Summer wanderings around Halswell

By Chrys Horn

Halswell is blessed by a great range of walks and some great green spaces where you can walk, bike or just hang out, catch up with friend or read a book.
This article highlights a few that might help you get out this summer  (and beyond).

Check out this little known gem in Sabys Rd.  It was the subject of a blog post in 2015 but still there, still the same and it is easy to get to by bike. 

You might also like to look at this Blog post to check out some other options that have already been discussed on this Blog

We have two newly developed wetland areas that are well worth a wander or a bikeride:  

One in Quaifes Road near to where Murphys Road meets it.  There are some lovely plantings in there and some good springs that feed into Knights Stream and eventually into the Hurutini/ Halswell River. This area connects nicely with the green space and water storage area near Longhurst which connects further to greenspace in Longhurst itself.  This means you can walk a good long way in pleasant surroundings and have a coffee in Longhurst to finish it off.  

The second is on the Corner of Hendersons and Sparks Roads.  It is easy to get to using the bike path from Te Hapua which takes you up the side of Sparks Road. 

Of course many will already know about the tracks around the Quarry and the lakes in that area.  It is a popular asset for Halswell and offers great walking, picnicking and coffee. 

If you are looking for something a little more challenging, walking up Kennedys Bush track to the Summit road and on to Kennedys Bush itself,  is a great thing to do and can fill up a good part of the day.  If you choose to take lunch, and there are great views from the top and you can wander all the way along the Summit Road.  
Tracks to the right take you to Ahuriri Bush, while tracks to the left can take you as far as Lyttelton or even Godley Heads, if you want a good day's walk and can organise transport back (buses are a good option from Lyttelton). For fit people or people on bikes who are going a bit faster it is quite possible to walk to Lyttelton and back in a longish day.  Biking also is a great thing to do via Kennedys Bush Track and you can go for miles once you are at the top.  The article above also makes some observations and suggestions re this route. 

There are some wonderful walks around Aidanfield and you can walk quite a way down the greenspace of the upper Heathcote starting in Wigram coming under the motorway into Aidanfield and following along the river.  Across Aidanfield Drive a track takes you along the river next to the School and onto the tracks in Canterbury Park and through to Curletts Road.  

Happy walking and biking!