Circling a City: Journeys on the Christchurch 360 Trail

Visiting Riccarton Bush on the 360 Trail The Opawaho and Avonhead Gardens sections of the Christchurch 360 Trail join up at the entrance to Riccarton House and Bush. Riccarton House was the historic Deans family residence in Riccarton and adjacent to their old mansion house is Riccarton Bush. The 360 Trail diverts into Riccarton Bush as a small side track off the main route.  Riccarton House was the Deans family home till the early 1900's The Dean brothers were one of the original settler families and arrived here in the early 1840's when central Christchurch was still a swamp. They had extensive landholdings through Canterbury and were a central part of early colonial life. With the Herriot, Price, Manson and Gebbies they were the first Europeans to settle in what later became Canterbury.  Their original cottage built in 1843 still stands next to Riccarton Bush and is the oldest European building in Canterbury. It is open to visit during the summer months and is typical of th...

..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 the...