Date: 24/08/2024 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 1.807 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, NW winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.5 hours. Comments: The weather was warm and the river looked beautiful when we went for a walk through the Red Zone in the morning. The river’s surface was almost a perfect mirror and as I crouched to capture the image with my phone, I heard the familiar slosh of paddles cutting through water, snapping a photo before the mirror was sliced by a race boat heading upstream.
Race boater cuts through the mirrored surface of the Avon.
Having worn out Lauri with a couple of walks, I took the opportunity to have a paddle. I got changed and heaped down to the river with my Blitz on my shoulder. I had to leave my camera at home as the batteries were completely flat. I decided to launch from a low spot in the bank where we feed the local duck, the water was low but I thought if I kept the angle shallow, it should be fine. I slid off the bank and the kayak’s nose buried deeply into the river’s muddy bottom.
A bit of wiggling extracted the Blitz’s bow and it surfaced with a hefty mound of dark river mud on it. Some sloshing back & forth managed to wash it away before I set off downstream. It was a lovely day to be on the river, many of the trees are still bare, their fractal branches silhouetted against the sky, but their were glimpses of spring everywhere from flowers, blossoms & daffodils on the banks to ducklings on the river.
As I paddled under the Medway footbridge, I watch someone shepherd a pack of white fluffy dogs across the bridge for a walk in the Red Zone. There was plenty of bird life on the river and it was nice to glide through the tranquillity of the Red Zone. I paddled down to the Gayhurst Road bridge, then under the Snell Place footbridge and on to Kerrs Reach, where I turned about and headed for home.
As always, heading upstream is harder and I watched the sun get lower as I powered ahead, gradually getting nearer. At the Medway footbridge, I witnesses the return of the pack of fluffy, white dogs. They obviously had a good walk, being out for over an hour.
I paddled up to the Swanns Road bridge and watched a shag trying to eat a small eel, while another shag tried to steal it. The shag with the eel flew off under the bridge, with the other shag in pursuit, while I headed for the take out. I climbed out of my kayak and walked back home, pausing the admire Rusty’s native plantings along the community gardens boundary, and to congratulate him on his hard work. It is quite exciting the see all the positive developments around the Red Zone.
Date: 28/04/2024 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 1.617 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, NE winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.5 hours. Comments: After a wander around the Gypsy Fair at the local green, I decided to go for a paddle on the Avon to get some exercise and make the most of a sunny afternoon. I tossed up between heading upstream or downstream, before sliding off the bank and into the water. The tide was out so the river was relatively low at my launch site, and I was a little worried I’d end up with my kayak’s nose stuck in the mud whilst I looked stupid with my boat half on the bank and half in the river. Fortunately the kayak surfaced nicely and I paddled off downstream.
Paddling through Dallington.
The water was smooth & glassy, and it was nice to feel a paddle in my hands again. I hadn’t paddled since the end of last year, after which getting moved and settled into our house took all my time. Since moving in there has been a constant stream of tasks to get done, some that had been put off for a while as other duties took precedence. A bout of Covid-19 a few week backs, whilst being inconvenient, did give me a chance to catch up on some of those tasks while I isolated.
Heading towards Kerrs Reach.
I paddled down to the Gayhurst Road bridge and then carried on under the Snell Place foot bridge to Kerrs Reach before tuning for home.
Paddling into the sun.
Going upstream is always harder, but even with the sun in my eyes, I made good time, my fitness not too depleted by my lack of physical activity.
Almost home, with the Port Hills in the distance.
By the time I reached The Eels, I was getting a little tired and was looking forward to a nice cup of tea and a snack, but home wasn’t too far away.
A shag in a tree.
As the day was getting one, the light created some beautiful effects like the illuminated tree with a shag perched in it’s branches and the autumn colours in the leaves. Eventually I reached the get out and clambered up the bank to head home for a shower and a well deserved rest.
Date: 31/12/2023 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 2.212 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, still to increasingly strong NW winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.5 hours. Comments: It was a beautiful warm and still morning, with the promise of a weather change in the afternoon, so going for a paddle seemed a perfect way to close the year. I grabbed my kayak and gear, slapping on some sunscreen so that I wouldn’t get burnt like last time and headed over to our empty home (currently a build site due to earthquake repairs). I got changed and then realised I hadn’t picked up my bootees. Fortunately, there was an old pair of crocs (knock offs) in the garden shed, so I didn’t need to wander down to the river barefoot.
Swanns Road jetty on a calm summer morning.
The river was glassy smooth, without a hint of wind when I put on, but the wind gradually picked up as I paddled upstream. The river was nice and cool, making a change from the scorching temperatures (around 30 degrees) we’d had the previous couple of days.
Can you spot the flounder?
The water was relatively clear and I spotted a reasonable sized flounder near the Swanns Road bridge (slightly left of centre in the above photo). I think they head upstream when the tide is in, as the water must become a little brackish.
The Red Zone, with the Stanmore Road bridge in the distance.
It was, as always, nice to be back on the river and I let being surrounded by nature refresh me, the greenery of the Red Zone and the sparkling reflections on the water surface.
A gaggle of geese or a gang of cobra chickens.
It is always nice to see the variety of bird life on the river, though there is definitely an abundance of Canada geese.
A family of Paradise Shelducks beneath willow tree.
Seeing paradise shelducks with their young is always good, though some pairs are definitely more successful than others and it can be a little sad to see families with only one or two ducklings left, out of a half dozen or more.
Paddling upstream, beside Fitzgerald Avenue.
Up round the Avon Loop and past the Barbadoes Street cemetery is always very picturesque with it’s banks lined with trailing willows, native flaxes and cabbage trees.
Paddling around the Avon Loop, past the Barbadoes Street Cemetery.
I stopped at the outflow for St Mary’s stream, where it flows out of its historic barrel drain. The stream flows underground from its’ source spring in Merivale near Church Lane.
St Mary’s Stream flowing into the Avon.
I paddled all the way up to our old neighbourhood, the “Fire Station rapids” halting my upstream progress, and then turned to allow the current to take me home.
