Term 1 2026

North Beach

Meeting point: North Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (near the big picnic table around the beach side of the surf club building).

Click here for pin drop NOTE there are road works right there at the moment - you can still scoot through the road cones into the car parks, or park on street nearby.

General info available here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details. This is a 1km (each way) section of the Southern Pegasus Bay walkway along the dunes between North Beach and Waimairi Beach or a longer options for the babies in packs group. There’s a coffee cart at North Beach.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Start at North Beach Surf Club, head along the sand dune track to Waimairi beach - check in with each other, and if you want to continue for another km or so, keep going on the gravel track past Broad Park and further along the track which runs behind the sand dunes towards Bottle Lake Forest, OR keep walking along the beach to get a bit more distance in before turning around as a group.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll from North Beach to Waimairi Beach along the sand dunes track. It is approximately 1km each way and there is the option to return along the beach.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - spend time exploring North Beach! Ideas include: search for washed up treasures along the tideline (find 10 kōwhai seeds, shells, pieces of interesting driftwood, neptunes necklace seaweed etc in the sand), splash in the shallows of the ocean, explore the edge of the sand dunes… also fun for a bit of hide and seek, rolling or running down the sand etc, dig a big hole (a shovel could be a good thing to bring to this one!) count the fish along the concrete part behind the beach, draw in the sand, build sand bridges etc etc… all the beachy things!

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own research and risk assessments): water/surf/waves - close attentive supervision required and recommend keeping to the shallows if going in, incoming tide, uneven surfaces, minor drops from tracks, sand in eyes, sun burn, sharp glass and shells, wildlife, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, vehicles on road and car park behind beach, dogs, other humans, bluebottles (heaps at the moment (Feb) both in the water and washed up on the beach.

Cass Bay

Meeting point: Cass Bay - park by the playground and look out for the group

Click here for pin drop - parking end of Bay View Place

General info available here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details. This is a 1km (each way) section of the Coastal Path Lyttelton between Cass Bay and Corsair Bay - or a longer option continuing around to magazine bay or Naval Point for the babies in packs group)

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Start at Cass Bay and head on the trail to Corsair Bay - check in with each other, and if wanting a bit more of a walk head further on to magazine bay or Naval Point before turning around.

Little Budding Hikers Group - start at Cass Bay and head around to Corsair Bay before returning again. There is always the option of turning around together early if the vibes aren’t happening on the day! Recommend keeping little ones closely supervised as there are drop-offs on this one.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - spend time exploring Cass Bay! There is so much to explore - ideas include: search for washed up treasures along the tideline splash in the shallows of the water or have a swim, find some cool rocks, explore the rock pools and spot sea snails and sea anemones, find some crabs, dig in the sand, wander a little way along the trail to the top of the hill - you could bring things like paddle boards, body boards, bucket and spade etc to this one.

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own research and risk assessments): water - close attentive supervision required, incoming tide, uneven surfaces, drop-offs from tracks, sand in eyes, sun burn, sharp glass and shells, wildlife, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, vehicles on road and car park behind beach, dogs, other humans. water quality can fluctuate (check LAWA before swimming).

Wooded Gully

Meeting point: Wooded Gully Picnic Area - there is a nice spot as you come around the corner the left - a grassy spot beside the river perfect for nature play.

Click Here for Pin Drop

General info available here for Wooded Gully Picnic Area, and Here for the Kererū Walk - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Complete the Kererū Loop Track (approx 1.8km) and if you want more walking time, go ahead and do another loop of the track. Check in with the group after the first loop and see who is keen.

Little Budding Hikers Group - Complete the Kererū Loop Track (approx 1.8km) and child pace, stop to look at all the things along the way

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - Hang out around the picnic area, splash in the river, find little fish etc, throw some rocks (make sure you’re standing in front of friends if you do!), and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the surroundings! Find bugs in rotting logs, climb trees and logs, explore around the area. You could bring a little fishing net to attempt some possible catch and release observations of little fish - be careful to keep any creatures in water and avoid handling with dry warm hands and pop them back in reasonable time).

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water/river - very close supervision recommended, uneven surfaces/rocks, falls from trees/logs etc, other humans, dogs, wildlife and insects, vehicles on road and car park, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, drop offs, low bridges/falling off, bees and wasps (recommend bring antihistamines/stingos cream or similar).

