Te Waoku Kahikatea is a native reserve on Radcliffe Road, Christchurch, along the Pūharakekenui-Styx River, rated 4.9 from 14 Google reviews. The Christchurch City Council website describes eight hectares of native forest and waterways on former farmland, with a two-kilometre walking track that loops through the reserve and past a rongoā (traditional Māori medicine) garden. Former farm sheds have been turned into an open-air classroom about waterways and biodiversity. There is on-site and street parking, and dogs must be on a leash at all times. Opening hours and booking do not apply, as it is a public reserve.
Native reserves are best enjoyed slowly, because wildlife such as birds, lizards and fish is easier to see when you are quiet. Keep dogs on a lead, as the council asks, to protect native animals. The track is easy and flat, but it crosses bridges and passes waterways, so stay on the path and keep children close to the water. Plan My Walk, from the NZ Mountain Safety Council, is a useful tool for checking the weather before you set out. Regulars often bring a journal or sketchbook to note what they see.
Te Waoku Kahikatea suits families, walkers and nature lovers who want a