Avon - Source to Surf

This really is a journey across a network or urban and parkland trails, and provides a great tour of Christchurch City and its heritage.

The true source of the Avon is actually a spring in someones back yard a couple of blocks up from Corfe Reserve, but it doesn't truly flow until downstream from the listed startpoint. Initially it dives in and out of private/ public areas, so unless you want wet feet you'll be following the 360 Christchurch Trail markers through to the University and then on to Mona Vale. Some really nice sections of riverside trail kick in early on through Ilam House and just before the Uni. You will need a printout of the map to find your way initially.

After the Uni there is a short street section to Riccarton Bush, again following the 360 Trail markers. Again after Riccarton House there's a short workaround where the river diverts to peoples back yards. Either take the cycleway or follow the mapped route to hook onto Mona Vale gates off Fendalton Rd - you'll cross a couple of bridges where the Avon and its various tributaries come together here and make the river what it is for its CBD section.

Hitting Hagley Park you are on trails the whole way through around Little North and North Hagley, with the big loop around the amazing Botanic Gardens. Past the hospital cross the bridge at the Boatsheds and take in the new trails past the Earthquake Memorial and through the CBD proper. Since the quakes heaps of work has gone on to rejuvenate and upgrade the whole river and trail experience. As the rebuild of the city continues there will be the odd diversion but just keep following the river from here all the way through.

Past Margaret Mahy playground you'll reach the Avon Loop and start experiencing the ravages of the earthquakes. Further on to the "redzone" whose suburbs have been removed through Dallington, Avonside and then New Brighton. The run now is a mix of riverside urban trail, abandoned roads and stopbank trails all the way through New Brighton and on to the Avon/Heathcote estuary where the river completes its journey.

Just to round matters out, nip across from the estuary a couple of blocks away to the beach and shake out with a couple of kms of surf and sand to the pier and reflect on nailing the entire course of the Avon River, and all its history and nature. There's a lot to reflect on at the end of this run!