Orton Bradley Park is a private 650-hectare rural property on the southern shores of Lyttelton Harbour, open 365 days a year. Run as a charitable trust under an act of parliament, it is a working farm that doubles as one of Canterbury's most family-friendly outdoor escapes, with large open spaces, park-like picnic settings and fantastic sunsets over Charteris Bay. Over 25km of walking tracks cater for all ages and abilities, from the famous 20-minute Rhododendron Walk to the popular 2.5-hour Waterfall Gully Track and on towards DOC's Packhorse Hut or Mt Herbert. Short mountain bike tracks suit every member of the family, and a large children's adventure playground with a flying fox sits beside a small stream. A 9-hole golf course neighbours the park, with tennis courts nearby. The park is also an arboretum: Orton Bradley planted more than 160 exotic trees, some of them numbered, including home to one of the largest trees in New Zealand, while native plantings shelter a great variety of bird life. Wonderful old buildings, heritage tours, an on-site cafe, self-contained powered and unpowered camping, weddings and functions, school camps and outdoor education round out the offering. Entry is $5 per adult with children under 16 free, and the park is a dog-free zone with kennels available at the entrance booth.
On the southern shores of Lyttelton Harbour, a short drive around the bays from Christchurch, Orton Bradley Park spreads across 650 hectares of private farmland, forest and coastline. It opens its gates every day of the year, and it runs as a charitable trust under an act of parliament — a working farm that welcomes everyone. The park calls itself 'a place for all', and after a visit it is hard to argue.
The setting does a lot of the persuading. The park sits at Charteris Bay with the hills behind and the sea in front, and visitors regularly mention the sunsets. 'Beautiful surroundings, great walks and park for the kids,' wrote one. 'Wonderful old buildings and towering trees nestled in Charteris Bay with the hills behind and the sea in front. Well worth a visit.' Large open spaces invite a game of cricket or football, and a 9-hole golf course next door, plus tennis courts nearby, extend the options.
Walking and biking are the heart of a visit here. More than 25 kilometres of tracks wind through the property, catering for all ages and abilities. At the gentle end sits the famous Rhododendron Walk, a 20-minute wander that gives the park its floral fame. With more time to spare, the popular Waterfall Gully Track takes about two and a half hours, and longer routes continue beyond the park towards the DOC Packhorse Hut or up Mt Herbert. Cyclists are looked after too, with a number of short mountain bike tracks suitable for all members of the family.
Timing matters in spring: from August 17th to October 16th, lambing season closes the Waterfall, Magnificent Gully, Hunter's and Tablelands tracks so the farm's lambs get the best possible start in life. Every other track stays open, and the park encourages visitors to bring their boots and enjoy the good weather. Faulkners Track to Packhorse Hut and Gebbies Pass remains closed due to slips.
Orton Bradley Park is as much a garden as a farm. Orton Bradley himself planted more than 160 exotic trees, many still numbered today, and the property is home to one of the largest trees in New Zealand. Native plantings shelter a great variety of bird life, and the park shares a tree list and a guide to its native plants and birds for anyone keen to turn a stroll into a botany lesson. Wonderful old buildings add a heritage layer that can be explored through the park's heritage and tours programme.
Families, meanwhile, gravitate to the large children's adventure playground, complete with a flying fox, set beside a small stream where kids can paddle and play. Bring a picnic and the day is sorted — one reviewer took three generations up to the waterfall, played cricket and football, and finished with a picnic lunch by the river.
The Orton Bradley Cafe makes a natural rest stop, though it keeps seasonal hours — in winter it opens Thursdays from 10am to 12.30pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3.30pm, so check the cafe page before planning a coffee. Note that access beyond the cafe requires the park's entry fee.
Want to stay longer? Camping is now self-contained, with powered and unpowered sites serviced by the main toilet block. The park's advice is to bring a solar shower bag and use the shower cubicle in the toilet block for 'that little piece of camping luxury, a hot shower.' Campers expecting to arrive after the 5.30pm gate closing should get in touch first.
The park also hosts weddings and functions, birthday parties, school camps and outdoor education programmes, making it a genuine all-rounder for a day trip or a whole season of visits.
As a private park, entry carries a fee: $5 per adult, with children under 16 free. The money goes straight back into maintaining the tracks, buildings and other attractions. Regular visitors can become a 'Friend of the Park' for $50 a year, which covers unlimited family entry, a six-monthly newsletter and concessions to special events.
A few ground rules keep the place special. It is a dog-free zone — it is a working farm with many young children about — though kennels are available at the entrance booth. The park is open 8.30am to 5.30pm seven days, and gates are locked outside those hours, with a call-out fee possible if you overstay. Plan to be out before the gate closes, and the sunset is yours to enjoy on the drive home.