Christchurch – Little River rail trail

The Christchurch to Little River Rail Trail is a cycle and walkway from Cathedral Square and Hornby to Little River. The route follows much of the Little River Branch railway line which operated from 1875 until 1967, providing a vital means for farmers to get stock and produce to market. The trail passes through rural areas and settlements on the Canterbury Plains, skirts past the massive flanks of the ancient volcanoes which make up Banks Peninsula, and hugs the shoreline of a Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. This is New Zealand’s 5th largest lake, its largest coastal lagoon, an internationally recognised wetland, home to 167 species of birds and 40 generations of human history.

Little River – Birdlings Flat

An easy trail that is just under 10 kilometers, it starts from the old railway embankment at the old Little River Railway Station.

There are toilets at Catons Bay and in the Little River township.