North to the mouth of the Waimakariri River
The weekend after we returned from our camper van trip to the Catlin's I drove out to Spencer Park and went for a walk along the beach. Starting at Spencer Park Beach I walked out to the end of Brooklands Spit and the mouth of the Waimakariri River.
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| At the start of the walk at Spencer Park Beach |
This is only the third time I have ever trekked out to the end of Brooklands Spit and all up it is about a three hour return trip on foot. If you ride a bike it will take roughly an hour and a half but obviously this is only possible when the tide is out as you need to ride along the beach.
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| Looking north along Brooklands Spit |
The mouth of the Waimakariri River was lined by Anglers and 4 W/D enthusiast's who had driven along the beaches to gain access to the river.
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| Anglers at the Waimakariri River Mouth |
On the way back to Spencer Park I walked on the Waimakariri Walkway which goes along the Brooklands Lagoon side of the sand spit.
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| Jon in the pine forest on Brooklands Spit |
The Waimakariri Walkway follows an old 4 W/D track all the way back to Spencer Park alternating between pine forest and open grassland...
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| View south along Waimakariri Walkway |
The Walkway eventually leads you back to the carpark at the start of the walk. So...lets get walking and have a look at the Brooklands Spit...
Spencer Park to the Waimakariri River mouth:
This walk starts and finishes at the carpark at Spencer Park Beach just east of Spencer Park. The first section is along the beach so follow the track over the sand dunes to the beach and starting walking north along the tide line.
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| Carpark at the entrance to Spencer Park Beach |
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| Foot and vehicle access point at Spencer Park Beach |
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| View to Pegasus Bay, Spencer Park Beach |
From the beach at Spencer Park you can see south to the Port Hills and north along the coast to Kaikoura on a fine clear day.
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| Map: Brooklands Lagoon and Brooklands Spit |
The tide was fully out the day I walked the track so I had a wide expanse of beach to walk along.
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| View south from Spencer Park Beach entrance |
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| Access point at Spencer Park Beach |
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| View north along Brooklands Spit |
From Spencer Park it is approximately 4 kilometers to the mouth of the Waimakariri River at the end of Brooklands Spit. It takes about 1.5 hours to walk to the river or 45 minutes on a MTB.
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| ...it is 3 kilometers to the Waimakariri River mouth... |
The beach from Spencer Park to the end of the Spit is an unformed road so you will often see 4 W/D vehicles driving along it. Drivers are able to get a key to the locked gate at Spencer Park if they are accredited members of certain clubs. You can only drive a 4 W/D vehicle or motorbike along the beach as there are areas of soft sand.
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| 4 W/D vehicles on the beach, Brooklands Spit |
I headed along the beach with a strong wind blowing from the north so at one point I had to stop and don my jacket and put a merino hat on as I was getting too cold. It is only just heading into summer so although it was very sunny it is still cold walking along the coast...
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| The Port Hills are visible in the distance |
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| Wild surf on a windy Brooklands Spit |
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| Intermittent pine trees dot the Brooklands Spit |
There was a bit of snow on some of the higher peaks out on Banks Peninsula and it was clearly visible right along the walk.
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| Brooklands Spit...half way to the river |
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| Half way along Brooklands Spit |
Eventually you near the end of the Spit where there was a cordoned off area of beach. Several bird species nest at the end of Brookland Spit including the Banded Dotterel. The end of the spit is one of only three places Banded Dotterels nest in Canterbury so people and most importantly dogs are not allowed around their nests.
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| Bird nesting area at end of Brooklands Spit |
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| Banded Dotterels nest on Brooklands Spit |
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| Several bird species nest here, Brooklands Spit |
The Dotterels nest in the mess of driftwood above the high tide line...they are highly endangered and are a protected native species. Please stay out of the nesting area at all times.
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| ...the birds nest in piles of driftwood, Brooklands Spit... |
I had one final look up and down the coast from near the Waimakariri River mouth before heading along the northern end of spit towards the lagoon.
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| Looking south from the end of Brooklands Spit |
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| Pines mark the Waimakariri River and Pines Beach |
The mouth of the Waimakariri River at low tide is about 100 meters wide and there is a complex series of sand bars, channels and submerged sand flats here. The current here is very dangerous as the full force of the Waimakariri River flows out to sea between Brooklands Spit and Pines Beach.