Lake Rua/Roto Kōhatu Reserve

Meeting point: Lake Rua Car Park as linked in below pin drop (not lake tahi)

Click here for pin drop

General info available for Lake Rua here - and the Lake Circuit Loop here please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Complete the loop of both Lake Rua and Lake Tahi to make a 2km walk - feel free to go another loop if you want more walking time OR you can also explore some of the Ōtukaikino shared use track to increase your mileage…check in with the rest of the group after the lake loop to see if anyone is keen.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll around lake Rua (approx 1km) - you can also go around Lake Tahi as well to make a 2km loop if the energy and motivation is high within the group on the day - just check in with each other and see who is keen.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - set up picnic blankets on a grassy patch near the lake. Kids can explore around the lake edge or swim with a parent, observe bird life, wander around part of the track close by, climb trees, float leaves and sticks in the water, find creatures in the water (you could bring a small net and container to observe/catch and release - be careful to keep any creatures in water and avoid handling with dry warm hands and pop them back in reasonable time), whatever the kids find to do!

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments):

Water - close attentive supervision required, wildlife especially birds, bees, eels, uneven surfaces, other humans, vehicles in carpark, minor slips from trail, mud, dogs, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, water quality can fluctuate check LAWA before swimming

[END OF TERM 1 2026 - past walks still listed below for your info if you wish to visit in your own time]

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Sandy Bay

Meeting point: end of Sandy Beach Rd, off Governors Bay Rd. There is space to park at the end.

Click here for pin drop

General info available here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Start at Sandy Bay, climb the stairs up to Governors Bay and walk down Jetty Rd for about 100m and continue on the Governors Bay Foreshore Track (click for details) toward Allandale Reserve for another km or so. Check in with each other after half an hour of walking and return back to Sandy Bay along the same track when ready - make sure nobody is left to turn around on their own. If you do Sandy Bay to Governors Bay Jetty, then another 1km along the Foreshore track, then return, that will give you a 4km return walk.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll from Sandy Bay towards Governors Bay - if the group is moving along quickly you could continue to the Governors Bay jetty, wander along it, and back (1km each way). You can shorten it by stopping at the Willow tree with tyre and rope swing attached then heading back. Take your time and enjoy investigating the shoreline! Note: if the tide is low enough you can walk along the muddy beach then return along the track.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - spend time exploring Sandy Beach! Ideas include: look for sea glass, different shells, throw stones into the water and mud, find crabs under the rocks, explore around the rocks, caves at the end of the beach (but don’t go far on the incoming tide as it will trap you with no way back!), spot bird life, see what is in the rock pools down the end, dig holes and make tunnels and bridges, make sand castles and drip castles, draw art in the sand or make art with shells, see if you can find bugs in rotting logs near the porta-loo, find sea snails

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water - close attentive supervision required, incoming tide, dead/rotten tree branches in case of tree climbing - check first and encourage to only climb where branch is thicker than wrist, potential poor water quality not recommended for swimming, uneven surfaces, minor drops from tracks and bridges/boardwalks, slippery surfaces after rain, sharp glass and shells, wildlife, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, vehicles on road, dogs, other humans.

Travis Wetland

Meeting point: Car Park at the end of Beach Rd, Burwood - driveway off Frosts Road

Click here for pin drop

General info available here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - You complete the 3.4km loop track in either direction - go ahead and choose a direction and complete the full loop together.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll in clockwise direction from the car park and stop in at the following points - information kiosk, which has buttons you can push for information and flaps to lift plus look out at the birds - bird hide and try spot some birds that are noted on the information panels - and the eels! there is a spot a little further around the corner past the turn-off to the bird hide with a seat where you will usually see eels and get a closer look at some swans and other birds etc. You could turn back from here or wander a little further around to the predator gate and turn back. Just feel the vibe and check in with the group.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - set up picnic blankets on a grassy patch near the car park. From here kids can enjoy exploring the black tunnels and jump into the bouncy bushes that you will see beside the toilets, check out the information kiosk, and wander a little way down to the first bridge (clockwise direction) bridge to see if you can spot any fish or birds. Look out for insects along the way. Between the information kiosk and bridge to the right there is a spot with some tree stumps to try climbing and balancing on. Feel free to wander a little further along the track too, or there are some other little tracks over towards the big picnic table.

