Waimakariri was once a vast and unconstrained braided river that overflowed surrounding land, but has been contained by European settlement. The park was created as a way of managing Environment Canterbury's river protection land along the length of the entire river.[1]
In July 2013, two decapitated dogs and household rubbish was dumped in the regional park between McLeans and Coutts Islands.[2] In October of that year, a group broke into the Baynons Brake section of the park, dumping litter and causing damage.[3]
Parts of the park were closed due to flooding in June 2021.[4]
Park sections
The park is divided into different sections for different uses
McLeans Forest is a forest with four loops for mountain biking, walking and running totally 17 kilometres in length.[5]
West Melton Forest is a 350 hectares (860 acres) forest suitable recreational horse-riding, horse-carriage driving, walking and running.[6] It consists of alternating flood protection forestry blocks alternating with open grassland. The forest is mostly exotic trees, there are scattered willow and poplar trees, some sold remnant
kōwhai and
kānuka, and several
bird orchids and other ground orchids. Firefighting waterholes and burrow pits provide a habitat for some native plats and animals, and the Waimakariri river bed is an important breeding area for threatened river birds, such as the black-fronted tern and wrybill.[7]
Kaiapoi Island is ab area for motocross, whitebaiting, fishing, mountain biking, picnicking, swimming, kayaking and jet boating.[8] It is accessible via
Kaiapoi and is closed overnight.[9] The site includes saltmarsh, relict saltmarsh and freshwater wetland, and is situated alongside the
Kainga, Stewart's Gully and
Brooklands communities.[10]
Te Rauakaaka is an area including the Waimakariri River saltmarsh and Styx rivermouth, suitable for walking and bird-watching.[11]