Paddling around the Avon Loop.
More photos around the Barbadoes Street cemetery, as the swifter current flowing through the narrower channel carried me past the flowering flaxes on the river bank.
Floating past the Barbadoes Street cemetery.
This really is a beautiful get away in the heart of the city, what could be better on a lovely, sunny day.
A self-portrait taken from underwater.
I had a play around at taking photos underwater, to capture the interplay of the rippling light and green river weed on the pebble covered river bed. As well as taking a novel self-portrait from the possible perspective of a fish.
An underwater shot of the gravel river bed.
The Bangor Street No. 3 Pumphouse was the city’s third pumping station. It was built in 1907 to assist in the further extension of the sewage system into the more populous suburban areas of Merivale, Addington, Sydenham, Linwood and Richmond. The pumphouse was designed to fit into its suburban residential environment and thus the circular holding tanks and much of the pump mechanism, which contained almost entirely underground, were screened by an ornamental pavilion, something quite different from many of the utilitarian structures of today..
The Avon Loop pump station.
On the other side of the river from the pump house, is one of our favourite houses in Christchurch, and certainly one of the few to survive the earthquakes.
One of our favourite houses, and one of the few that survived the quakes.
Further down I spotted something odd in the water, not the usual collection of road cones, supermarket trolley or bicycle. On closer inspection, it turned out to be an open umbrella, already partially covered with bright green algae.
A submerged umbrella, not something you see everyday.
Pump House No. 4 on River Road is another architectural throwback from a bygone age when style mattered, even for sewerage pumping stations. Still working today, it provides a picturesque feature to the Red Zone and Avon River precinct.
Another Red Zone pump station.
Swanns Road bridge appears, signifying we are almost home.
Swanns Road bridge and home beckons.
The last stretch before climbing up the bank and heading back to our empty home. A quick change, crocs back in the shed, kayak back on the car and then back to our temporary accommodation for lunch.
Almost home, just downstream of the Swanns Road bridge, adjacent to the Richmond Community Gardens.
Date: 3/12/2023 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 2.025 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, strong NW winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.5 hours. Comments: I haven’t been out for a paddle for a quite sometime, being out of our house and the ongoing stress surround our earthquake repairs have been consuming a lot of my spare time. I was considering heading up to the Hurunui with the Canterbury Whitewater Club but the weather was wasn’t looking good, with heavy rain predicted about the main divide, and I didn’t want my first club trip in over 2 years, to be a miserable affair. On the plus side, the nor-westerly winds dumping rain in the mountains meant high temperatures in Christchurch, so I took the opportunity to head down to the Avon with the Blitz.
Preparing to seal launch in to the cool waters of the Avon on a hot day.
I parked up at our empty home, got changed and carried my kayak through the community garden and down to the river, seal launching off the bank into the cool green waters. It felt good to be back on the water and I was soon paddling strongly down stream through the Red Zone.
Native vegetation along the Red Zone river bank.
I always enjoy paddling through the Red Zone, the peace and quiet, surrounded by nature, it is really relaxing. So it was a bit of a surprise to come across the scene pictured below. I heard their cursing, before I saw them, with their quad bike, trailer and motor powered inflatable bogged by the river’s edge. Interesting I thought, since unauthourised motor vehicles are banned from the Red Zone and power boats are not allowed on the Avon. I took a photo of the spectacle, and without me saying a word, I was abused as “a grumpy old man” and worse. They followed up the abuse by throwing sticks & stones, which fortunately missed or it would have become a Police matter.
This bunch of young idiots managed to get their quad bike & trailer bogged whilst riding illegally around the Red Zone.
These are probably the same young dickheads that are frequently the subject of complaints on the RADS Facebook page, for racing around the Red Zone and abusing people. I imagine they’ll learn about consequences at some stage in the future when they find themselves in jail, or die in a car wreck, or at the hands of someone they abuse, the young & stupid “free pass” only lasts so long, before consequences get real. Laughing at their stupidity, I paddled on and left them in my wake.
Paddling through the Red Zone.
The peace and calm soon returned as I paddled on, the Red Zone making me feel like I was out in the countryside. A group of large waka ama passed me, heading upstream at the same time as the group of idiots from earlier drove past shouting more abuse, having managed to get themselves unstuck. Charming. I gave them a cheery wave and hoped that was the last I’d see of them.
New Zealand scaups with chicks. The rest of the family is underwater.
There were a lot of ducklings on the river, especial scaups, a type of New Zealand diving duck. It was cute to watch them as often the whole family would disappear underwater for a while, even the tiny ducklings, and then they would bob to the surface one at a time.
I carried on down to Kerrs Reach, where there was a bit of rowing activity going on, and then turned for home. Paddling into the strong headwind was hard going and certainly got my pulse rate up.
A group of four large waka ama powering down the Avon near the Snell Place bridge.
Just before the Snell Place foot bridge, I spotted the four waka ama powering back downstream towards me, so I pulled over to be out of their way and to catch some photographs. Definitely a great day to be out on the river and I was able to forward the photographs to some of the paddlers via a work mate.
A shag takes flight.
One of the bonuses of being on the river, is seeing all the bird life that call it home. I watched this shag diving for fish, though he didn’t appreciate it when I got too close in order to take a photograph. Hopefully he had more success than the guy fishing near the bridge.
Paradise shelducks.
There were also a number of Paradise Shelduck pairs spaced out along the bank (they tend to be very territorial and will drive off other pairs quite aggressively if they get too close), some even had fluffy ducklings. Seeing them always reminds us of Greta and makes us feel sad that she never got to raise her own family of funny, fluffy ducklings.
The Dallington Landing.
With the strong headwinds, you certainly appreciate the way the river meanders, so you aren’t always battling into the wind. The Dallington Landing looked quite magnificent in the sunlight, but there was no stopping to explore as home beckoned.
Flax flowers overhanging the Avon.
Paused to photograph some beautifully coloured flax flowers overhanging the river, only to realise after taking a number of shots that I had water spots on the camera lens. Cleaned the lens as best I could and took a couple more pictures, which seemed to work.
