Waimakariri
Find great places to ride your horse, or carriage drive in Waimakariri.
Sefton Domain
Sefton Domain is accessed from Vaughan St, Sefton. A 700 m long oval dirt track runs around the outside of the domain and is used for horse training and general riding. Use of this track is available to the public. Check on domain usage, as the oval is clearly used for sports.
Waikuku Beach, Woodend Beach, Kairaki Beach, The Pines
Horses are permitted along the full length of the beach between Waimakariri River Mouth and Waimakariri - Hurunui Council Boundary , including the area between Woodend and Hurunui beaches.
Please give way to pedestrians, and ensure that you ask for permission if you wish to pass through a flagged surf lifesaving zone.
Stay below the high tide mark (except when entering or exiting the beach)
Parking and Access
There are 3 main access points for horse riders; Waikuku Beach, Woodend Beach, Kairaki Beach. View this full pdf map
Purpose-built horse float parking area is available off Kiwi Ave, Waikuku. A free key to access the horse float gate is available from the Rangiora Service Centre.
There is good parking on Woodend Beach Rd, and Ferry Rd to access the beach and horse trails through the forest. Ferry Rd provides lots of parking for floats and plenty of turning space.
Ferry Rd, Woodend
Te Tuhaitara Coastal park horsetrails - Waikuku, Pegasus, The Pines
Tūhaitara Coastal Park covers approximately 575ha of land along the coastline from the Waimakariri River mouth to the township of Waikuku. Stretching along the coast for 10.5 kilometres, it comprises many natural features of local, regional and national importance. Horse trails exist so that you can ride both on the beaches (as above) or on the horse trails in this area.
Horse access to the park trails and the beaches is from
Reid Memorial Ave at The Pines Beach (do not go all the way down, park near the beginning),
Ferry Road, Woodend Beach or
Kiwi Avenue, Waikuku Beach.
For more infomation read or download the brochure.
Waimakariri River Regional Park
Horse riding is allowed in this regional park at Baynons Brake, West Melton Forest Horse Park and Templars Island within this regional park area.
Gate opening hours
Summer (daylight saving): 7am - 10pm
Winter: 7am - 7pm
West Melton Forest Horse Park
Entrance off Chattertons Rd (approx 580), well signposted.
approx 350 hectares of pine forest between Chattertons and Weedons Ross Roads.
Picnic areas are provided, with hitching posts for horses
trails for riders and carriages!
Shared with walkers and runners - horses have right of way
Public toilet
separate pull-through horse float park.
Trails
A 10km marked trail, suitable for all abilities. Large sandy areas and forestry roads allow riders to explore further.
While most of the trail is sandy, there are stoney sections where some horses may require shoes.
Horse carriage driving – Roads within the forest are suitable for carriages. The entrance will fit 1.8m-wide carriages. If you have a wider carriage, contact ecan to ask about key system.
Templars Island
Along the south side of the Waimakariri River, Templars Island is a peaceful escape from city life with more than 40 native plant species to be found beneath the exotic river control plantings. A series of trails lead down to the large grass berm area at the eastern end of Templars Island.
Parking is very limited, but riders can access a trail from Whites Crossing picnic area (off the end of Coutts Island Rd), or drive down Mikoikoi Drive and park on the berm alongside the river.
Baynons Brake Horse Trails
10km of riverside trails and river access points.
Rolling pit (sand)
Picnic areas, tie-rails
Plenty of all weather parking, pull-through no reversing required.
Gates are open 7am to 7pm in winter, and 7am to 10pm during daylight saving.
Park entrance is off Baynons Road in Clarkville. If you are heading north on the motorway, take the first off ramp on to Tram Road, then turn left on to Heywards Road. Follow Heywards Rd sharp right (do not go straight onto Madeleys Rd), and turn left onto Baynons Rd
UNDER DEVELOPMENT
In the plans to have a horse trail, there is no progress reported since 2009
Silverstream Reserve, Clarkville
52 hecatres near Clarkville. Silver Stream is the South Branch of the Upper Kaiapoi River that runs through Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Woodend. The 52-hectare reserve, spanning two sites, has been replanted with more than 37,000 native plants, along the stream and under larger trees.
An off-road car park is located on South Eyre Road, 1.5 kilometres from the Tram Road turn-off. This provides for easy access into Silverstream East Reserve. https://silverstream.nz/