Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Christchurch > Opawa River Loop Walk

Opawa River Loop Walk

Location
Carpark in Hansen Park.
Description

This is a gentle river walk past many of the older character homes in Opawa, such as Risingholme, which is now a community centre. The walk also passes through the splendid Hansen Park. There are no busy roads to cross and half of the walk is traffic free.

From the car park and children’s playground in Hansen Park, a good sealed path goes down to the Heathcote River. Turn right, and wander upstream around the back of the Rudolf Steiner School to Fifield Terrace. Continue along this street to Cholmondeley Avenue and turn right into Risingholme Park.

The old stately home dominates this pleasant park and has been a community centre for over 50 years after J. R. McKenzie gave Risingholme to the city in 1943. Follow the path in front of the home, past the children’s playground and over the bush stream to Reeves Road and onto Opawa Road.
Turn right along Opawa Road shops till you reach the river again, and cross to the seat and footbridge beside the Opawa Children’s Library. Follow the riverside through Louisson Place to where a sealed path leads you into Hansen Park, with wonderful river outlooks and seats. This is a rare section of the Heathcote River where there are no roads on either side.

You can follow the sealed path through Hansen Park back to the car park, or alternatively cross the footbridge and walk upstream along Aynsley Terrace to the bush reserve. This has been planted extensively with indigenous plants.

Wander upstream past the river jetty and the backyards of several houses before reaching the footbridge that leads back to the car park in Hansen Park.

There is also a short walk option with a good sealed path that runs through Hansen Park along the river – 30 minutes return.

Distance
4.0 km
Duration
1.0 hours
Level
Easy
Amenities
  • Birds
  • Carpark
  • Dogs Allowed
  • Food and Drink
  • Historical
  • Plant Life
  • Playground
  • Toilets
Source
www.ccc.govt.nz
Discussion
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