Looking down stream through the Red Zone towards the Port Hills.
I paddled on, battling the winds and lack of fitness, turning occasionally to admire the scenery and checking to make sure I wasn’t missing any great shots. I paddled this stretch quite a few times, and take many very similar shots, but each time the seasons, sky and light will be different, sometimes making for a better picture.
I finally reached my starting point, paddling just a little bit further to the Swanns Road bridge to complete the journey, and then back down to clamber out where I had put in. With my Blitz on my shoulder, I walked back to our house, put the kayak on the car, and had a quick cold shower (we had turned the hot water off while the renovations are in progress) before dressing and returning to our temporary accommodation for a well earned rest. It was a good outing and so nice to be back on the river. I’m looking forward to getting back home and being just a short walk from the Red Zone again.
Date: 18/02/2023 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 1.676 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, strong NE winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.5 hours. Comments: It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, ideal for a nice paddle on the Avon. I carried the Blitz down to the river with my new split paddle that I’d bought on Trade Me to make sure it worked. The paddle, a Ruk Sport Moray 4 piece split paddle with an alloy shaft was relatively cheap at around $100, but seemed pretty robust with much nicer blades than my previous split paddle, which tended to flex during strokes. The other advantage of the new paddle was that being in four pieces, it will actually fit in back of my Blitz, a real bonus if you are planning to carry it in case of emergency.
A drowned supermarket trolley.
One of the first things I came across was a drowned supermarket trolley, it’s weed entangled wheels poking forlornly out of the waters surface. It’s always sad to see this type of things, as it doesn’t enhance the beauty of the area and they can be hard to remove. I generally try to Snap, Send, Solve abandoned trolleys, dumped garbage and other eyesores in the neighbourhood before they end up in the river. The app is really easy to use and can be used to report a range of issues in the community, and some issues can be solve promptly (though some supermarket chains can be a bit slack about picking up their trolleys).
The Medway Footbridge.
Down under the Medway Bridge and on past the Dudley Creek confluence.
Canada geese and willows near the Dudley Creek confluence.
Powering up the Avon.
There was plenty of bird life on the river, but the only other river user I encountered before Kerrs Reach was a low race boater doing a training run up the Avon.
Ducks & a black swan in the Red Zone, with the Port Hills in the background.
A pair of black swans were looking magnificent, so I stopped to take their photo, while trying not to disturb them too much.
Mr & Mrs Swan
Although we were still in summer, the temperatures were still warm, the colours of autumn were starting to show in places. One of the nice things about the Red Zone is getting to see the cycles of the seasons in nature.
The colours of Autumn starting to show.
The skies were clear and the water was smooth, but pushing into the strong north-easterly winds was a little hard at times.
Clear blues skies, a perfect day for a paddle through the Red Zone.
Beyond the Gayhurst Road bridge, I encountered an odd black swan that seemed to have an injured leg, as it stuck straight out behind it and didn’t seem to move. I watched it swim along, wondering if it was a birth defect or if it had been attacked by a dog, when another larger swan came up behind it and pecked at it. The first swan lowered it’s leg and paddled on normally, and this left me thinking that the larger swan might have been the first swans’ mother and she had just told it to stop fooling about and swim properly.
Swan with his leg stuck out.
Things were busy down at Kerrs Reach, with plenty of rowers on the river, so I turned around and head back up stream.
Rowing at Kerrs Reach.
Paddling upstream is always a little harder, depending on the tide, but it was nice to have the wind behind me.
Turning and heading home.
As I approached the Snells Place footbridge, I noticed someone climbing up the bridge arch.
Crossing the Snell Place Footbridge. Extreme!
Apparently they wanted to take a photo from a novel angle. I can understand that and this is probably the best of the new footbridges design-wise.
Taking photos from a different perspective.
From here, it was more paddling against the current and enjoying being out in nature, feeling the warmth of the sun and the cool splash of the water. Then home for a nice shower and a rest.
Blue skies, calm waters and home not too far away.
Date: 29/12/2022 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 2.216 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and very warm, up to 32°C. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 5 hours. Comments: I had wanted to paddle down the Avon from as far upstream as I could. I decided to put in at the University of Canterbury Staff Club, as above the weir there, water levels are pretty low and the river is pretty shallow & muddy. After checking the weeks weather forecast, Thursday looked promising, with temperatures predicted to reach 30ºC, making being on the river, an appealing option.
UC Staff Club to Richmond Community Garden
I made myself a packed lunch, sorted out my gear, including my GPS, and loaded up Blitz on to the car. The above map outlines the route of my paddle, from left to right, with a few diversions down other navigable tributaries. Driving to the Staff Club was one of the quicker parts of the journey, and I was soon carrying my kayak down to the weir, that was my chosen launch point. A short video of the trip can be viewed here, the long extended version can be viewed here.
I’ve broken the trip up into sections, with the time taken for each section. Generally the sections with started by places where the river can be easily accessed, so these points can serve as either put ins or take outs, meaning you can tailor a trip to meet your own enthusiasm.The approximate times of each section are listed below (times will vary with individuals):
UC Staff Club to Puriri Street Bridge: 49 minutes Puriri Street Bridge to Mona Vale: 35 minutes Mona Vale to Botanic Gardens: 58 minutes Botanic Gardens to The Terraces: 32 minutes The Terraces to Victoria Square: 10 minutes Victoria Squareto Margret Mahy Playground:6 minutes Margret Mahy Playground to Pomeroy’s Bar: 17 minutes Pomeroy’s Barto Retreat Road / Swanns Road Bridge Jetty: 14 minutes
Put in at the UC Staff Club: 10:35am
The put in at the UC Staff club with the Avon River flowing out of a pipe.
I chose this point as it is the highest point I could put in and then paddle without having to get out of my kayak. Above this weir and water wheel, the Avon is quite shallow and not really navigable. Plus there is something cute about the whole “river” flowing out of a relatively small diameter pipe.
A quaint footbridge in the UC Staff Club gardens.
