Waka on Avon is bringing traditional Māori waka (canoe) back to the Ōtākaro Avon River in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch. For many years no waka touched these waters; this small, proudly local crew exists to change that — restoring the river as a place of movement, connection and story, just as it was for Ngāi Tahu long before the city grew up around it.
From their base at 794 Colombo Street, opposite Victoria Square and right on Stop 17 of the Christchurch tram line, local Ngāi Tūāhuriri kaiārahi (guides) share a living history where the stories of the past walk beside the present. Visitors can paddle a handcrafted waka along the calm, shallow river, join the Te Ara guided walking tour along the bank, or taste their way through a Mahika Kai (traditional food) experience — each one rooted in the cultural significance of the waterway and the shared histories that shaped the city.
Led by founder and Cultural Director Dave Brennan, a Ngāi Tūāhuriri representative, the team blends guides whose whakapapa ties them to this whenua with guides from around the motu who now call Ōtautahi home. Their mahi has been recognised with finalist placings in the Toroa ā-uta, Toroa ā-tai Māori and Innovation categories at the 2026 New Zealand Tourism Awards.
Whether you're ticking off the top things to see and do in Christchurch or looking for something deeper, Waka on Avon offers a real connection to the city's living cultural heritage — with two 14-seater waka carrying up to 28 paddlers per tour, no special fitness required, and a warm welcome: arrive as strangers, leave as whānau.
In the middle of Christchurch — five minutes from the city's cafés, shopping and Riverside Market — something quietly significant is happening on the water. Waka (canoe) are back on the Ōtākaro Avon River, and Waka on Avon is the crew behind their return.
The kaupapa is simple: bring the Ōtākaro Avon back to its original purpose. For many years, no waka touched these waters. Waka on Avon exists to change that, restoring the river as a place of movement, connection and story, just as it was for Ngāi Tahu long before the city grew up around it. Waka have been paddled here since as far back as the 1700s, and in Christchurch's early days — before roads and when much of the landscape was swamp — the river carried trading goods and equipment for Māori and early settlers alike.
Today, that same stretch of river carries visitors through two histories at once: the deep, ongoing story of Ngāi Tahu and the Ōtākaro, and the shared, tangled history of early European settlement that shaped Ōtautahi. Choose from four experiences. The **Manaaki Waka** is a 75-minute cultural paddle; the **Kaitiaki Waka** is a shorter 45-minute session with a wellbeing focus; the **Te Ara Walking Tour** is a 60-minute guided walk of discovery; and the **Mahika Kai Experience** combines waka, walk and a traditional kai (food) tasting over 90 minutes.
You don't just see the city — you hear it, through the stories of the people who have called this river home for generations. Reviews consistently name the guides as the highlight: knowledgeable, funny and generous with their stories of Māori history, culture and language, often punctuated by traditional waiata as you drift between short stretches of paddling. The river is shallow and calm, and you only paddle a few minutes at a time — travellers describe it as relaxed, safe and completely beginner-friendly.
Every experience is shaped by local Ngāi Tūāhuriri kaiārahi (guides), alongside guides from around the motu who now call Ōtautahi home. Leading the way is Dave Brennan, founder and Cultural Director and a Ngāi Tūāhuriri representative. He speaks of the waka's spiritual significance, describing the taurapa (stern post) as "the life of the waka" — off the water, the vessels are simply sleeping, returning to "the land of the living" once back on the river.
The team's mahi has been recognised with finalist placings in the Toroa ā-uta, Toroa ā-tai Māori and Innovation categories at the 2026 New Zealand Tourism Awards, and the operation carries Qualmark and Tiaki Promise affiliations. Two handcrafted 14-seater waka mean up to 28 guests can paddle per tour, with a minimum of four needed for a waka tour to run.
Everything departs from 794 Colombo Street, opposite Victoria Square — Stop 17 on the Christchurch tram line. No special fitness is required; experiences are designed for a wide range of ages and abilities, and guides support you throughout. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suited to the day's weather, and know that light rain won't stop the paddle, though severe weather may require changes or cancellations for safety.
Booking is risk-free thanks to a 100% refund guarantee: cancel at least 24 hours before your paddle for a full refund, and if a tour can't go ahead due to weather or low numbers, you'll be refunded or rebooked. If the time you want isn't listed, email [email protected] and the team will do their best to accommodate you.
For visitors and locals alike, it's become one of Christchurch's most meaningful cultural experiences — as one reviewer put it, a must-do in Ōtautahi. Arrive as strangers, leave as whānau.