Driving from Kaiapoi to Woodend | Canterbury | New Zealand | 4K

Categories: Canterbury Region

Tags: canterbury, driving, kaiapoi, new zealand, woodend

Added: 2 years ago

Driving from Kaiapoi to Woodend, in the Canterbury region on the East Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Kaiapoi is one of the main towns in North Canterbury, north of Christchurch. Only a 15-minute drive from Christchurch, Kaiapoi is considered a dormitory suburb of Christchurch, offering great shopping and dining options. Located on the banks of the Kaiapoi River, the town has many aquatic, walking, and cycling activities for a fun day out.

The settlement began during the 1850s on Kaiapoi Island. Back then, this was in the middle of the Waimakariri Rivers's north and south branches. Subsequent river works since then have moved the river south of the town.

In the 1860s, Kaiapoi was a busy port with its waterways allowing cutters, schooners, or paddle steamers to service the needs of the early settlers. After the railway reached Kaiapoi in 1872, the port remained in intermittent use until 1967.

Kaiapoi was also once the site of a large Ngai Tahu trading pa, making the area significant to Maori. Historically, this was where Maori gathered and traded their resources from their kainga (village). It is possible to view the pa today as a succession of low grassy mounds. At the time, the pa had a population of around 5000.

Woodend is a small satellite town a short drive north of Christchurch and surrounded by farmland and lifestyle blocks. Pegasus and Waipara's vineyards are close by.

At Woodend Beach, you can relax on a wide-open sandy beach. Here you can walk, swim, or surf. There's also a playground, a picnic area for the family, and walking and cycling tracks to explore. The township also offers a range of eateries to satisfy your appetite.

The Tuhaitara Coast Park, which covers a 580-ha coastal area between the Waimakariri and Ashley Rivers, offers many walks and cycle trails to enjoy these scenic wetlands, sand dunes, and beaches.