Paddling through the first part was a little tricky as it was quite shallow, you definitely want to check there is enough water before putting on and planning this trip for spring is probably a good idea.
Paddling under Ilam Road and in to the University of Canterbury campus.
The river was soon deep enough to paddle easily, before passing under Ilam Road and into University of Canterbury campus.
The University of Canterbury Students’ Association building.
The UC campus is nicely landscaped and having the Avon River flowing from the campus is a real bonus. The student union building was rebuilt following the Canterbury Earthquakes and is a fine new addition to student life. This is near the section of the river that is used for the Engineering Bridge Challenge, where students build a lightweight wooden bridge across the river and then have to cross it, often resulting in a dunking.
An overgrown, narrow section near the Student Union building.
Native plantings along the river banks in the UC campus make for a very pleasant paddle. Further down, willows overhang the river, complimenting the native plantings.
Clear water and plenty of greenery as the Avon flows through the University campus.
From the river, it is hard to believe that you are paddling through one of New Zealand’s top universities and not out in the countryside, the water is clear and the overhanging trees and foliage give the light a greenish hue.
Paddling through the University of Canterbury campus.
Clyde Road: 11:03am, 27 minutes elapsed
Paddling under Clyde Road, you move out of the open university campus and in to a tighter section, where the river flows through the backyards of the Fendalton.
The Clyde Road bridge as the Avon flows out of the University of Canterbury campus.
Fendalton is one of the more affluent suburbs of Christchurch and the Avon river winds it’s way through it. Having a river running through your backyard can be quite a feature and many home owners in this suburb have embraced their river boundary.
Above the weir downstream from the University of Canterbury campus.
Just down stream of the Clyde Road bridge is a weir with a drop of around half a metre. The weir can be paddled over with care or you can portage around the side, though be careful to respect the land owners property. I previously paddled this section in the 90s and managed to fall in while trying to get back into my kayak after portaging this weir, spend the rest of the day feeling a bit soggy.
The weir downstream from the Clyde Road bridge below University of Canterbury.
The pool below the weir is reasonably deep and it can be a little difficult to get back into your kayak if you portage the weir, due to the steep banks.
Thick foliage lines the bank as the river winds through Fendalton.
This section of the river is reasonably narrow and may get a little shallow during summer if the flow is low, but I didn’t encounter any issues on my trip.
Narrow stretches and steep sides as the Avon flows through Fendalton.
The banks are often reinforced with wood or stone, and are often overhung with vegetation.
Okeover Stream joins the Avon in Fendalton.
Okeover Stream is the other waterway that flows through the University of Canterbury. It is fed ephemerally by storm-water, but much of it’s base flow is waste water from the University’s air conditioning system. Much effort has been made to restore the section that runs through the University to a more natural state with rocks, pools, riffles and native vegetation. The stream is home to a number of very large (up to 1m long) eels, which are occasional fed by students (not fed on students). While it is possible to paddle the stream from behind my workplace, it is pretty shallow in places, as well as being quite narrow, and progress may be a little awkward. the stream joins the Avon not far from the Clyde Road & Kotare Street intersection.
Grassy banks & a weeping willow in backyard Fendalton.
Being one of Christchurch’s older and more affluent suburbs, Fendalton has some nice houses and it is quite interesting to see them from this unusual vantage point. If you are passing this way, please be respectful of others property and privacy as you float by.
Some nice houses back on to the Avon.
There are some lovely gardens that integrate well with their river boundary, making paddling this section quite rewarding. The water was also surprisingly clear for an urban stream.
A rural experience floating through Fendalton.
The river is reasonable distant from any roads and the traffic noise is muffled by the houses, so most of the time, the only sounds are birds singing and the splash of your paddle in the water.
Paddling through Fendalton’s backyards.
Puriri Street Landing: 11:24am, 49 minutes elapsed
Putting in at the landing by Puriri Street bridge is a good alternative if you want a shorter trip through the backyards of the wealthy suburb of Fendalton. The river winds it’s way through Fendalton before flowing through the Riccarton Bush Reserve.
An island in the Avon in Ilam.
Riccarton Bush: 11:33am, 58 minutes elapsed
Riccarton House overlooking the Avon at Riccarton Bush.
The historic Riccarton House at Riccarton Bush overlooks the Avon River and serves as a cafe/restaurant and an event venue, though if you are coming off the river, you may need a suitable change of clothing. There is also a 7.8-hectare kahikatea forest, a tiny remnant of the great forests that used to cover much of Canterbury. There are several walking tracks through the bush and it provides a beautiful and relaxing sanctuary within the bustle of Riccarton.
Beautiful gardens near Anselm House.
Floating out of the gardens at Riccarton Bush and under Kahu Road, you go past Christchurch Boys High School. Approaching a low bridge with a number of pipes along its’ side, the sound of turbulent water can be heard.
Past the Kahu Road bridge, looking towards the Christchurch Boys High Weir.
Duck your head to avoid any bumps and take care running the low weir as the outflow is rather shallow and contains a number of rocks.
Checking out the only surf spot on the Avon.
The rocks and the weir form a little rapid where you can almost imagine you’re surfing.
Surfing on the Christchurch Boys High play wave.
I had a little “play”, cutting back & forth on the “wave”, as the water splashed across my bow and onto my glasses and camera lense.
Below the Christchurch Boys High School weir.
From here I drifted downstream to continue my journey through the backyards of Fendalton on my way to Mona Vale. Passing under the railway bridge the stream opens out in a wider river as several stream combine their waters at the Mona Vale gardens.
Wairarapa Stream Side Excursion:
Instead of paddling downstream through Mona Vale, I chose a side excursion and started to paddle up Wairarapa Stream. The stream passes under Fendalton Road and then into one of the more wealthy areas of Christchurch and the riverside backyards do express some of that wealth.
An interesting sculpture waters the garden beside Wairarapa Stream.
There were a number of interesting sculptures along the river bank, which brought the scene to life.
A hippo lurks riverside on Wairarapa Stream.
