Boat Ramps
Public boat launching ramps are located at the Kairaki Beach settlement (end of Featherstone Ave) close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and at Askeaton Park (end of Hall Street, Kaiapoi) near the mouth of the Kaiapoi River.
Beach Access
A large sweep of Pegasus Bay coastline
passes through Waimakariri District. At the southern end is the
Waimakariri River, completing its long journey from the Southern Alps.
To the north is the Ashley-Rakahuri River mouth and estuary.
When
heading to the coast, there are a number of settlements providing road
access to the beach. The Kairaki and Pines Beach communities link to
coastal car parks and beach sites close to the mouth of the Waimakariri
River. Further north, roads lead out to Woodend Beach and the coastal
dune area beyond Pegasus Town. Waikuku Beach settlement is the gateway
to the Waikuku Beach Surf Life Saving Club swimming beach and the
Ashley-Rakahuri River mouth and estuary area. Surf Life Saving crews
patrol at Waikuku, and also cover Woodend Beach and Pines Beach during
the peak summer season. The public are advised to swim at these
locations.
For those wishing to ride and train horses on the
beach, there are horse float parking areas provided at the end of Ferry
Road in Woodend Beach, and at the southern end of Waikuku Beach
settlement, off Reserve Road.
For information on the Waimakariri
District Council Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2010, and management of
motor vehicle, horse and foot traffic on District beaches, please see our Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2010 Background page.
Whitebaiting Beach Access Permits
See the Fishing and Whitebaiting page for information on permits for beach access during the whitebaiting season.
Rivers
Rivers in the Waimakariri District come under the jurisdiction of Environment Canterbury. See its website for more information on river flows, water quality and recreational use of these areas.
Kaiapoi Wharf
The historic Kaiapoi Wharf area suffered extensive damage in the 2010 Canterbury Earthquake. Investigations and consultation are being carried out to decide on its future redevelopment. As a result, the booking of new berths at the wharf is suspended until further notice.
The wharf site is an important historic landmark in Kaiapoi. It is a remnant of the once-thriving port established to serve early European settlers when Kaiapoi township was first established in the mid-1800s. Coastal trading ships carried exports of wool, grain and other produce to larger ports, and also brought vital supplies to the growing settlement.
Use of the port peaked in the early 1900s, but then declined with the advent of a growing rail system and Kaiapoi River’s inability to accommodate larger ships. The schooner, MV Tuhoe, was the last coastal trading vessel in service. Built in 1919, it has recently been restored, and continues to berth at the wharf and ply the river as a historical local attraction.