Tracks & walks in the North Canterbury & Arthur's Pass area
A 594 metre long cave within Cave Stream Scenic Reserve is one of the most outstanding natural features in the Canterbury region. Location: The reserve is in the Castle Hill Basin between the Torlesse and Craigieburn mountain ranges, approximately 90 km northwest of Christchurch.
Craigieburn Forest Park extends from the Waimakariri River to the Wilberforce River - with braided rivers, beech valleys, tussock grasslands, alpine screes and rugged mountain peaks topping 2300 m. Location: Craigieburn Forest Park is in Canterbury, beside highway 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast.
An hour's drive from Christchurch are preserved pockets of native vegetation where you can kayak, raft, mountain bike, take short walks near scenic picnic areas or try tougher hikes. Location: The Glentui and Ashley Gorge area is about 60 km northwest of Christchurch, and is reached via the township of Oxford.
Tucked up behind one of Canterbury's most popular holiday towns, Hanmer Forest Park is a walking and cycling paradise. Location: Hanmer Springs, at an altitude of 385 metres, is 135 kilometres north of Christchurch, off the Lewis Pass Highway.
Centred on the Torlesse and Big Ben ranges, in Canterbury's high country, the park attracts trampers, hunters, winter climbers and cross-country skiers, picnickers, boaties and botanists. Location: The Torlesse Range is one of the most accessible in the country, located alongside SH 73, only 75 minutes drive from Christchurch.
The grand limestone rock battlements of Kura Tawhiti led early European travellers to name the area Castle Hill. Location: Bounded by the high mountains of the Torlesse Range to the east and the Craigieburn Range to the west, the limestone tors of Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area dominate the Waimakariri Basin, Canterbury.
Remote high-country lakes, beech-clad mountains, wide rivers and hot springs complete this picturesque landscape, a tramper's mecca and a safe haven for endangered species. Location: Lake Sumner Forest Park lies 100 km northwest of Christchurch between the Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass National Park.
Located at the foot of the Southern Alps an hour's drive from Christchurch, and combining forest and alpine environments, the area attracts trampers, picnickers and hunters. Alert: The access gate will be locked in periods of high fire risk. Location: Mt Grey/Maukatere Forest is west of Amberley township, which is on State Highway 1, about 60 km north of Christchurch.
Mt Thomas Forest and the Wooded Gully picnic area lie in the foothills of the Southern Alps, an hour by car from Christchurch. Location: Mt Thomas Forest covers 10,800 hectares between the Ashley and Okuku Rivers.
This 11,350 hectare forest near the township of Oxford features walking and mountain biking tracks and a Recreational Hunting Area. Location: The forest is about 56 km northwest of Christchurch.
Peak Hill is a prominent hill on the shores of Lake Coleridge, Canterbury. At its peak at 1240 m, it offers a stunning overview of the lake and surrounding area on a fine day. Location: Peak Hill is beside Lake Coleridge, which is 90 minutes drive west of Christchurch.
Located on three mountain ranges, the St James Conservation Area encompasses exceptional natural features and recreation opportunities. Location: Located on three mountain ranges and containing the headwaters of the Waiau and Clarence rivers, the St James Conservation Area encompasses the St James Walkway. The western side is 190 km from Christchurch - off Lewis Pass Road (SH 7) and the eastern side is accessed 13 km north from Hanmer Springs, off Tophouse road.
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