Halswell Quarry Park

Pagoda at the Korean Garden, Halswell Quarry Park

Halswell Quarry Park...more of the Korean Garden

There is a pavilion here dedicated to Korean War Veterans as New Zealand was one of the 22 countries which sent aid or troops to fight in the Korean War. One of my uncles served with the NZ Artillery in the Korean War at the Battle of Kapyong. That was a famous and brutal battle against the Chinese later in the war. 

Korean Pavilion at Halswell Quarry Park

...the pavilion is dedicated to Korean War Veterans

I am going to come back here and Karen and I will have a look around this whole area...

Information panel, Korean Garden, Halswell Quarry Park

Meant to scare off bad spirits...Halswell Quarry Park

Entrance to the Korean Garden at Halswell Quarry Park

On the way to Kennedys Bush Road you also pass by the Japanese Garden and it looks nice as well...it would be worth coming over here for the day to have a look around...

Japanese Garden, Halswell Quarry Park

Map of the whole of the Halswell Quarry Park

You follow the road out to Kennedys Bush Road passing the old quarry and its offices on the way. There is a nice track up and over the old quarry site...I will go walk it one day and put a post up on my main website..NZ Bush Adventures. The quarry has been closed for about 20 years now as they had just about played out all the usable rock. 

The old Halswell Quarry is now inactive

The main carpark was full of cars as it was quite a mild day and people were making the most of the conditions before winter really sets in. There is a bit of snow up on the Canterbury Foothills and Southern Alps so a lot of walkers are diverting from there for the moment. 

Carpark at Halswell Quarry Park off Kennedys Bush Road

Toilet block at Halswell Quarry Park

There is a nice café called Quarry Café (...strange that...) at the carpark and from what I could see they did cold drinks, coffee and some treats. I imagine they do a ripping trade over a fine weekend...

Heading out to the Kennedys Bush Road

This section of the Christchurch 360 Trail ends here...the next section heads up Kennedys Bush Road to Kennedys Bush Track and from there along the Port Hills all the way to Godley Head. That is a journey for another day and another trip...

Entrance to Halswell Quarry Park at Kennedys Bush Road

I live over this side of town so from here I just headed for the hacienda....

View back down Kennedys Bush Road to Cashmere Road

This is a nice urban section of the 360 Trail and I think best covered on bike as there are a lot of roads to cover and not much bush, forest or riverbank. All up it took me about 1.5 hours to cover but a bit of this was filming time. I think you could cover the whole section in 45-60 minutes if you just concentrated on biking. 

Christchurch 360 section details: Canterbury Park to Halswell Quarry Park

Access: Start from the cycleway along Curlett's Road and head through Canterbury Park, Aidenfield, Halswell and Westlake. Alternately start at Halswell Quarry Park and head to Curlett's Road. 
Track Times: Approximately 8 km's, 2-3 hours one way walking, 1-2 hours on a cycle
Miscellaneous: Busy road section so watch when crossing major thoroughfares. There are toilets at Nga Puna Wai, Westlake Park and Halswell Quarry Park. Shops at Halswell are just off route. There is a café at Halswell Quarry Park. 

Christchurch 360 Trail: Opawaho Section to Riccarton Bush - Canterbury Park to Halswell Quarry- Sugarloaf Hills from Kennedys Bush