Banks Peninsula parks and reserves : Christchurch City Council

Banks Peninsula has beautiful parks and reserves, offering many recreational opportunities. Explore this giant ancient volcanic remnant with its deeply indented bays, wild beaches, striking mountains and intriguing geological and human history.

COVID-19 update on parks and tracks

The Government is asking for everyone to stay at home. Their advice is that you can go for a walk or exercise outdoors for a short time, but to stick to simple walks or exercise spots close to home.

If using one of our parks, always stay two metres away from anyone not in your household. If you take your dog, please keep it on a leash at all times to help avoid contact with other dogs. Take your dog poo home and dispose of it in your red bin.

Where there are gates and latches in parks, please avoid using your hands to open and close them. If gates are off their hinges or left open, please leave them as you find them.

Cemeteries are open for pedestrian access only.

The following are closed:

Public toilets.
Playgrounds, play equipment or exercise equipment in parks.
The Botanic Gardens.
Car parks within parks.
Visitor and information centres.
The Spencer Park animal area and fenced dog parks.
All Council-owned sports facilities

Unite Against Covid-19, visit covid19.govt.nz

Access

From Christchurch it only takes 90 minutes to get to Akaroa, one of the top tourist towns in Banks Peninsula. The journey is a scenic one, picturesque vistas will greet you at every turn and rise but take care as some roads are narrow and have steep drops on one side.

From around Akaroa, there are many other attractive beaches and seaside villages nearby such as Wainui, Okains Bay, Pigeon Bay

If you don't have a car, check out the Akaroa Shuttle(external link) for bus information.

Dogs

If you are heading out walking or visiting some of the beautiful reserves and beaches in Banks Peninsula, make sure you check dog restrictions.

The Banks Peninsula is a rare area of biodiversity and dogs can be disruptive to native wildlife.

Facilities

You will find free public toilets in Birdlings Flat, French Farm, Wainui, Akaroa, Takamatua, Okains Bay and Pigeon Bay.

Parks and Reserves

Park name	Address	Features
Green Point Reserve	Beach Road, Akaroa	Britomart Memorial, walkways
Garden of Tane	Beach Road, Akaroa	Bush walks, playground
Stanley Park	Rue Lavaud, Akaroa	Walkways
L’Aube Hill Reserve	Rue Pompallier, Akaroa	French Cemetery, bush walks
Akaroa Recreation Ground	Rue Lavaud, Akaroa	Slipway, playing fields, tennis courts, BBQ, toilets, skate park
Rue Balguerie Playground	Rue Balguerie, Akaroa	Playground, toilets
Akaroa Heritage Park	Long Bay Road, Akaroa	Walkways, botanical plantings
Robinsons Bay Reserve	Old School Road, Robinsons Bay	Walkways, native bush
Robinsons Bay Regional Park	Monarch Drive, Duvauchelle	Ngaio Point walkway
Little River Heritage Park	SH 75 Little River	Picnic tables
Birdlings Flat Playground	Poranui Beach Road, Birdlings Flat	Toilets, playground, beach
Le Bons Bay Domain	Le Bons Bay Road	Toilets, playground, tennis courts
Okains Bay Beach	Okains Bay Road	Toilets, campground, playground
Pigeon Bay Campground	Wharf Road, Pigeon Bay	Campground, toilets
Port Levy Old School	Western Valley Road, Port Levy	Toilets, swimming pool, tennis courts
Purau Foreshore Reserve	Purau Avenue	Beach, picnic tables
Purau Recreation Reserve	Purau Avenue	Toilets, playground
Camp Bay Beach	Camp Bay Road	Toilets, beach

Walks

Try our interactive walking map or below pages to see a number of popular walks in the Bank Peninsula.

The Rod Donald Trust website(external link) also offers great information about walking in the Banks Peninsula whether it be in Christchurch City Council reserves or those managed by the Department of Conservation and private land owners.

You can also pick up a detailed Rod Donald Trust brochure from the Akaroa i-Site(external link) for a small fee.