Lake Coleridge Tail Race Walk

Short Walks

This is an excellent destination for a family with children, and a sturdy all-terrain-style pushchair can easily get to the cemetery section. There are stunning colour displays in Autumn.

Quick tips:

  • Dogs permitted on a leash 
  • Children and family friendly 
  • 5 to 30 minutes return  
  • 1 kilometre 
  • Low intensity walk 

Take a right turn into Kowhai Drive and walk to the end of the road to the gate marked Cemetery. A grass track leads from the gate down a path lined by huge pine and macrocarpa trees. After a few minutes you arrive at the cemetery. Here there is a tree that was struck by lightning in 2000 and a spot reputed to be a moa cooking site discovered in 1960. At the edge of the cemetery, there are spectacular vistas stretching up the valley to the head of the Rakaia River and the Alps. The track then turns back inland through stands of native trees, willows and other deciduous trees and follows the tailrace. The track is easy, wide and mostly flat. Finishing back at the Domain, there is also the option of going down to the river’s edge. This is an excellent destination for a family with children, and a sturdy all-terrain-style pushchair can easily get to the cemetery section. There are stunning colour displays in Autumn.

An information site with historical imagery is situated outside of the power station and provides interesting insights into the workings of the station as well as the village's history. Additional Information boards are situated at the old Post Office in the Village Green. 

Picnic spots and toilet facilities are available at the Lake Coleridge Domain.

This track is accessible all year round except in extreme weather.

Getting there:

Starting from Christchurch take SH73 to Darfield. Turn left into Bangor Road SH77. Follow the signs to Windwhistle and Lake Coleridge. At the intersection of Coleridge, Homestead and Hummocks Roads, the Dig Box corner, take Hummocks Rd which leads straight into the Village. Continue on to the Lake Coleridge Village Green and power station. There is an information site outside of the power station which provides interesting insights into the workings of the station and the Village's history.  The distance is approximately 125km and takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Picnic spots and toilet facilities are available at the Lake Coleridge Village Green.


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Opening Times

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week