The Waimakariri River Regional Park covers 15,000 hectares of river and river's edge land so we've broken it down into several park areas that cater to activities ranging from mountain biking, picnicking, horse riding, walking, game bird hunting, fishing and more.

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Prior to European settlement, the Waimakariri River was a vast and unconstrained braided river that frequently overflowed surrounding land, including through the site of present-day Christchurch.

Over the past 150 years, people have worked to contain the mighty river and prevent it from overflowing into Christchurch and neighbouring towns and properties. The Waimakariri River Regional Park was originally created as a way of managing the Environment Canterbury-owned river protection land along the length of the Waimakariri River.

McLeans Forest

McLeans Forest is a section of the Waimakariri River Regional Park popular with mountain bikers of all ages, walkers and runners