Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Christchurch > Southshore - The Spit Walk

Southshore - The Spit Walk

Location

Walk starts at the end of Rockhorse Road. Be careful not to park in the turn around area or on the bus stop.

Description

Dogs: must be kept on a leash around the spit as this is a wildlife reserve.

The Southshore Spit walk offers sand dunes, beach and the estuary. Views to the Sumner cliffs and along the headlands of Bank Peninsula. There are many bird species to be seen roosting and feeding. ie. White heron (kotuku), New Zealand shoveller (kuruwhengi), Canada goose, white-faced heron, royal spoonbill (kotuku ngutu-papa), black swan, banded dotterel (tuturiwhatu), South Island pied oystercatcher (torea) and kingfisher (kotare).

Short walk option: from the Rockinghorse Road: Southshore Spit dune loop track, 20 min return.

Walk is best done at low tide so you can walk alongside the mudflats. The local newspaper will have the tide timetables.

Follow the Rockinghorse Road walking past the information panel and toilet. Start the walk along the Southshore Spit dune loop track.

The dune loop track takes you through the coastal duneland, skirting the beach and then coming back around to the estuary side of the spit.

Leave the dune loop track and follow the low tide mudflats to the Tern Street seat. If you want a shorter walk follow Tern Street across Rockhorse Road, along a beach access track to the beach.

Or walk further along the mudflats to the next seat at Plover Road. Follow Plover Road across to Rocking horse Road and the children’s playground at Plover Reserve. The beach access track takes you onto the broad beach. Walk south till you reach the last house and join the access track back to the end of Rockinghorse Road.

Distance

4.0 km

Duration

1.15 hours

Amenities

• Benches
• Birds
• Dogs Allowed
• Historical
• Lookouts
• Plant Life
• Playground
• Toilets

Source

Christchurch City Council – The Sea The Spit and The Estuary Brochure

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