Ngā Puna Wai Walk
Christchurch · Canterbury · Out & Back
This walk comes from licensed public walk data and is being progressively confirmed against the authorities. Signs on the day always win. Christchurch City Council’s own wording: “Christchurch City Council, Dog Control Policy 2025 (schedule, Nga Puna Wai and Canterbury Agricultural Park (Wigram East Retention Basin), Hillmorton): "The prohibited area covers the pond (which is unsuitable for recreational contact) and ecologically sensitive marginal plantings of wetland vegetation. Dogs must be on a leash on the walkway / boardwalk through this area. Dogs may be under effective control in the remainder of the retention basin". On this walk that bites for the roughly 570 m where the loop path crosses the Wigram East retention basin: keep to the walkway with the lead on, and keep the dog out of the pond and off the planted wetland margins”. Evidence: the rule-setter’s own published wording. How we check dog rules.
Good to know
Dogs are allowed here. Keep them on the lead, watch for ground-nesting birds and stock, and read the signs at the gate.
About Ngā Puna Wai Walk
This long track follows 5.8 km as an out-and-back, near Christchurch in Canterbury.
It sits at the easy end and barely climbs, and takes about 1–1.5 hr to walk.
The track takes in lakeside stretches, river frontage, big views, and wildflowers. Dogs are allowed here, on the lead. Walkers rate it 4.1 / 5 across 51 reviews.