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments):

Water - close attentive supervision required, wildlife especially birds, bees, eels, uneven surfaces, other humans, vehicles in carpark, minor drops from bridges/boardwalks, dogs, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki

Ashley Gorge

Meeting point: Ashley Gorge Recreation Reserve - drive in past the camp office and follow the road down to the reserve. Meet near the toilet block and playground.

Click Here for Pin Drop

General info available here for Ashley Gorge Loop Track, and Here for the Giant’s Walk - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details. You can also have a look at this simple map - the Nature Walk area refers to the area of the Giant’s Walk. Note the campground staff are super friendly and helpful if you need help finding anything. vehicls

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Complete the Ashley Gorge Loop Track and if you want more walking time, head back down past where you parked your cars and follow the road around a bit further to complete the Giant’s Walk too. Watch kids on road bridge that you will need to cross to get to the Ashley Gorge Loop Track as the safety bars are actually pretty wide apart, so keep a hold of the little ones!

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll around the Giant’s walk, up to the lookout and back down again - find all of the fairy houses and spot some birds!

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - Hang out around the reserve area, splash in the river, dig in the sand/stones, throw some rocks (make sure you’re standing in front of friends if you do!), and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the surroundings! Find bugs in rotting logs, climb trees and logs, stack rocks, ecplore little pathways along the river banks etc etc

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water/river - keep to the slow moving shallows and very close supervision, uneven surfaces/rocks, falls from trees/logs etc, other humans, dogs, wildlife and insects, vehicles on road and car park, large drop from foot bridge along the road to get to Ashley Gorge Loop Track (there are safety rails but they seem very wide apart so keep a hold of little ones), navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki

Halswell Quarry

Meeting point: Hiking groups - meet at the main car park - drive in off Kennedy’s Bush Road, continue past the cafe caravan to get to car park with toilets. For the Nature Play group, you will probably find it easier to continue a little further to the Findlays Picnic Area car park so don’t have to walk along with all your stuff.

Click Here for Pin Drop for main car park, Click here for the Findlays Picnic Area car park

General info available here for Quarry Rim Track and here for Kennedy’s Bush Track (Babies in packs group only) - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details. Here is the location for Findlays Picnic Area

Little Hitch Hikers Group - From the main car park complete the Quarry Rim Track in the anticlockwise direction - on your way back down, you will see a small gate you can walk through to extend the walk on the Kennedy’s Bush Track - head through and walk as far along this track as you like, then return back down to the car park - check in with each other after a km or so on this extension and make sure nobody is left to turn around on their own.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced walk around the Quarry Rim track - I would suggest heading in the anti-clockwise direction as you will then end up at Findlay’s Picnic Area where the nature play group will be hanging out.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - Set up your picnic blankets in the green space and explore! There are Japanese gardens, Songpa garden, a huge log with steps carved in to climb and explore, and the kids will find lots more I am sure!

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): steep drop into the quarry from trails (fenced - don’t climb), uneven surfaces - rocks, roots etc, other humans, dogs, vehicles on drive and car parks, wildlife - birds and bugs, bees, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki.

Southshore Spit Reserve

Meeting point: end of Rockinghorse Rd, on street parking.

Click Here for Pin Drop

General info available for Southshore Spit Track here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Complete the loop in a clockwise direction, and when you get to the viewing seat on the estuary (near the little board walk) you can continue following a track along the estuary to make a longer walk instead of returning straight back to the cars from there - check in with each other after a km or so on this extension and make sure nobody is left to turn around on their own, then turn around to head back toward the cars.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced hike around the loop track in a clockwise direction. Stop at the viewing seat on the estuary for a play before returning to cars.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - you’ll need to take a little walk to get to your spot on this one - instead of heading on the loop track you can cut straight across to the estuary on a diagonal track - this would be pram friendly enough, or beach trolleys, to get anything you need to the spot. When you see a viewing seat and board walk by the estuary, this is the spot you can set up for a play. Get messy in the mud, wade in the shallows, find crabs, collect shells, find interesting driftwood, find bugs, and just generally explore around the spot.

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water - close attentive supervision required, incoming tide, uneven surfaces, minor drop from boardwalk, slippery surfaces after rain, sharp shells, wildlife - birds, crabs, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, vehicles on road, dogs, other humans.