I certainly found the bronze hippo more engaging that the pair of yapping dogs further upstream. I paddled as far as I could up stream, before the stream got too shallow to make further progress, and then turn to float back towards Mona Vale. I can see a future trip, where I put at Jellie Park and paddle down to Mona Vale. The stream seems to be deep enough to be navigable from there and should make an interesting paddle.
A private landing on Wairarapa Stream.
There were some landings along the stream, though I’m not sure where the owners of this boat take it, as the draught of the boat might be a little deep for this shallow stream. I checked out the smaller Waimairi Stream, which also joins the Avon just downstream from Fendalton Road, but this was just to shallow to get far.
Mona Vale: 11:59am, 1 hour 24 minutes elapsed
Floating through the gardens at Mona Vale.
Mona Vale is an early 1900s homestead with several formal gardens, riverside walks & a restaurant, and it was here that I decided to stop for lunch.
The Mona Vale Restaurant.
There was a nice landing, where they must sometimes running punting trips from, and so I got out here and enjoyed watching the river flow by as I ate my sandwich, watched by the occasional duck. It was also interesting looking across the river and watching the erratic movements of a robotic lawnmower as it worked it’s way around lawns of the property pictured below. Not sure if it did a good job, but the path it traced seemed pretty random and it definitely kept the ducks on their toes.
The landing at Mona Vale.
After lunch, I had a little wander about the gardens and made use of the public toilet, these are somewhat scarce along the riverside and it is important to make use of them when they are available. I also got mistaken for a tourist guide for some reason whilst wandering around the gardens in my buoyancy aid and spray skirt. Not sure exactly what they thought I was doing, but they were interested to know what I would do if I lost any of my party, which since I was alone, may have been a good question.
Lunch stop at Mona Vale. Hi Mr Duck.
Feeling fed and relieved, I was back on the river and heading downstream once more. I paddled down the right channels, under the bridge pictured below, to have a look at the high weir.
Looking down the right hand channel at Mona Vale, this flows over the high weir.
There is a nice view from the top, but it is not recommended to paddle over it because the pool at the bottom is fairly shallow and injuries could result. I briefly chatted to a group of guys with cheap “Warehouse” style rafts on a beer trip, and checked they weren’t planning to paddle down the channel and over the weir. Fortunately they were just going to portage around the weir after they had finished inflating their rafts and put in on the river below.
Looking downstream from the top of the high weir near Christchurch Girls High School.
I paddled back up the river and then down the left channel, past the glass house and on towards the double weir.
The glass house at Mona Vale.
The double weir isn’t as high as the one on the right hand channel and is divided into two steps.
Looking downstream from the top of the double weir at Mona Vale.
After the obligatory photos, I dropped over the lip and on to the step, which is about a kayak length wide, and then over the next lip to the bottom.
Looking upstream towards the glass house at Mona Vale from below the double weir.
Once at the bottom, I had a little “surf”, with emphasis on the term little, but it was quite neat to be able to look up the river along the waters surface, towards the gardens.
The double weir at Mona Vale.
I took a few more photos and some video of the weir, which in hindsight were the last photos of this weir that I would ever take as not long after the weir was redeveloped and replaced with a rock riffle (pictured below) to make the river more natural and allow fish to swim upstream and gain another 8km of habitat.
The old two step weir was replaced with a rock riffle in April/May 2023.
It will be interesting to have a paddle on the new “rapid” and see how it changes with river flows. It looks like there might be a few little “play” spots for a mild urban adventurer.
“Surfing” in the fish ladder beside the double weir at Mona Vale.
I had a little splash in the fish ladder at the side of the weir before carrying on downstream. I met up with one of the rafters at the confluence of the two channels, waiting for the rest of his crew to complete the portage.
One of a group of recreational boaters in cheap rafts with a pleasant (beer) trip down the Avon on a hot afternoon.
I paddled back upstream to have a look at the high weir from the bottom and the water did seem pretty shallow, maybe only 1 or 2 feet deep.
The high weir near Christchurch Girls High School near Mona Vale.
Onwards down the river, under Fendalton Road and into Hagley Park. There was splash ahead as someone dropped of the rope swing and into the river, cooling off on a hot summer’s day. This spot is a popular swimming hole with students after school on scorching summer days, with a rope swing and a water depth of around 2 metres deep. Not sure about the water quality or potential health risks, but I would probably try not to swallow the water, otherwise it’s a lovely spot for a swim in the heart of the city.
The swimming hole near the intersection of Fendalton Road and Harper Avenue. This spot is popular after school on hot days.
As the Avon flows around Hagley Park, the river becomes wider, bordered by roads on one side and parkland on the other. As the water spreads out in the wider channel, the river becomes shallower.
Clear water and greenery, floating past Little Hagley Park.
Although there are roads nearby, the river is a peaceful place and the current pulled my kayak along as I soaked up the beautiful greenery of little Hagley Park.
Floating past the northern end of Hagley Park.
Turning the corner at the Bealey Avenue, the river flows along beside Park Terrace and Hagley Park. On this stretch, I passed a couple having a relaxing float through the park on tyre inner tubes. Using this method, you’ll get a bit wetter, but when the temperature is in the high twenties, that isn’t so much of an issue.
Floating through Hagley Park on inner tubes, great on a scorching hot day.
Around the west end of Armagh Street, the river turns into Hagley Park and begins it’s sinuous curve around the Botanic gardens.
Cool, still waters, shady green foliage and a kayak, what could be better on a hot day.
This stretch is popular with recreational paddlers, as various river crafts can be hired from Antigua Boat Shed, allowing people to travel up the river and explore this particularly scenic section of the river.
Plenty of paddlers enjoying the hire boats in the Botanic Gardens.
Being such a nice day, there were certainly plenty of people keep to have a fun day on the river.
Punting on the Avon through the Botanic Gardens, a very pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon.
Punts rides can also be taken from the Antigua Boat Shed and these enable the less active tourists to also experience the Botanic Gardens from the river. The guides give plenty of commentary as they pole there boats up the river.
The Botanic Gardens Curators House and gardens, viewed from the river.
Hot weather & sunshine makes for busy times at the Antigua Boat Sheds.
