Find out where and how motor vehicles can have access within our regional parks.
General Motor Vehicle Access Guidelines for Environment Canterbury Regional Parks
Motor vehicles are widely permitted within the Regional Park, normally for travel between points of interest in a civil manner. All vehicle access is subject to normal road rules and vehicle regulations that can be enforced by the Police, via the “Transport Act”. Offences for damage against River Flood Protection infrastructure are subject to penalties under the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act. Further, antisocial activities against park assets and policies can be enforced by a variety of means and could lead to hefty fines or even exclusion from parks under the Trespass Act.
As soon as motor vehicle activity becomes a form of play, then the following rules apply
At no time should motor vehicles:
- Create a hazard such as excessive speed or racing except in designated areas such as the Trial bike Park at Kaiapoi Island
- Be operated on protection infrastructure such as the sides of stop banks & groynes except where formed access ramps & roads are provided
- Cause damage such as driving into /over gates, signs, trees, vegetation & fence lines or skidding on roads and maintained grassed areas
- Causing annoyance such as by way of noise, dust, speed, to other Parks Guests and wildlife.
- Operate in closed areas as indicated by fences, gates & signs except on business
- Ignore requests or instructions from Environment Canterbury Staff or their agents
Prohibited Zone (red)
No motorised recreational vehicle activity is permitted in this zone, this includes but is not limited to:
- Unregistered motor vehicles i.e. trail bikes and buggies
- Motorised recreation e.g. Four wheel driving
Restricted Zone (yellow)
These are the areas that have minimal developed infrastructure in place, normally limited to access roads for river protection and fencing. There are no marked trail bike tracks or designated areas for motor vehicle recreation in these areas.
Environment Canterbury expects vehicle operators to assume liability for their own actions within the general guidelines and laws governing vehicle use.
Riverbed access can be restricted in places, such as during bird breeding seasons, or contactors work sites, when there will be signs in place promoting this.
Open Trail Bike Area (green)
These sign posted areas are managed for specific unregistered trail bike activity. No other motorised recreation is allowed in these areas. At Kaiapoi Island for example where there are marked one-way trails that are maintained specifically for trail bikes.
Vehicles using these areas must obey signage, including codes of conduct and remain courteous to other park visitors and stay on the indicated routes.
This information does not refer to motorised activity on the water such as jet boats.
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