Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Christchurch > Heathcote Towpath Walk
Heathcote Towpath Walk
- Location
- Car park at Settlers Crescent, off Ferry Road.
- Description
This is a wonderful walk along the estuarine saltmarsh of the lower Heathcote River, with extensive views of the Port Hills. Information panels highlight the historic and wildlife heritage of this area. No roads to cross at all.
This walk is a ‘there and back’ walk, with a short-cut return option along Settlers Crescent. The walk is best at mid to low tide as some of the paths can get flooded at high tide.
From the Settlers Crescent car park walk through the grass passageway to the information platform beside the Heathcote River. This is approximately the position of the historic ferry that was etablished by the early European settlers in 1851.
Follow the line of cabbage trees and macrocarpa beside the row of factories with wonderful views of the Port Hills across the estuary. The track swings around the Devil’s Elbow part of the river, so-named because it was a difficult feature to navigate through and reaches a viewing platform.
Note the side-track access to Settlers Crescent.
Indigenous plants shield the busy Ferry Road and factories, and the track crosses several footbridges over small tidal inlets as it continues along the riverside.Most walkers will return once the track reaches the main road, but a short distance along Ferry Road is the bollard monument indicating the site of Steam Wharf, where the early coastal trading vessels used to moor from 1856 onwards.
There is also a short walk option with a good path around the ‘Devil’s Elbow’ section of the river, access from Settlers Crescent, 20 minutes return.
Visit the below website for more information on the history of the area.
- Distance
- 4.0 km
- Duration
- 1.15 hours
- Level
- Easy
- Amenities
-
- Birds
- Carpark
- Dogs Allowed
- Historical
- Plant Life
- Source
- www.ccc.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk