On-leadModerate
Waimakariri River & McLeans Forest Loop
Christchurch · Canterbury · Loop
↑ 18 m gain↓ 18 m descenthigh 58 msteepest 1 %
DISTANCE11.1 km
ASCENT18 m
DURATION2.5–3 hr
STEEPEST1 %
ROUTELoop
RATING · HIKERS 3.8 · 44
DOG EFFORT2.2 /5 paws
PARKING30 m away
Nearest emergency vetChristchurch After Hours Veterinary Centre, Christchurch
03 366 1052
The route
Good to know
On the lead here. Keep it to two metres or less and watch for ground-nesting birds, as on most NZ tracks.
River swim spotsForest shade
Check the water before the dog swims. Toxic algae blooms in NZ rivers and lakes can kill a dog within hours. Scan the LAWA water quality map in warm months and keep dogs away from dark slime on rocks.
About Waimakariri River & McLeans Forest Loop
This long track follows 11.1 km as a loop, near Christchurch in Canterbury.
Graded moderate, it climbs about 18 m overall, pitching up to 1 % at its steepest, and takes about 2.5–3 hr to walk.
Along the way there are native forest, river frontage, and wildflowers. Dogs are welcome here on the lead. Hikers rate it 3.8 / 5 across 44 reviews.