Cycleways

This cycleway connects Cashmere to the Northern Line, near St James Park in Papanui via Spreydon, Middleton, Riccarton and Bryndwr.

You can ride from Princess Margaret Hospital to Pioneer or Jellie Park Sports and Recreation Centres for a swim or workout. You can travel safely to seven schools along the route and the University of Canterbury. This cycleway also takes you to the shops on Wairakei and Harewood roads.

The section of the cycleway between Cashmere Road and Wigram Road, and from Hansons Lane to the University is complete.

The cycleway from the University to Harewood Road will run along Ilam Road to Aorangi Road, Condell Avenue and Matsons Avenue before linking to the Northern Line cycleway via Harewood Road. We are currently asking the public for feedback on our planned design, and options for both the Ilam Road and south Aorangi Road sections of the cycleway.

The start of the cycleway connects to the Ōpāwaho River Route (planned), then Quarryman’s Trail at Sparks Road, Little River Link at Wigram Road, South Express at Suva Street, Uni–Cycle at Ilam Fields, and Wheels to Wings (planned) and Northern Line cycleways at Harewood Road.

Construction of the final sections of this cycleway is expected to start in late 2022.

 The cycleway is designed to provide a safe connection for local cycling trips from Harewood, Bishopdale and Papanui to schools, shops, businesses and parks. It also provides a connection to the airport and the 7,000 people that work on the airport campus.

We consulted on the cycleway from January through March this year. We received 1348 submissions from residents, businesses and organisations. Many submitters have lived, or worked, in the area for a long time and have provided us with very detailed feedback. Thanks to everyone who took the time to consider the cycleway proposal.

We’re proposing a number of changes to the consulted design based on public feedback.

We held three information days on 27, 28 and 29 October 2021. At the information days, we discussed the changes we’re proposing, shared the design concepts we’ve looked at and sought further feedback from the community.

The cycleway

You can ride from the commercial area near the airport for a bite to eat at Copenhagen Bakery or on to the Bishopdale Mall where you can visit Ōrauwhata Bishopdale Library and Community Centre or the local YMCA.

On your way, you pass by Nunweek Park and Bishopdale Playground. You can also cycle safely to Harewood Primary, Breens Intermediate, Cotswold, Bishopdale or Papanui High School, or pop in for some more shopping at Northlands Mall.

At its western end, the cycleway connects to the Johns Road cycle and pedestrian underpass, and to McLeans Island Road via the Johns Road shared path. At its eastern end, the cycleway connects to the Northern Line and Nor’West Arc cycleways.

Further information on the Wheels to Wings cycleway.(external link)

You can ride this scenic, tree-lined cycleway to Mona Vale’s beautiful grounds and high tea on the weekends, or to the Riccarton Bush Saturday market.

On your way into the city you will ride through North Hagley Park before arriving at the Canterbury Museum and Arts Centre on Worcester Boulevard.

This cycleway links to Nor’West Arc cycleway at the University and Northern Line Cycleway at the rail crossing near Mona Vale.

Uni–Cycle was named Supreme Winner (external link)(external link) at the 2018 national Bike to the Future Awards. 

This cycleway runs from Moorhouse Avenue through Church Square to Barrington Street where it connects to the shared path that runs alongside the Southern Motorway. The shared path now links you to the Little River Rail Trail which goes all the way to the Little River township via Prebbleton and Lincoln. 

The Christchurch end of the route is great for anyone looking to get active as it runs through Hagley Park and links to the Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub. You will also glide through the historic Church Square in Addington.

If you’d like to cycle the Little River Rail Trail, see their website here: littlerivertrail.kiwi.nz(external link).

This is a good route to head to the pool or have a work out at the Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre and you can also get your retail fix at Northlands Shopping Centre or Edgeware Village.

It connects to the Northern Line Cycleway on Sawyers Arms Road, and also links to the shared path that runs along the Christchurch Northern Corridor all the way to Kaiapoi in the Waimakariri District.