Past the Antigua Boat Sheds you head in to the central city. River craft thins out as you are not allowed to take the rental boats downstream, which is a good thing as the shallow stretches and riffles would make return the boats difficult, as they are generally impassable to upstream travel.
The river flows swifter down the shallow riffles.
This riffle also used to be a small weir, but now speeds boats into the city while still allowing fish to swim upstream. Although now entering the city, the river still remains an oasis of nature. The river banks have been allowed grow naturally to provide a more natural environment for aquatic life to shelter under, as well as reducing pollution entering the river.
The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial wall.
The Canterbury Earthquake Memorial wall is a sad reminder of the 185 lives lost in the quakes, as well as those lives shattered by loss or injury by the events. The building behind encased in scaffolding and plastic, serves as a reminder of the work still to be done in repairing the damage done. 12 years on, this tower stands empty with work still being done to make it able to be lived in again.
The war memorial, Bridge of Remembrance.
The Bridge of Remembrance was opened in 1924 and together with its Arch of Remembrance serve as a memorial to servicemen and women of two World Wars and subsequent conflicts in Korea, Malaya, Borneo, and Vietnam. The bridge replaced an earlier bridge over which many thousands of soldiers marched en route from King Edward barracks to the railway station and overseas service, from which many did not return. The bridge and arch were repaired and strengthened after the 2011 quakes.
The Terraces: 2:32pm, 3 hours 57 minutes elapsed
The Terraces, a popular hospitality area.
Formerly the Strip, this hospitality & nightlife area was completely rebuilt after the Canterbury Quakes, and the Terraces, which give the area its’ new name, were constructed to connect the area with the river.
A waka ama paddles up the river, past the Hereford Street bridge.
It’s hard work to paddle upstream in this section, past the shallow riffles, but a couple of waka ama paddlers gave it a good go.
A large trout hangs out at the Terraces.
Some large eels and trout hang out around the Terraces and you can hand feed the eels if you are careful with your fingers, as they will bit and have plenty of small but sharp teeth. Sea gulls and water fowl will also try to mug you for food if you choose to eat you lunch by the river. If you do want lunch, the Riverside Market has plenty of tasty options, but you’ll want to make sure you guard or secure you boat if you do decide to check it out.
Gormley’s sculpture “Stay” contemplates life in the Avon River.
Carrying on downstream, you can drift past Gormley’s sculpture “Stay” as it stand forlornly in the middle of the river, keeping its’ silent vigil. Further still, you pass the new convention centre Te Pae, which was built on the site of the old public library and the Farmers department store.
The Gloucester Street bridge in the foreground with Te Pae, the new Christchurch Convention Centre behind.
Victoria Square: 2:42pm, 4 hours 7 minutes elapsed
No time to stop at Ice Cream Charlie for a vanilla sundae and I carried on past the refurbished Town Hall. It is nice to the iconic dandelion fountains working again, they were a popular image of pre-quake Christchurch.
The Dandelion Fountain at the Christchurch Town Hall
Down past the Edmond’s Band Rotunda, which was badly damaged in the earthquakes but has now been restored to a open air performance space and is back to it’s former glory. The wakas moored near the rotunda seemed to be all ready for paddlers but there was no one around.
Wakas moored near the Edmonds Band Rotunda.
A school of fish shot by, heading upstream and I snapped a quick shot before they flashed out of view.
A school of fish swim upstream.
Margaret Mahy Playground: 2:48pm, 4 hours 13 minutes elapsed
Paddling through the poplars that line the Avon near the Margaret Mahy Playground.
If we still lived on Peterborough Street, I’d almost be home. We used to frequently used to walk along side this stretch on our way into the city, to go to the movies, eat out or just go shopping. Before the earthquakes, this was pretty convenient and it is nice to see the city being restored and gradually coming back to life again. The Margaret Mahy Playground on the right bank is usually busy and also features a car park and jetty, making it a reasonable place to start or end Avon River paddling trips.
The fire fighters memorial near the Barbadoes Street bridge.
Under the Barbadoes Street bridge and past the Firefighters Memorial, which was made from the twisted steel girders from the World Trade Centre and commemorates the lives of firefighters who have loss their lives doing their duty. Under the Kilmore Street bridge and past the new Central Fire Station and down the “Fire Station rapid”.
A stand-up paddle boarder paddles upstream past the Barbadoes Street Cemetery.
The Avon Loop was Red Zoned after the quakes and all the lovely, historic cottages were demolished and the land cleared. Now the right bank is home to a new park, which with the historic cemetery on the left bank makes for a pleasant stretch of the river with a distinctly rural feel in the central city. A stand up paddle boarder went by, heading upstream. These river-craft can be hired from Airborn Paddle Hire.
A rural landscape on the Avon Loop.
The river narrowed after the quakes as a result of lateral spreading around this stretch and so the water can be a little swifter than the wider reaches.
A shag waits for his dinner.
As well as the rural like environment, there are plenty of birds on the river and it is good to see them going about their business, though there does seem to be a lot of Canada geese around. They have large broods, and because they form large flocks and are very protective of their young, many survive to adulthood.
The Canade geese are also wondering why they rebuilt the road so close to the river surface.
Pomeroy’s Bar & Restaurant: 3:05pm, 4 hours 30 minutes elapsed
No time for a beer stop at Pomeroy’s, too tired to stop.
There’s a nice, new landing just off Kilmore Street near Pomeroy’s but I was a bit too tired to stop and get out for a beer & some pork scratchings, so I carried on, home beckoning.
Paddling through the Red Zone on the home stretch.
Paddling through the Red Zone and seeing the Swanns Road bridge come into view is a welcome sight, especially as fatigue sets in.
Not too far now, Swanns Road bridge beckons in the distance.
Almost home, the take out near the Richmond Community Gardens.
