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Styx River Esplanade Reserve

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

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Redwood Springs.

Visit

Location

The reserve is located on the north side of Redwood Springs subdivision on Willowview Drive.

Getting there

There are multiple walking access points along Willowview Drive but no formal car park. Parking is on the roadside.

Take the 125 bus Redwood/Westlake; nearest bus stop is at Grimseys Road or Farquhars Rd. Find up to date information on metro info(external link).

Facilities

There are no toilets at this reserve. The nearest are located in Murchison Park, less than five minutes drive away.

There a number of tables available for picnicking.

Dogs

Dogs allowed off leash but under effective control in the reserve.

They are prohibited from being on and within one metre of the playground.

Find more parks you can visit with your dog.

Features

Active springs

One of the best examples of active springs can be seen in the Styx River Esplanade Reserve. The spring bubbles up in a pool about three metres wide, sit awhile on the tiered seating and relax to the tranquil sound of bubbling water. A feature has been made of the pool with a sculptural canopy reflecting flax fronds waving in the wind.

Playground

A large playground and picnic area is near the east end of the reserve.

The wooden playground boasts a double flying fox, multi-play structure, roundabout, balancing logs, rope bridge, swings and more.

There is also stony and smooth tracks looping the playground for biking or running around.

Natural environment

The Styx Esplanade Reserve forms a section of a much larger green corridor associated with the Styx River. The long term goal is to create a walkway from source to sea, connecting the Styx sites. 

This stretch of river holds two aquatic habitats; the main river with its strong flows and the gentle spring-heads adjacent. With these varied habitats, the biodiversity in the area is high. The main river is home to longfin and shortfin eels, common bullies and brown trout. The shallow springs house a number of native snails and crustaceans. 

Native plants in the area include ferns, sedges, rushes, pohuehue vine and cabbage trees. There are also two locally rare species - a fern (Blechnum chambersii) and a carex (Carex maorica).

There are around 34 species of bird that use the corridor for living and breeding, at least half of which are native species such as the South Island fantail, NZ scaup, pukeko and white faced heron.

The Styx Living Laboratory Trust(external link) monitors, researches and helps to develop Styx sites. Get involved in environmental monitoring(external link).

Bookable spaces

There are two bookable picnic spaces at the Styx River Esplanade Reserve.

To help you make your booking you can:

When you're ready to check availability and make a booking, contact us.

Please be aware that if you are arranging a publicly advertised gathering of more than 50 people you may need an event permit.

 Map of bookable areas [PDF, 1020 KB]

Walking

A walking track follows along the river’s edge from the playground to the springs area, past ponds and through native plantings.

Allow approximately 30 minutes to explore and return.

Map Listing