Last updated October 2026
The Ōtūkaikino Walk is a flat 30-minute loop around a spring-fed wetland on the northern edge of Christchurch, near Belfast. It starts from the car park at 985 Main North Road and is graded Easiest by DOC, with a surface suited to strollers.
Along the way you pass interpretation panels, seats and a raised lookout over the wetland, where you may spot pūkeko, grey teal and fantails.
The reserve has been restored as a living memorial since 1992. It is about 11 km from central Christchurch. When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC’s track page said: “The boardwalk is closed due to land changes caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Use the available track instead.”
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Ōtūkaikino Walk on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOCTrack facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.
Practical Information
- Start
- Car park, 985 Main North Road, Belfast
- Distance from the city
- About 11 km from Christchurch
- Walking time
- 30 min
- Track length
- 1.2 km
- Grade
- Easiest
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Surface
- About 60% gravel and 40% grass (DOC)
- Facilities
- Toilet near the car park, grass picnic area
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Partly closed when checked on 18 October 2026 (boardwalk closed since the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes; use the available track). Check DOC before you go.
About Ōtūkaikino Walk
Ōtūkaikino is a 13-hectare freshwater wetland reserve within the city, inside the Ōtūkaikino Wildlife Management Reserve. From the car park the track crosses a bridge over a stream, then loops around the outside of the wetland before returning to the start.
The bridge is a good place to look for life in the water. DOC lists short- and long-finned eels (tuna), common bullies, native snails (pūpū), juvenile native fish and aquatic insects in the wetland’s spring-fed waters. Wetland plant life is dominated by raupō, toetoe, tall tussock sedges (pukio) and kiokio fern.
Birds seen here include pūkeko, mallards, shoveller (kuruwhengu), grey teal (tētē), fantail (pīwakawaka) and scaup (pāpango). The marsh crake (koitareke) and the Australasian bittern (matuku-hūrepo) are also sometimes seen.
DOC says the flat track is suitable for strollers. Seats along the loop and the raised lookout give you places to stop and watch.
A Living Memorial
The wetland has been restored as a living memorial since 1992, in a long-term joint venture between DOC and Lamb and Hayward.
DOC describes the wetland as a wai tapu site, which is why dogs are not allowed and why eating is not permitted in the wetland area beyond the bridges. Picnics are welcome on the grass area beside the car park.
Track Conditions and Opening Hours
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC’s track page said “The boardwalk is closed due to land changes caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes”, so use the available track instead. There was no DOC alert for the track at that time. The reserve gate closes each night at 6 pm.
In DOC’s words, “The site is still open, but visitors after hours will need to park on the roadside”, using the pedestrian access around the gate. There may be wet and muddy patches depending on the ground, and DOC says young children must be supervised at all times because the track crosses ponds and runs near a stream. Check DOC before you go.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Ōtūkaikino Walk: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Lamb and Hayward: Ōtūkaikino: background on the living memorial restoration project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Ōtūkaikino Walk take?
About 30 minutes for the loop.
Is it suitable for strollers and wheelchairs?
DOC lists it as a wheelchair accessible short walk. It is flat and suitable for strollers, with a surface of about 60% gravel and 40% grass, and the picnic area is suitable for wheelchairs. Muddy patches can form in wet conditions.
Can I take my dog?
No dogs. DOC describes the wetland as a wai tapu site.
Where do I park?
At the reserve car park off Main North Road, Belfast. The gate closes at 6 pm, after which you need to park on the roadside.
Is the boardwalk open?
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC’s track page said the boardwalk is closed because of land changes from the 2011 earthquakes, and the rest of the track was open with no DOC alert. Check DOC before you go.
Are there toilets?
Yes, DOC notes a toilet near the car park.
What wildlife can I see?
Wetland birds such as pūkeko, grey teal and fantails, and eels and native fish in the streams.
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