I was pretty tired by the time I got here and hauled my kayak out of the water. I wandered home through the Richmond Community Garden and was very glad to make it to our bathroom after such a long time on the water. After a bit of a rest break, I got my bike out to cycle back to where I’d left my vehicle. It’s a pleasant bike ride, much of it following the Avon, through the Red Zone, Parks and on bike paths, but I wasn’t in much of a state to really appreciate it. On the way I said “hello” to some of the rafters from earlier, who were still on the river near Fitzgerald Avenue. The distance was more direct than in the kayak but by the time I made it to the Staff Club, I was pretty exhausted and a bit sore, so I spent a bit of time lying on the grass before loading up my bike and heading for home for a good rest. Oh man, that was epic and I have to admit that I spent the remainder of the day lying down and moaning!
Date: 12/11/2022 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 1.339 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, changing to overcast and some spots of rain. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.50 hours. Comments: It had been a beautiful day and the weather was looking to turn, so it seemed an ideal time to squeeze in a paddle before the rain came. I carried the Blitz down to the river and set up to launch off the rock filled gabion baskets that form the jetty I usually get out on. I seal launched into the river, my kayaks nose sliding under the water, the water cascading off my deck before I set off upstream.
Ready to seal launch in to the Avon.
The current was fairly swift (for the Avon) as the tide must have been turning, but the sky was still blue and the waters’ surface, a mirror. It was great to be on the river and to revel in the beauty of nature, it was very relaxing despite the physical exertion. To drink in nature and to be present in the natural environment, is a real pleasure and makes me feel alive.
Time on the river gives you time to reflect.
The Red Zone is a great resource and it is a special place and I love spending time exploring it. To have such an amazing place in the heart of the city is rare and I hope the future developments preserve its’ accessibility and natural features.
Swans’ nest
Just above the Swanns Road bridge, the swans have a next and it looks like their young one is growing up. I didn’t get too close, not wanting to disturb the family, as swans can get quite protective, especially when they have signets.
Swans’ nest above Swanns Road bridge.
Further upstream there was a family of Paradise Shelducks at the Linwood High School landing, the ducks finding it useful despite its’ battered condition.
Paradise shelduck family at the Linwood High landing.
When the river runs beside Avonside Drive, the vehicle noise level goes up but it is still a pleasant paddle between the tree lined banks. A quick slalom between the pillars under the Stanmore Road bridge, then on up to the Fitzgearald Avenue bridge and past Pomeroys.
Why does Fitzgerald Ave flood in heavy rains?
Interestingly after the earthquakes, they rebuilt Fitzgerald Avenue where it borders the river, as big cracks broke up the road and walkways. For some reason, the new road now dips down and under normal flows (like is shown above) is not far from the waters’ surface. This means that during high flows and floods, the northern lanes are often closed due to flooding, and sometimes even the southern lanes are effected too. Civil engineers eh?
More reflection on the river.
Moving into the Avon Loop and away from the road, the peace returns. The river gets a little swifter in the sections where lateral spreading in the earthquake brought the banks closer together.
Barbadoes Street cemetery.
Paddling around the Avon Loop and past the Barbadoes Street cemetery make you feel like you are in the countryside, not in the centre of a city.
No trolls under this bridge.
Passing under the Barbadoes Street bridge brought me back to our old neighbourhood. I paddled as far as I could before the shallow waters of the “fire station rapids” stopped by upstream progress. It was time to head home anyway. I chose to drift back down the river, to relax and soak in my surroundings. I spotted a number of fish, a bike frame and a small set of bolt cutters in the water as I floated by.
Almost home as the rain starts.
Spots of rain were falling as I neared home. Flashing lights peaked my interest and I noted the Police arresting some guy beside the river as I passed, not sure why and I didn’t stop to ask. I was soon clambering out at the spot I had launched from earlier and heading home before the rain started to pour down. Time for a nice shower before cooking dinner.
Date: 16/10/2022 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 2.628 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, brisk NE winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.75 hours. Comments: I hadn’t been for a paddle for a while, poor weather at the weekend or too many things to do around home, so I was very happy to shoulder my kayak and head down to the river on such a beautiful day.
Looking back upstream and hoping not to get bombed by a seagull
I decided to head downstream and was soon powering along, getting back into the rhythm of the river. There were plenty of ducklings around, including some big clutches of Paradise Shelducks, which was nice to see. Hopefully many of them will survive to adulthood.
The Snell Place Footbridge
I paddled down past the Gayhurst Road bridge and on under the Snell Place footbridge down to Kerrs Reach. There were quite a few whitebaiters along the river, though mainly around the areas with road access, as the council removed access to the gated Red Zone areas.
The landing near Kerrs Reach
Earlier in the day I’d read a post about improvements around the Red Zone and someone was bemoaning the lack or poor condition of the various landings along the Red Zone stretch of the Avon, so I decided I would document the ones I passed. The one pictured above is just above Kerrs Reach and probably doesn’t get used much, if at all, and still is in its’ post-quake condition. Launching at Kerrs Reach is probably easier, unless an event is taking place around the rowing/kayaking clubs.
The new Dallington “Landing”
The photo above shows a river level view of the new Dallington Landing, just downstream of the Gayhurst Street bridge, and you can clearly see that there isn’t actually any landing suitable for launch a kayak and neither is there any place to park nearby if you were intending to put your kayak on the river here. This is more a toilet / picnic stop for cyclists or walkers, rather than a landing for river users.
The Wainoni Landing
The Wainoni Landing is looking a little dilapidated but seems to be mostly functional. It probably doesn’t see much use these days as it is in the Red Zone with no vehicle access to it anymore and nothing special to visit around it. This landing is just upstream of the Gayhurst Road bridge and on the opposite bank from the new Dallington Landing.
Paddling upstream was certainly harder than the downstream journey, possibly one of the advantages of paddling upstream to start with, the journey home is always easier. At one point I came across a lone duckling, I couldn’t spot its’ family, but I home it managed to find its’ way home. I paddled past the get out and on under the Swanns Road bridge, as I wanted to get a photo of the old Avonside Girls High School landing.
The Linwood High School Landing
The school is now part of Linwood High and the landing is still serviceable, though a little tired looking. The landing is still in use, with a vehicle with roof racks parked near by and I suspect it belonged to a race boater that went past me on the river. Hopefully we’ll see some improvement in the on-river facilities in the coming year as the Avon River Corridor developments start happening.
