26 Mar 2018

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The popular Kennedys Bush Track, which sits on a combination of unformed road and private property and winds from above Halswell Quarry Park to the top of the Port Hills, will re-open on Easter Sunday.

The 5.3km track went partly through a privately-owned forest, and has been closed to the public since the Port Hills fires in February 2017, for safety reasons.

The view of the surrounding bush at the top of Kennedys Bush Track.

From Easter Sunday people will again be able to take in the beautiful views from the top of Kennedys Bush Track.

Christchurch City Council staff have worked constructively with the trustees of the privately-owned land to get the area around the track cleared of fire-damaged trees, and the track restored to a safe state, so the public can use it again.

The clearance work has taken longer than expected, but the entire track has now been cleared and will re-open when the current Temporary Traffic Management Plan expires on 1 April.

“The landowner has put a lot of effort into clearing the track, and we’re thrilled that we can open it again to mountain bikers and walkers,’’ says Council City Services General Manager David Adamson.

“People using the track though need to remember that there is still logging activity occurring in the area. For health and safety reasons, and because the adjacent land is private land, it is critical they stay on the track, and don’t deviate away from it,'' Mr Adamson says.

Find out the status of walking tracks on the Port Hills.