There are many fantastic places to ride already in Christchurch and that will only get better as the rebuild continues, especially with the new Major Cycleway Routes.
Useful maps
- Christchurch City Council have a great online cycle map, updated regularly; you can also download a PDF copy. A printed map and guide is available at libraries, service centres and bike shops.
- Google Maps now features cycle routes (“Bicycling” layer); the Christchurch information is regularly updated, although it can take a while sometimes for changes or corrections to come through.
- OpenStreetMap also has a cycling layer for Christchurch that can be edited by anyone. It’s usually very up-to-date.
- Here is a useful Google map created showing central city bike parking locations (hint: lots!)
Handy Ride Information
Check out our Suburb-by-Suburb Guide to Cycling in Chch – and help us make it better!
- The Chch City Council has an interactive map of handy rides around the city, for family rides, mountain biking, and road riding. These include Hagley Park, Bottle Lake Forest, and the Port Hills.
- The Council also has information about the current status of various recreational tracks around the city.
- If the weather, distance, or hills are preventing you from getting somewhere by bike, you might be able to combine your biking with public transport using bike racks on buses.
Remember to report any cycleway maintenance/safety issues!
Other Fun places to go
- We have a number of blog posts about recreational riding in and around Christchurch. Check out also our growing collection of Hidden Treasures – cycling gems around the city.
- Many of the local groups supporting cycling organise fun cycling events and rides. Keep an eye on our Events Calendar too.
- For learning to ride, the kids will love Westburn Reserve in Burnside, with its mini-road layouts, roundabouts – just like the real thing! There’s now another cycle skills park in Knights Stream, Halswell.
- The kids cycle skills can also be tested at the Kendal Bike Track in Burnside.
- For a wide range of downhill mountainbiking, Christchurch Adventure Park in the Cashmere Hills is the latest attraction. There’s also a pump track track for the kids.
- There are also a number of BMX tracks around the city for more adventurous bike skills, including Kyle Park (Hornby), Bexley Park (Bexley), Nepal Reserve (Burnside), Burwood Park (Shirley), Craighead Reserve (Northcote), and Hunter Tce Playground (Cashmere).
- Skateboard parks are also fun for bike riding skills (but be mindful of other skaters/scooters using these facilities) – try out Washington Reserve (town), Thompson Park (New Brighton), Linwood Park (Linwood) and Jellie Park (Burnside).
- Environment Canterbury have developed a number of fun riding areas along its Waimakariri River Park, including McLeans Island and Kaiapoi Island.
- The Little River Rail Trail is a fantastic scenic ride from Christchurch via Prebbleton/Lincoln out to Little River.
- Further afield, there are other great riding opportunities around the country, including Hanmer Springs trails, Hurunui Heartland Trails, and the NZ Cycle Trails.
- The NZ Transport Agency also have a great online map of all NZ cycling facilities (e.g. rural trails, urban cycleways, heartland rides) around the country.
If you would like to add/update information to this page, contact us.