Major cycle routes

Consultation has closed on the Wheels to Wings cycleway.

This cycleway will provide a connection for local cycling trips in the Harewood, Bishopdale and Papanui suburbs to destinations including schools, shops, businesses and recreational facilities.

Find out more about the plans for the cycleway.(external link)

It will also connect to cycling facilities further afield.

At its western end, Wheels to Wings – Papanui ki Waiwhetū will connect with the Johns Road cycle and pedestrian underpass, linking through to the commercial areas surrounding the airport, and to McLeans Island Road via the Johns Road shared path.

This will be a good connection route for the large number of people working in the commercial area near the airport.

At its eastern end, the cycleway connects directly to the Northern Line cycle route and the future Nor’West Arc cycleway which is currently planned along Matson's Avenue (this will be consulted on later in the year).

Work is complete on the first section of the Nor’West Arc cycleway between Cashmere Road and Annex Road.  Construction is also well underway on further sections on Ballantyne Avenue, Hansons Lane, Suva Street, Middleton Road and Ilam Road.

The section of this route from Princess Margaret Hospital to the University of Canterbury was consulted on in 2017 with changes made to improve visibility and add safer road crossing points.

Map of the route between Princess Margaret Hospital and the University of Canterbury. [PNG, 350 KB]

More information on the consultation.(external link)

The route of the northern section (University up to Harewood Road) is not yet determined and will go to public consultation before it is confirmed.

Once completed, this route is expected to be used primarily by commuters and students from Cashmere High, Our Lady of Assumption, Hoon Hay, Manning Intermediate, Spreydon, Hillmorton High, Middleton Grange, Kirkwood Intermediate, Ilam, Burnside, Cobham Intermediate, Burnside High and Allenvale Schools.

It connects to the Quarryman’s Trail, Little River Link, South Express, Uni–Cycle and Northern Line cycle routes.

This cycleway will run from the edge of the city’s western boundary in Templeton to Hagley Park in the central city. 

Work is underway on sections of the cycleway between Deans Avenue and Main South Road:

• Along Elizabeth Street, Picton Street and along Old Blenheim Road up to Deans Avenue. Read the Newsline story on the work around Elizabeth Street.(external link)
• Along Centennial Avenue, Peverel Street, Wharenui Road and Lochee Road.
• Where the South Express cycleway crosses the Nor’West Arc cycleway on Hansons Lane, Suva Street and Ballantyne Avenue. Read the start work notice on the work around Suva Street [PDF, 804 KB].
• Main South Road from Ballantyne Avenue to Craven Street.

Christchurch City Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee approved plans for the South Express cycleway on 22 July 2019 after seeking community feedback on the route.

75 changes were made to the route as a result of the 642 submissions we received including adjustments to the route, providing more car parking in some places, providing for a connection to Selwyn District Council’s planned shared path, and introducing a slow speed zone along Matipo Street.

The cycleway route will pass nine schools as well as The Hub Hornby, Riccarton Raceway and Market, Upper Riccarton Library and the Wharenui Recreation Centre.

• Read more on the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee decision on Newsline(external link)
• Download the route map [JPG, 3.1 MB]
• Download the detailed route plans [PDF, 19 MB]
• Download the Matipo Street speed zone plan [PDF, 258 KB]
• Download the parking plan [PDF, 530 KB]

It is a good route to head to the pool or have a work out at the Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre and you can also get your retail fix at Northlands Shopping Centre or Edgeware Village.

It connects to the Northern Line Cycleway on Sawyers Arms Road, and will link also with the  shared path that will run along the new Christchurch Northern Corridor, due to open in 2020.

A scenic, tree-lined route Uni–Cycle was named the Supreme Winner(external link) at the 2018 national Bike to the Future Awards. 

You can ride to the Saturday market at Riccarton Bush or check out the native forest.

Mona Vale has beautiful grounds and you can book in for high tea on the weekends. At the city end of the route you will pass through Hagley Park and you can visit the Canterbury Museum or the Arts Centre, both in stunning neo-gothic heritage buildings.

The route will link in with the Nor’West Arc cycle path by the University when it is built in 2020 and already connects to the Northern Line Cycleway by Mona Vale

This route is open from the Fitzgerald Avenue and Worcester Street intersection to the end of Linwood Avenue. 

The final section will connect Linwood Avenue to the Ferrymead Bridge and the start of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway. The first part of this section is now under construction linking Linwood Avenue to Charlesworth Reserve. The cycleway will follow an existing path through the Reserve before crossing over Humphreys Drive and continuing along Tidal View until it reaches the Ferrymead Bridge.

The Rapanui – Shag Rock Cycleway will appeal to people accessing local destinations like the Stanmore Road shops and Tiny Village, Eastgate Mall, Linwood Avenue School and the soon to be built Linwood Pool, as well as weekend recreational cyclists heading to Sumner via the Christchurch Coastal Pathway(external link).

The cycle path takes you through the daffodils down Linwood Ave and by the Charlesworth Reserve which is a tidal wetland home to native birds and over 100,000 trees and shrubs.

This cycleway runs from Moorhouse Avenue through Church Square to Barrington Street where it connects to the shared path that runs alongside the Southern Motorway. The shared path now links you to the Little River Rail Trail which goes all the way to the Little River township via Prebbleton and Lincoln. 

The Christchurch end of the route is great for anyone looking to get active as it runs through Hagley Park and links to the Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub. You will also glide through the historic Church Square in Addington.

If you’d like to cycle the Little River Rail Trail, see their website here: littlerivertrail.kiwi.nz(external link).

The route starts at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre and Halswell Domain and provides a safe route to four schools in the Hoon Hay area. It also connects recreation facilities Pioneer Stadium in Hoon Hay and the Metro Sports Facility that is currently being built on Antigua Street in the central city.

It connects to the Nor'West Arc route and will link to the Southern Lights cycleway on Strickland Street once that cycle path is built.

The Heathcote Expressway will be both commuter and recreational route with connections to Ōpāwaho River Route and on to the Rapanui – Shag Rock Cycleway and Christchurch Coastal Pathway out to Sumner.

The city end of this route has been built between The Tannery and the central city, while construction on the Heathcote end of the route is expected to start later this year.

Ara Institute is a key destination at the city end of the cycle path, you will find a boutique shopping experience and cinema at The Tannery and for history lovers, the Ferrymead Heritage Park will hit the spot.

The off-road path along the railway line between Kilmarnock Street and Tuckers Road is already a popular route for pedestrians and cyclists.

St James Park is a great place to check out monarch butterflies in springtime and at the beautiful Monavale Homestead and Gardens you can choose to turn off towards the University or through Hagley Park to the central city if you wish.

Further work on the Northern Line Cycleway will in future extend this facility at both the southern and northern ends to provide a full shared path along the railway line from Belfast to South Hagley Park.

It will appeal to commuters in the south of the city and will connect the Quarryman’s Trail and Ōpāwaho cycle routes using the existing cycleway along Tennyson Street. 

A natural extension of the central city river pathway, it will primarily provide a high-quality route for recreation and tourists and, in sections, commuter cycling.

Te Ara Ōtākaro Avon River Trail currently provides a path along a similar route using some gravel paths and closed roads that have not been repaired since the earthquakes.

This scenic route will be popular with recreational riders and connects with Nor’West Arc, Southern Lights and the Rapanui − Shag Rock Cycleway.

It will provide an ideal option for local trips to shops and libraries as well as schools, such as Cashmere High School.

The exact route is not yet determined, and will go to public consultation before it is confirmed.