The route starts at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre and Halswell Domain and provides a safe route to four schools in the Hoon Hay area. It also connects recreation facilities Pioneer Stadium in Hoon Hay and the Metro Sports Facility that is currently being built on Antigua Street in the central city.

It connects to the Nor'West Arc route and will link to the Southern Lights cycleway on Strickland Street once that cycle path is built.

You can ride the off-road shared path along the railway line to Graham Condon Recreation and Sports Centre for a workout or a swim or visit Northlands Mall for some shopping. St James Park is a great place to check out monarch butterflies or continue south for a stroll around Mona Vale Homestead and Gardens or Hagley Park. You can also travel safely to a number of schools along the route and connect to the University at the southern end via the Uni–Cycle cycleway.

In the future the cycleway will extend at both ends to provide a shared path along the railway line from Belfast to Old Blenheim Road, where you can cross into South Hagley Park.

The cycleway is open from Sumner to Rapanui Shag Rock, Redcliffs to Ferrymead Bridge and Charlesworth Reserve Bridge on Humphreys Drive to the intersection of Fitzgerald Avenue and Worcester Street.

You can ride to the Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool for a swim, or Eastgate Mall and Stanmore Road for some shopping or to visit the Tiny Shops, or get yourself safely to Linwood Avenue School.

On your way to the city, the cycleway takes you through Charlesworth Reserve which is a tidal wetland home to native birds and over 100,000 trees and shrubs and through the daffodils on Linwood Avenue.

Recreational cyclists can head to Sumner via the Christchurch Coastal Pathway(external link).

Construction through Charlesworth Reserve to Humphreys Drive is happening now and the final section to Ferrymead Bridge is expected to start early 2022. The final section of the Coastal Pathway through Monks Bay will be starting soon.

You can ride from the boutique shopping experience and cinema at The Tannery and cross the Heathcote River to the Ara Woolston campus and on to Lancaster Park. The cycleway ends at the Ara city campus on Madras Street.

Construction from the Tannery to Ferrymead Heritage Park and Heathcote is expected to start early 2022. Read more on Newsline.(external link)

This cycleway connects Templeton to the central city via Hornby, Sockburn, Middleton and Riccarton.

You can ride from the city’s western boundary in Templeton to The Hub Hornby shopping centre or visit the planned Hornby Pool and Library. On a Sunday you can ride straight to the Riccarton Market. You can travel safely to nine schools along the entire route. From Upper Riccarton Library you can visit Wharenui Recreation Centre and there’s more shopping options at Westfield Mall before arriving in the Central City at South Hagley Park.

Sections of the cycleway between Deans Avenue and Craven Street are now open and construction between Craven Street and Waterloo Road is due to start soon.

• Download the route map [JPG, 3.1 MB]
• Download the detailed route plans [PDF, 19 MB]
• Download the Matipo Street speed zone plan [PDF, 258 KB]
• Download the parking plan [PDF, 530 KB]

This cycleway connects Beckenham to the Quarryman’s Trail Cycleway on Strickland Street.

You can ride from the Heathcote River on Tennyson Street to the Beckenham shops for a bite to eat and into town on the Quarryman’s Trail. In the future this cycleway will also connect to the Ōpāwaho River Route cycleway.

This cycleway connects New Brighton to the Central City via the Avon River corridor.

You can ride from New Brighton to meet the Te Ara Ōtākaro Avon River Trail near Kerrs Reach, which takes you along the river to the central city.

This cycleway connects the Heathcote River near Princess Margaret Hospital to the estuary at Ferrymead.

You can ride alongside the river as it meanders through the southern suburbs via Cashmere High School, South Library and Hansen Park. This scenic route will connect the Nor’West Arc, Southern Lights and Rapanui − Shag Rock Cycleways, as well as the well-used mountain bike tracks at Mt Vernon Farm, Rapaki, and Huntsbury.

The exact route for this cycleway has not been decided, but is likely to be a mixture of on-road greenways, shared paths and dedicated cycleways along the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River.