12 Feb 2025

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More than four million cycling trips were made in Christchurch last year, can we beat that in 2025? This week discover the Puari ki Niho-toto South Express.

Quality as well as quantity – that’s the Puari ki Niho-toto South Express.  

It’s currently the longest of Christchurch’s Major Cycle Routes, taking riders 10km between South Hagley Park to Hornby.

Try out the South Express this weekend! 

Our Travel Demand team will be at Middleton Park on Saturday 15 February from 1-3pm giving out bike-related freebies, as well as providing education, the brand new bike map, and quick bike tune-ups.

The South Express winds its way through the city’s residential south-west streets.  

It’s the perfect cycleway for commuters – particularly those heading to school, avoiding most main roads but still connecting to countless destinations.  

Along the route there are nine schools, Christchurch’s biggest mall Westfield Riccarton, numerous parks, Riccarton Racecourse, three libraries and a pool.  

The cycleway starts at South Hagley, crossing busy Deans Avenue and turning into a wide shared path along the old Blenheim Road corridor.   

After a brief stint on the actual Blenheim Road, you end up winding your way through Riccarton down Picton Ave, Elizabeth Street, Peverel Street, Lochee Road before you cut through Middleton Park.  

Coming onto Suva Street (technically this section is part of both the South Express and Nor’West Arc) you hit one of the more interesting design features of the cycleway – a Barnes Dance – near Middleton Grange School’s entrance near Hansons Lane.  

Sadly no dancing. Instead the engineering term for a crossing which allows people to head in any direction across the intersection.  

The cycleway rambles past many of its key destinations from here on - Riccarton High School, Upper Riccarton Library, Our Lady of Victories School, Saint Thomas of Canterbury College and Riccarton Racecourse the perfect stop on a Sunday morning for its bustling market.   

The tail end takes you through down Carmen Road, totally separated from traffic, then onto Buchanans Road and stretches down the length of Hei Hei Road past Hornby High School.  

After a 10km ride it’s time for a rest and the cycleway currently wraps up at Matatiki Hornby Centre – there couldn’t be a better place for a pit stop.  

Head into the library, grab a coffee and borrow a book, or have a dip in the pool.  

Soon it won’t stop there. 

Further work will see the South Express connect right out to Selwyn.  

You’ll be able to ride more than 15km on separated cycleway from the Central City to Templeton and all the way out to Rolleston. 

Check out Christchurch's full network of cycleways on the new Christchurch Bike Map.