The Avon River / Ōtākaro begins at a spring source in Avonhead on the northwest side of Christchurch / Ōtautahi. It flows out to the sea through the Estuary of the Heathcote and Avon Rivers / Ihutai. On the way, it snakes through Central Christchurch, a major feature for locals and tourists. Commercial punting is popular in several locations, and kayaks and pedal boats can be rented from the Antigua Boat Sheds. Much of the river has adjacent pathways, and you can walk or cycle from Hagley Park to New Brighton on the Pacific coast.
Māori named the river Ōtākaro, meaning “place to play”. In 1848, John Deans renamed it the Avon after a river in Scotland. The name was officially changed to Avon River / Ōtākaro as part of the Ngāi Tahu 1988 treaty settlement.
Walking the river is an excellent option for exploring the central city. The river and pathways pass through Hagley Park, following the Botanic Gardens River Walk, the Hagley River Walk, Little Hagley Walk, and Millbrook Reserve Walk, with beautiful park and garden scenery throughout the year. You can also visit Mona Vale Garden Park, near the northwest corner of Hagley Park.
For a half-day downtown experience, start at the river entrance to the Botanic Gardens, where Rolleston Ave connects to Cashel Street. From there, you can follow Cambridge Terrace on the north side of Oxford Terrace on the south, with bridges providing several options for backtracking. Highlights on the Oxford side, from west to east, include the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial, the Bridge of Remembrance, the Terraced Seating and nearby cafes and restaurants, Robert Falcon Scott and Kate Shepard Memorials, Te Pae, Victoria Square and the Margaret Mahy Family Playground.
Cambridge side highlights include the Henry James Nicolas Statue, the Ngāi Tahu Trails walkway, the town hall and Ferrier Fountain, the Otakaro Orchard, the simple memorial to those who died in the PGC building collapse in the February 2011 earthquake, the Edmond Rotunda and Airborn Paddle Hire. Nearby, a panel notes the 100-year debate about native versus exotic plants in the Garden City! Regardless of the plant choices, this walk is NZ's best city river walk.
The river continues beyond Margaret Mahy Family Playground and is primarily surrounded by suburban red zones as it leaves the central city. These were areas where the ground was subject to liquefaction by the 2010 earthquakes, rendering it unsafe and uninsurable for building. You can follow the river to see how these areas have transformed into parkland, with some community gardens. The Avon-Ōtākaro Network manages these projects, and along the route, there are storyboards describing the impact of the earthquakes. Fishing for trout is also an option in the river.
