Baynons Brake

How to get there

Just a short drive from Christchurch, the Baynons Brake section of the Waimakariri River Regional Park near Clarkville extends along about five kilometres of river's edge land.

It is a valuable natural and recreation area where you can relax and enjoy a range of activities like horse riding, walking, picnicking and fishing. There is also a mountain bike link from the end of Baynons Road to the mountain bike track at Kaiapoi Island.

Mountain bikers, walkers and runners are reminded to keep off marked horse trails, which are for horses and their riders only. Access roads and stopbank tracks in the park are for shared use.

Park entrance is off Baynons Road in Clarkville. If you are heading north on the motorway, take the first off-ramp onto Tram Road, then turn left onto Heywards Road. Baynons Road is approximately four kilometres down Heywards Road.

Opening hours

• October to March: 7am to 10pm
• April to September: 7am to 7pm

Safety and visitor rule

• Dogs must be kept under effective control at all times.
• No barbecues are provided but visitors are welcome to bring their own, provided they are gas-only and used in areas clear of vegetation.
• Do not light fires. Dial 111 immediately if you see smoke or flames.

Park facilities and activities

Park facilities

• Float park area - with a central grassed oval for horse activities

• Sandpit for horses

• Carpark, separate from float park 

• Picnics - Several tables are available with hitching posts for horses

Park activities

• Horse riding - a 10km trail with access to the Waimakariri River. This one-directional trail meanders through mixed forest and caters to most riding abilities. Several horse styles along the track allow horse and rider to access the river.

• Mountain biking - a shared-use trail links from the end of Baynons Road downstream to Kaiapoi Island. Mountain bikes can be ridden in Baynons Brake but please keep off the horse trails.

• Fishing - salmon and trout can be found here but you must have a current fishing licence from Fish & Game New Zealand. A short trail from the public car park leads directly to the river.

• Walking/running/cycling - there are no formal tracks but walkers, runners, and cyclists are welcome. Horses have the right of way.

• Picnics - bring your own picnic and relax while hitching posts are provided for the horses.

History

The main purpose of Baynons Brake is to provide recreational horse riding opportunities but the wider habitat is gradually being enhanced with native plantings.

A section of the horse trail known as Baynons Bush is already home to native birds including pīwakawaka/fantail, korimako/bellbird, riroriro/grey warbler, and kōtare/kingfisher.

Unique riverbed birds such as the ngutuparore/wrybill, tarāpuka/black-billed gull, tarapirohe/black-fronted tern, and the pohowera/banded dotterel can also be found here.