Rakaia Hutt to Timaru South Island Canterbury Region 2022

Rakaia Hutt to Timaru

Canterbury Region South Island

New Zealand

2022

Rakaia Huts

Rakaia Huts Campground

Rakaia Huts Campground, $15 per site on power, $10 non-power, dog and wi-fi ok although a little slow.

All the facilities we needed including a hot shower for $1-6mins. Plenty of sites available at this time of the year in August, not sure when whitebait season starts though.

Google view of the camp

Rakaia Huts Camp to the River Mouth Hike

Great hike along a stone beach best done on an outgoing tide and a clear sunny day. The views are glorious from the river mouth.

The Rakaia River makes this lagoon between the camp and the sea, there is a track around the end that got us down onto the beach.

Man and his dog

The stones between the sea and the river

The beach drops down very fast and the waves were breaking over what seemed like the edge of a drop-off

Great views from the river mouth especially with the snow on the peaks

River and sea side by side, we walked down by the waves and often got chased up by the incoming tide.

Zoomed in and was surprised to see the birds in the photo

Frog

The river mouth with the breakers

Looking up the river

Out & back, it looks like we are walking in the sea but it is between the river and the seashore.

Rakaia Huts Walk

Boat Creek Reserve

This is a short walk starting to the right of the boat ramp and meandering around the track made by the locals.

This sign is where we came out of the reserve up the road from the boat ramp

Boat ramp to the river beside the camp

The locals have put in a big effort to plant and maintain the reserve

The first bridge over the creek into the unplanted area

Resting place

Walk the plant

Frog crossing a log bridge

The water is so clear

After the walk, we drove to the south bank to camp for the night

Rakaia Huts Reserve

South Bank

Stayed here for one night there is a toilet, dogs ok, no wi-fi or Vodafone cell, $5 per night donation.

A bit tricky to find, we keep following the signs to we came to the toilets

Iron Maiden

Locally crafted seat out of stone

Hike from camp to the south side river mouth

The waves were pounding today it was so cool to watch.

South side of the Rakaia River Mouth

Out & back

Hakatere Reserve

We went here to stay a night at Hakatere Campground, we took a few photos and then left the stink from the pig farm made me feel sick. I recommend going out for a look but we stayed in Ashburton.

The mouth of the Ashburton River at Hakatere

The road has fallen into the river

Ashburton

Robbie Hewitt Park Over Property

Local to town with good access $10 per vehicle per night powered site. $5 per night non-power. Dog-friendly, wi-fi ok.

Ashburton

Lake Hood Trail

This trail starts over the bridge on the south end of town parking is on the right-hand side, and then we walked under the bridge.

We walked as far as Boundary Road and then returned

Ashburton train and road bridges

Not sure what the trees are

Muddy in places from the recent flooding

There had been heaps of damage from flooding that had just been cleaned up

we could see the height of the flood by the debris still in the trees

Out & back

Ashburton

Lake Hood Trail

From Lake Hood to Boundry Road, completed the Lake Hood Trail from yesterday's hike. We included a sidewalk along a track to the Lake spillway.

This track is covered with native clematis and would look stunning in spring

Out & back

Lake Hood Walk

Interesting walking around Lake Hood, most of it has a cycle/walkway that has been donated by local residents and businesses. It was foggy today looking at the houses and the lake's sports facilities including rowing, skiing and sailing.

Lake Hood

Rowing racing lanes

Looking from the back of the lake to the snow-covered

mountains it would be an amazing view on a clear sunny day

Lake spillway

Boat ramp information

Boat ramp where we parked to start the walk around the lake

Walk around Lake Hood

Ashton Beach

After we walked around Lake Hood, we drove out to Ashton beach along muddy gravel roads only to find the beach road closed so we couldn't get to see the beach.

The farmland out there is beautiful and the closer we got to the coast the thicker the fog, it was midday and didn't look like it was going to lift all day. So pleased we didn't do this in the motorhome as Jimny needed to go through the car wash when we got back to town.

Before we moved to Timaru we used the BP self-service vehicle wash for the motorhome, nice to be clean again even though it won't last long with the wet roads.

Timaru

Par Lap Raceway

With the weather so unstable we found a spot on the hard for $10 unpowered per night, pet friendly, wi-fi ok.

We have done a lot in previous years staying FC at Caroline Bay, so we will need to research for some more to see.

Timaru

Saltwater Creek to Centennial Park

We were able to extend the walk turning around at the lake in Centennial Park

This bridge is where the walk ends but we found another track 200mtr up the road

Muddy looking creek

Out & back

Timaru

Otipua Wetlands Walk

We started the walk on the Saltwater Creek Walkway entrance opposite SH1 to yesterday's walk. We walked to Patiti Point Reserve and then turned around to include the wetlands on the walk back.

Walk entrance

Started off the same as yesterday

We got to the beach

Walked along the beach the track at the top was signed as closed

Patiti Point Reserve Whale Pot

Timaru Cemetery

This bridge takes the walk to the wetlands side of the creek

Frog sculpture

Otipua Wetlands

Loop Walk

Timaru

Tuhawaiki Walkway

This is an easy and enjoyable 5km out-and-back walk but as usual, we looked for a longer hike taking it up to 9kms. Great views with no wind on the day we did it.