From here, I turned downstream and headed for home for a well-earned shower and a tasty roast chicken dinner. I felt pretty worn out having not paddled for a while, but it was a great way to round off the weekend.
Date: 14/08/2022 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 2.528 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, light winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1.75 hours. Comments: For a change we had beautiful sunny weather over the weekend and the “Polluted Water” signs had disappeared from the river banks (during periods of flooding, wastewater can get into the stormwater system and thus into the cities waterways), so it definitely looked like a paddle was on the cards. Saturday afternoon got used up hunting down some rocks for a water feature I was planning for our garden, so when Sunday afternoon rolled around, I decided to take the Blitz (the Blitz Special having been returned to the storage locker) for a paddle.
A couple of barracudas on the Avon.
A couple of barracudas cruised by as I was struggling to fit my spray deck to the cockpit rim. Once that was in place, I slid smoothly off the back, the kayaks nose diving below the rivers’ surface and the water flowed around me and off the Blitz’s tail, confirming that I had managed to fit the deck correctly and the boat hadn’t filled with water.
Reflections on still water.
I decided to head downstream, seeking the peace & solitude of the more rural Red Zone, far from busy roadways and nosy vehicles. As always it was great to be back on the water and to feel my senses filled with all the sensory experiences nature had to offer. The trees, their winter limbs bare of foliage, contrasting darkly against the clear blue sky, their textured bark highlighted in the bright sunlight. There were plenty of swallows flitting about, possibly a sign that Spring is on it’s way.
The Snell Place Footbridge.
The new footbridges have added a new point of interest to the trip and they seem to be well used by walkers and cyclists enjoying the Red Zone on a sunny Winter’s day. The bridges also provide way points to measure the distance when paddling, the Snell Place bridge meant I carried on my journey beyond the Gayhurst Bridge, my normal end point, and since Kerrs Reach is just a little further, I carried on to that stretch, before turning for home.
The Swan family with five early signets.
Another sign that Spring isn’t too far off, was a swan family with five little, fluffy grey signets. Father swan was very protective of his children, honking at me and advancing with feathers ruffled to ensure I kept a good distance while taking photographs. Interestingly I spotted a large brown rat, bounding along the river back, behind the swan family, hopefully he didn’t have ideas of a tasty signet for supper. These swans must have been lucky with their choice of nesting site, as they often build their nests a bit above the waterline and the recent floods have submerged and swept away many of these places.
Winter turns the trees into fractal silhouettes.
It was nice to feel the sun on my face as I paddled against the current, the bare and backlit trees turned into fractal silhouettes against the sky, their limbs branching off to infinity.
Looking towards the Port Hills on the way home.
Paddling upstream is always harder and I was feeling very out of practice, so it was nice when I reached the home stretch and paddled past the Eels. I continued up to the Swanns Road bridge to complete the journey, before paddling back down to the get out and scrambling up the bank to walk home for a well deserved cup of tea and a crumpet smothered in honey.
Date: 25/06/2022 River: Avon River, Christchurch, NZ River Conditions: 2.045 cumecs at Gloucester Street bridge. Water clear. Grade 1. Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm, light NE winds. Number on Trip: 1 person. Time on River: 1 hour. Comments: We had a long weekend to celebrate Matariki, the Maori new year and on the Saturday the weather was perfect, around 17 degrees, sunny & still, so what better way to round off the day than a paddle on the Avon.
Preparing to launch, if the swan will let me.
I got changed and grabbed the Blitz Special and headed down to the river. A couple of swans swam over to see if I had any food, but moved off as my kayak slid into the water. I decided to head upstream, as I hadn’t paddled for a while and it is always easier to paddle with the current on the homeward stretch.
A beautiful still & warm winters day.
The river was mirror smooth and it was great to be back in my kayak after almost two months since my last paddle. Soon I was powering upstream and everything felt good & familiar. I said “Hi” to the Rev, a Muscovy-Mallard cross duck who calls our stretch of the river, home. As I paddled alongside Avonside Drive, the traffic noise reminded me why I preferred to paddle downstream. The peace of the Red Zone can really transport you away from the noise & worries of the city.
Passing one of the old pumping stations on the Avon Loop.
After passing under the Fitzgerald Avenue bridge, you gradually move away from the busy roads and the peace of the Red Zoned Avon Loop descends on the river. We used to enjoy walking through this area when we lived nearby and it still is a lovely location even if all the quaint old cottages have disappeared.
Canada geese take flight.
There were quite a few water fowl on the river and with the narrowed river around the Barbadoes Street cemetery, making for a swifter current, there was a tendency to drive startled birds before my kayak as I powered up the “rapid” sections. Once I got to the “Fire Station Rapid” near our old put in when we lived on Peterborough Street, I paddled up as far as I could go, before the water became to shallow & swift, then turned towards home.
The brick barrel drain where St Mary’s Stream flows into the Avon.
After passing under the Barbadoes Street bridge, I stopped to check out the old brick barrel drain, where St Mary’s Stream flows into the Avon. Apparently its’ source is a spring in the grounds of St Mary’s vicarage off Manchester Street and it was bricked in and redirected under Salisbury Street early in Christchurch’s’ history. In 2005, a short section of the stream was opened up to form a pool & stream, and a reserve was created to highlight the cultural & historic significance of the site of Puari Pa, which was home to the chief, Tautahi after whom, Otautahi/Christchurch is named, as well as being an important food gathering location.
Under the Stanmore Road bridge.
From here travel was swift with the flow. I did the obligatory slalom around the pillars of the Stanmore Road bridge as I paddled under it. The light was fading as I neared home but the reflections and light made for some nice photos.
Dusk approaches.
It was nice to finally get a paddle in and I wasn’t to worn out when I got home, so I used the time before washing off the river water & sweat, to arrange some recently salvaged basalt blocks from a demolished house’s foundations, into a border for some of our garden beds. A geologist’s garden can never have too many rocks.