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| Mouth of the Waimakariri River, Brooklands Spit |
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| Pine trees mark Pines Beach Settlement |
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| The river flows between Brooklands Spit and Pines Beach |
It was the last weekend of the Whitebait season the day I visited so there were many people fishing at the river mouth. Whitebait is the juvenile stage of several native fish species and they are a delicacy here in New Zealand. The usual form they are eaten is as a egg based fried patty on a slice of white buttered bread.
They are absolutely delicious and one of my favorite seasonal treats...
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| Whitebait fritter...yum!!! |
Other fish you can catch here include Kahawai, Red Cod, Ling and Mullet. Kahawai are great tasting fish and are enhanced by smoking or cooking on the barbeque. Salmon and Trout can also be caught here at certain times of the year.
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| The end of Brooklands Spit at the Waimakariri |
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| ...lots of fishing action happening at Brooklands Spit... |
On the other side of the Waimakariri River is the small settlement of Pines Beach. There are few houses at Pines Beach as most were destroyed by the Christchurch Earthquakes but there are still walking tracks, a surf club and a few off grid dwellings.
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| Anglers line both banks at the Waimakariri River mouth |
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| It was the end of the whitebait season at Brooklands Spit |
From the beach at the end of Brooklands Spit you can see north as far as Amberley and even the Kaikoura Peninsula. It was hazy the day I was there so I could only just make out the hills around Amberley.
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| Vague view of hills around Amberley in North Canterbury |
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| Pegasus Bay continues north past Pines Beach |
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| At low tide the Waimakariri River mouth is narrow |
From the end of the Spit you have two options for returning to Spencer Park. You can either walk back down the beach (which is the easier option) or follow the Waimakariri Walkway. The Waimakariri Walkway is an old 4 W/D track running down the spine of the spit.
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| Start of the Waimakariri Walkway at Brooklands Spit |
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| DOC sign at end of Brooklands Spit |
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| ...several bird species nest on Brooklands Spit... |
I walked back to the car along the Waimakariri Walkway as an alternate to beach walking and to get out of the cold wind. The Walkway is to a decent standard and alternates between Pine forest tracks and open areas. There are side tracks where you can go back to the beach or view portions of Brooklands Lagoon.
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| Start of the Waimakariri Walkway at Brooklands Spit |
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| There is a portable toilet at the end of the Waimakariri Walkway |
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| Last view of the Waimakariri River mouth |
The first part of the track is through the Pine forest and the track winds in and out of the trees as it heads back to the carpark. It is protected here with the trees providing shade and a wind barrier and it is a pleasant walking environment.
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| On the Waimakariri Walkway at Brooklands Spit |
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| The Waimakariri Walkway is marked with these posts |
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| The start of the Waimakariri Walkway is in pine forest |
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| Although sunny it was cold...Waimakariri Walkway |
It is a bit confusing down at this end of the Spit with a profusion of tracks heading in all directions. Just follow the marker posts along the old track and you should be fine.
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| Waimakariri Walkway heading to Brooklands Lagoon |
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| It was calm and shaded along the Waimakariri Walkway |
The Walkway starts out heading towards the Lagoon and I followed the track to a small beach looking out over the water. The lagoon reaches from here right back along the Spit to Spencer Park and is about a kilometer wide. The Styx, Kaiapoi and Waimakariri Rivers all flow into the lagoon...
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| Northern end of Brooklands Lagoon |
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| Old suburb of Brooklands is opposite Brooklands Spit |
I like this structure I found on the Brooklands Lagoon side of the Spit. It is an Anglers lair and had a flat board for a table, trees branches for seats and some overhead cover. Someone would have built it to provide some shelter while they had their Whitebait nets in the water.
Totally illegal of course but who is coming out here to smack them on the wrist...
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| Anglers structure at Brooklands Lagoon |
I totally lost the Walkway just past the Anglers hut...the track just disappeared. What I did was head east towards the ocean and after about 100 meters I walked out onto the track once again.
If you are on the walkway and get lost this is your best option because even if you do not find the track you can always walk back along the beach. you cannot walk along the side of Brooklands Lagoon as it is marshy mud flats.
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| Heading to Spencer Park on the Waimakariri Walkway |
The Brooklands side of the spit is all marshland with swampy areas, reeds and low grassland. The Lagoon is tidal so at high tide a lot of the land is under water.
