Meet at Ōtakaro Orchard at 9am or join in at any point along the way:

  • 9am – meet an explore Ōtakaro Orchard. Walk upstream sweeping for insects as we go.
  • 10am – meet at Tautahi pa to see tuna | eels with Jenny Bond from the Te Tuna Tāone programme and insects with Mike Dickison.
  • Midday – meet at Richmond Community Garden for lunch and research with the library outreach van. Wifi available to upload observations.
  • 1pm – afternoon hīkoi heads off from Richmond Community Garden towards Medbury Bridge and return.

We will follow the Ōtakaro Avon River as it meanders through the city, Avon Loop and Richmond areas. We will meander slowly and stop frequently to take photos and observe nature. Entomologist Dr Mike Dickison will demonstrate sweep-netting to uncover the hidden biodiversity of invertebrates.

We will stop at Richmond Community Gardens for lunch. The Christchurch City Libraries outreach van will be parked up and available for some research!

The hikoi will head off again from 1pm, following River Road to Medway Bridge and back along the other side of the river to Retreat Road, exploring the red zone areas within the Avonside red zone.

Ōtakaro Orchard to Richmond Community Gardens is approximately 3.7km.

Richmond Community Gardens to Medway Bridge is approximately 1km. 

A courtesy van is available to transport people back to their cars if needed. 

Keep track of how we are doing on the City Nature challenge website.