Te Ara Ōtākaro Avon River Trail is a riverside walking track in Christchurch's east, threading through Aranui towards New Brighton. Reviewers rate it five stars; one describes a 1.5-hour ride each way between Templar St and Bridge St, finding the start the best part as the river winds through wetlands towards the estuary.
Riverside trails like this are usually flat and shared, so expect cyclists alongside walkers and keep left where the path narrows. Such corridors often cross reserve land with few shops, so carry water. Birdlife is the drawcard near an estuary — herons, pūkeko and, in season, migratory waders on the mudflats — and paths through wetland reserves tend to be unlit, so morning is the regulars' pick.
For an easy outing on Christchurch's seaward side, this trail pairs river, wetland and estuary before finishing near the New Brighton shore.