Long Bay, Canterbury 7583

What you need to know:

  • 1.5 hour drive from Christchurch.
  • Variable walk length - 1 hour to half day walks.
  • 16 kilometres total length with bird life and waterfalls abound.
  • 20 tracks open to the public with some tracks winding through upper hills of the area.
  • Access by vehicle from Long Bay Road or on foot from Akaroa via Purple Peak Saddle.
  • Walk starts from the Reserve entrance off Long Bay Road, 15 minutes’ drive from Akaroa.
  • Regenerated and run by NZ botanist Hugh Wilson.
  • Dogs are not permitted. 
  • Warm clothing & sturdy footwear required – can get windy.
  • Walkable all year round except in extreme weather.

How to get there:
From Christchurch take State Highway 75 towards Akaroa. At Takamatua, turn left onto Long Bay Road.
Hinewai Reserve is about 5.4km up the road.

 

  • HINEWAI RESERVE

Hinewai Reserve

Explore Banks Peninsula’s largest reserve of land now regenerated as stunning native forest with sweeping views over the Otanerito valley.

Hinewai Reserve lies a short drive east of Akaroa and sprawls across more than 1250 hectares.

It is a forested conservation reserve that is privately-owned and managed by the Maurice White Native Forest Trust, but it welcomes visitors on foot year-round.

Encompassing valleys and ridges, streams and waterfalls, and a mosaic of established and regenerating native forest, Hinewai Reserve offers about 20km of sign-posted walking tracks and expansive views over the Pacific Ocean, Akaroa Harbour, the hills and bays of Banks Peninsula, and the distant Southern Alps.

The terrain is steep in places so you need to have a reasonable level of fitness, especially if you are planning to tackle one of the longer walks.

Entry into the reserve is free and maps of the walking tracks are usually available in the pamphlet boxes at the Visitors Centre and entry points to the reserve. Dogs are not allowed into the reserve.

About The Hinewai Reserve

Hinewai is an ecological restoration project on Banks Peninsula, privately owned and managed by the Maurice White Native Forest Trust, but freely open the public on foot.

Hinewai Reserve occupies 1250 hectares in the south-eastern corner of Banks Peninsula on the South Island’s east coast. The reserve lies east of the town of Akaroa.

Initially 109 hectares were purchased by the Maurice White Native Forest Trust in 1987. Since then the trust has greatly enlarged the reserve through the purchase of Ōtānerito Station in 1991 and through several subsequent additions. Since 2016 the trust has also looked after the adjacent 192 hectare Purple Peak Curry Reserve, after its purchase in that year by the New Zealand Native Forest Restoration Trust.

Location of HINEWAI RESERVE