Explore the beauty of our city with the Walking Festival
7 Apr 2025
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Discover the dunes at dawn, take a storywalk in the sun and meet the Gruffalo as part of the 2025 Walking Festival.
The festival is underway from Saturday 12 April to Sunday 27 April with over 40 walks suitable for all ages and abilities.
Kick off the festival on the 12th with the annual Great Ōtākaro Avon River Walk from New Brighton to Hagley, explore Lyttelton’s Antarctic history, or follow the Ōtukaikino Stream to the Waimakariri River for a long-distance adventure.
Make a craft and follow a librarian from page to page with a Storywalk with Christchurch City Libraries at Little River Domain on the 12th, Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre on the 15th, Margaret Mahy Playground on the 16th, Matatiki Hornby Centre on the 23rd and New Brighton Library on the 24th.
Explore the history of the red zone at Richmond with a local guide on the 20th or with an Anzac Walk on the 25th and discover the transformation of Inner City East and Linwood West on the 22nd. Check out the central city with a SCAPE public art walk on the 13th, a sister city stroll on the 21st, and the Christchurch City Antarctic Walk on the 26th.
The Walking Festival will be on from 12 - 27 April.
Discover the magic of the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River with the Historic Ōpāwaho Heathcote Loop on the 13th, a walk through four nearby reserves on the 21st, an easy terrain loop around the river on the 24th, and an amble through Te Kuru wetlands on the 27th.
Learn about our waterways with a wander through Silverstream Reserve on the 15th, a sunrise walk at New Brighton Beach on the 22nd, and a stroll around the Kaiapoi River or an adventure along Kā Pūtahi Creek and Styx River on the 26th.
Take your tamariki on a bear hunt from Walter Park Playground on the 14th, discover the fairies at Bottle Lake Fairy Forest on the 16th, and meet the Gruffalo on the 24th.
Explore the outdoors with a forest walk through the Christchurch Adventure Park on the 18th, a wander around Medway Bridge on the 23rd, and a walk through local parks around Woolston on the 24th.
Take a 3km walk or run for mental health on the 17th, walk a mile with a refugee on the 19th, and take a fully accessible ‘wheelie’ fun walk through the Botanic Gardens on the 27th.
If you’re looking for a more challenging walk, discover the wild side of Sugarloaf Reserve on the 12th, take a guided walk through the lush Hinewai forest on the 17th, climb from the Adventure Park Village on the 19th, and walk the first leg of the Christchurch 360 Trail with a 6km daily walk from the 22nd.
There’s also a series of recurring walks throughout the festival; explore the cultural play trail in the central city, take a self-guided urban art experience, and step back in time to discover the city during the late 1800s.
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