Heathcote River

About this ride

This is a quiet scenic riverside ride from Centennial Park to the estuary at Ferrymead Bridge. Some of the lower sections are more suitable for a mountain bike.

• Start at the Centennial Park path near the junction of Sparks Road and Waimokihi Road
• Follow the path through Centennial Park to Rose Street
• Cross onto Palmside Street
• Turn right at the end of Palmside Street onto Woodbank Street
• Turn left into Ferniehurst Street
• At the end of Ferniehurst Street either turn left into Ashgrove Terrace or cross the bridge and turn left onto the path
• Follow Ashgrove Terrace or the path down to the footbridge near the Cashmere High School entrance
• Leave the path and join Ashgrove Terrace and follow the river
• Use the crossing refuge at Barrington Street if necessary
• At Studholme Street choose to join route 22 (Somerfield to the City)
• At the end of Ashgrove Terrace cross Colombo Street
• Follow Waimea Terrace, which becomes Eastern Terrace
• (You can take a short cut across Beckhenham Loop using Malcolm Terrace)
• At the end of Eastern Terrace cross Waltham Road
• Take particular care crossing Waltham Road as there is a blind corner on the right
• Across the road on Fifield Terrace choose to connect with route 21 (Waltham to City)
• Follow Fifield Terrace to the end and pick up the path that follows the river and carries on through Hansen Park
• Arrive at Louisson Street and turn right at the children's library and cross the footbridge
• Turn left at the end and follow the cycle lane on Aynsley Terrace
• Turn right just before the bridge
• Follow Aynsley Terrace down the right side of the river
• Turn right onto Sheldon Street
• At the end of Sheldon Street cross Radley Street to the right
• Pick up the path that follows east along the Woolston loop of the river
• This is up-river rather than down river because of the loop
• At the end of the path cross the river either by the footbridge slightly upriver or by turning right and crossing another footbridge
• Turn left over the Woolston Barrage
• Turn right onto the path on the true left of the river and follow this down the Woolston Cut
• Cross Rutherford Street
• Follow the sealed path, and then an informal path, down river to the Tunnel Road (motorway) bridge
• Its not recommended to use this informal path after wet weather or if on a road bike
• At the bridge either use the underpass if the tide is low
• This can be muddy and do not use if tide is high
• Or walk up to the road and cross at the grassed traffic island before the roundabout
• Pick up the unsealed path on the other side of the roundabout and cross the small bridge
• Follow the path along the river to Ferrymead Bridge
• Watch for sharp corners, slow down and give a warning before you take them. A mountain bike is better on this section
• At Ferrymead Bridge choose to join route 1 (Sumner to City)
• Or choose to join route 18 (Estuary to City)
• Or cross the bridge and take the St Andrews Hill route to Summit Road