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| Marshland lines the Waimakariri Walkway |
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| Easy to follow track on the Waimakariri Walkway |
There are a lot of open areas along the Walkway so make sure to bring a sun hat, sunglasses and sun screen as you will need all three. I had my jacket on for most of the day but I did cover my face, hands and neck with sun screen to stop getting burnt.
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| It is very sunny on Brooklands Spit |
At several points along the Walkway the track heads over to the beach side of the Spit and you can see out to Pegasus Bay and the beach.
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| Waimakariri Walkway...climbing a sandhill |
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| View of Pegasus Bay from the Waimakariri Walkway |
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| View north from the Waimakariri Walkway |
I ambled along the track heading south towards Spencer Park and enjoying the scenery as I went.
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| Mid reaches of Brooklands Lagoon from the Waimakariri Walkway |
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| Waimakariri Walkway...half way back to the carpark |
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| Flowers adore a sandhill, Waimakariri Walkway |
The last 1.5 kilometers of the Walkway are out in the open with only a few scattered trees. You have much wider views along here and you can see the Pine trees at Spencer Park growing ever closer with each step. Once past the half way point it us hard to lose the track as the Spit narrows and the open nature of land means you can see some distance.
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| The Waimakariri Walkway is an old 4 W/D track |
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| Harakeke along the Waimakariri Walkway |
Parts of this track are marked with Canterbury Regional Council track markers which are white & orange with a walking figure at the top.
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| Regional council track marker...Waimakariri Walkway |
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| Waimakariri Walkway: distant trees mark Spencer Park |
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| Southern end of Brooklands Lagoon |
I stopped at one point to have some lunch...I had stopped at a bakery on the way and had a sandwich, chips and a pastry to eat. I sat in the shade of some convenient trees and ate my lunch while listening to the birds.
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| Lunchtime on the Waimakariri Walkway |
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| View from my lunch spot...Waimakariri Walkway |
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| ...I ate lunch in the shade of some trees.... |
Just past my lunch stop there is a good view point and you can see the pine trees which mark the edge of Spencer Park about a kilometer away. You are nearly at the end of your walk...
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| View over Brooklands Lagoon to Spencer Park |
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| Waimakariri Walkway winds through pine trees |
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| Southern end of Brooklands Lagoon from Waimakariri Walkway |
There is not a lot of wildlife out on the Spit as it is a very harsh environment. You will sometimes see Seals and Sealions on the beaches and I have already mentioned the Dotterels.
You do see more wetland birds out in Brooklands Lagoon. There are a variety of bird species here including Pukeko, Ducks, Geese, Swans, Herons and various Seagulls. They live amongst the marshland plants and open grassland.
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| Pukeko on the margin of Brooklands Lagoon |
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| Marshland at head of Brooklands Lagoon |
There is an area of new native planting about 200 meters from the end of the Waimakariri Walkway and when you reach this point you know the end is near.
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| Waimakariri Walkway...some new planting |
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| Reforestation is happening along the Waimakariri Walkway |
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| Near the end of the Waimakariri Walkway |
The track takes you right to the edge of Spencer Park where you can join a new track heading around to the Park entrance. When you reach the junction shown below you turn left and head towards the carpark.
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| ...path to Spencer Park and the Adrenaline Forest... |
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| ...path to Spencer Park Beach... |
It is only a short distance from here to the end of the track back at the Spencer Park Beach access point. I was pleased to see the car park as my ankle was quite sore by this time and I needed to sit down. I seem to have pulled something in my foot and I am hobbling around at the moment as I wait for it to heal.
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| Back at the carpark for Spencer Park Beach |
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| ...nearly finished my walk along Brooklands Spit... |
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| End of my circuit around Brooklands Spit |
This is a very nice walk and one that more people should consider undertaking. I like the different types of terrain along the way and who doesn't like a relaxing walk along a sandy beach. I will be back along here some time in the future...
Access: Drive to Spencer Park about 10 kilometers north of Christchurch. Start from the carpark at the Spencer Park beach access. The trail section starts from a set of signs at the carpark and heads north along the beach. The Waimakariri Walkway runs down the Brooklands Lagoon side of the Spit and back to the carpark.
Track Times: It is approximately 8 kilometers return....1-1.5 hours to the Waimakariri River mouth, same return to Spencer Park
Miscellaneous: This whole section backs onto Brooklands Lagoon. It is exposed to sun and wind so be prepared. No potable water or toilets except at the track ends. Waking along Pegasus Bay is best undertaken at low tide.
You Tube link: Brooklands Spit
