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Little River Railtrail

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More than half of 45 km-long Christchurch to Little River Railtrail from Hornby (Christchurch) to Little River on the Banks Peninsula is now open. The walkway / cycleway passes through a spectacular landscape with a thousand years of human history.

The first section 20km stretch of the trail between Motukarara and Catons Bay, near Little River opened on 28 May 2006.

The rail trail passes through rural areas and settlements on the Canterbury Plains and skirts past the massive flanks of the ancient volcanoes which make up Banks Peninsula, hugging the shoreline of a vast lagoon, Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, and its smaller twin, Wairewa/Lake Forsyth. The lakes and associated rivers and wetlands are rich in wildlife and natural vegetation.

Little River Railtrail
© Little River Railtrail

Details

Awards: The Christchurch to Little River Rail Trail mostly follows the route of a 19th century railway line between Hornby Junction and Little River via Prebbleton, Lincoln, Motukarara and Birdlings Flat until its closure in 1962. The rail corridor from Motukarara to Little River has remained in public ownership, but has been little used by the public, because creeks and rivers are not bridged along the route of the trail itself. The railway embankment is generally in sound condition.