Access

Currently there are a number of vehicle access points from the Main North Road and Kainga Road into Te Rauakaaka. However, when the area is developed the main entrance will be located off Kainga Road on the eastern side of the railway line.

Gate opening hours

When gates are installed later in 2010, the opening hours will be:
Winter: 7 am - 7 pm
Summer (daylight saving): 7 am - 10 pm

Things you can do...

 

 

 

Whites Crossing Picnic Ground
Whites Crossing runs from the western side of the Otukaikino Stream downstream to the Kainga Railway Bridge. It is an extremely popular destination for swimmers, anglers and visitors just wanting to interact with the river. Public toilets are not currently provided.

Kainga Beach
The focus for recreation at Kainga Beach will be on fishing, whitebaiting, the open grassland picnic areas and river margin. Cycle and walking tracks will link to upstream destinations and to areas outside the park including the Brooklands and Kainga villages. The section offers great river bird viewing and a variety of picnic settings. Public toilets are yet to be provided. Swimming below the railway bridge is not advised due to industrial discharge into the river from this point.


Te Rauakaaka Nature Reserve
Te Rauakaaka Nature Reserve runs from the eastern boundary of the Stewarts Gully Sailing Club lease downstream to Brooklands Lagoon. The area contains regionally-significant saltmarsh and freshwater wetland habitats. It is an integral part of the nationally significant Brooklands Lagoon wildlife habitat supporting populations of threatened swamp birds and waders. The area, when developed, will include self-guide walking trails, lookouts and bird hides.

At Te Rauakaaka you can...

    

History

Hori Kerei Taiaroa identified in 1880 this general vicinity of the Waimakariri south bank as Te Rauakaaka, a settlement and food production site. The food included aruhe (fernroot), eels, panako (sp.fern), duck (grey and paradise) and pora (turnip). Herries Beattie wrote the name Te Rau-a-Te-Kaka (the gathering or netting of Te Kaka – this personage was apparently named after the kaka parrot)”.

Today this area borders the communities of Kainga, Stewarts Gully and Brooklands.

Stewarts Gully derived its name from the Stewart family who arrived from Scotland in 1865 on the ship ‘British Empire’. The family ran a flax mill on the banks of the Waimakariri River, just about the site of the present railway bridge. A son, James, had a farm in the area and grew oats and barley.

The railway line between Christchurch and Kaiapoi was opened on 29 April 1872. The line crossed the Waimakariri River between Stewarts Gully on the south bank to near the site of today's Woodford Glen Speedway.

By the late 1800’s Stewarts Gully was a popular holiday resort and picnic spot for the people of Christchurch.

During WW2, the 1^st Battalion of the Canterbury Regiment commandeered Stewarts Gully as a training site for the defence of the coast from the threat of a Japanese invasion.

In those early post-war days there were many children who spent their time fishing, whitebaiting or shooting rabbits.

The Stewarts Gully Sailing Club was established in Andy Holland’s parents Bach in the summer of 1949/50.

The 1957 flood caused severe damage around Coutts Island, Kainga and Stewarts Gully with a number of houses being destroyed.

Today, dwelling numbers are restricted in and around the Kainga and Stewarts Gully communities, allowing them to retain their rural village atmosphere.

Remember

• River levels can rise rapidly
• You are advised not to swim in and around or below the Main North Road Bridges 
• Off-road driving and trailbiking are not permitted at Te Rauakaaka
• Road rules apply within the park
• Check the notice board at the park entrance for up-to-date information
• You can contact the park rangers on 03 353 9725.