Ōtukaikino Walk
Located in Christchurch area and Ōtukaikino Wildlife Management Reserve in the Canterbury region
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Introduction
This short, easy track loops around a wetland. Interpretive panels provide information about the wetland and it's inhabitants.1.2 km loop
Dog access
Ōtukaikino is a 13 ha freshwater wetland reserve within Christchurch that is being restored as a living memorial since 1992. This long term project is a joint venture with Lamb and Hayward. See the Ōtukaikino Living Memorial web page for more information.
The flat track is suitable for strollers. Most of the track is gravelled, with 40% being grass. Depending on ground conditions, there may be wet and muddy patches.
From the car park the track crosses a bridge over a stream, which is a great spot to look for water life, such as eels/tuna. From there the track loops around the outside of the wetland, with interpretation panels to look at and pleasant places to sit along the way. There is a raised lookout point for a view over the area.
The wetland is a 'Wāi Tapu' site, therefore there is no eating in the wetland area (beyond the bridges) and no dogs are allowed. Picnicking is allowed only in the grass area next to the car park, where there is also a toilet. This area is suitable for wheelchairs.
Ōtukaikino wetland is on the outskirts of Christchurch City, by the northern suburb of Belfast. The entrance is off Main North Road, between Chaneys Corner and the Belfast end of the Northern Motorway. The address is 985 Main North Road, Belfast.
Car park closed from 6 pm
The gate to the reserve is closed each night from 6 pm. The site is still open, but visitors after hours will need to park on the roadside, and use the pedestrian assess around the gate.
As the track goes across ponds and there is a nearby stream. Young children must be supervised at all times.
The boardwalk is closed due to land changes caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Use the available track instead.
There are lots of interesting things to see as you make your way along the track.
Wetland plant life is dominated by:
- raupō
- toe toe
- tall tussock sedges (pukio)
- blechnum fern (kiokio)
Birds sometimes seen in the reserve are:
- pūkeko
- mallard ducks
- shoveller/kuruwhengu
- grey teal/tete
- marsh crake/koitareke
- Australasian bittern/matuku-hūrepo
- fantails/pīwakawaka
- scaup/papango
The spring fed waters of the wetland support a variety of aquatic life including common bullies, native snails (pūpū), short and long-finned eels (tuna), juvenile native fish and various aquatic insects.
Contacts
| Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre | |
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| Phone | +64 3 318 9211 |
| arthurspassvc@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | 104 West Coast Road Arthur's Pass 7654 |
| Hours | Visitor centre hours and services |