Cracroft Wetlands, Canterbury, New Zealand - Trail Running Directory - Wild Things

Last Updated: 23rd May 2026

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Cracroft Wetlands

Exploring the trails meandering through the Cracroft stormwater retention facility, where ecological restoration is underway.

Submitted by Alice Talbot

Last Updated: 23rd May 2026

Beginner

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Grunt Factor: 3 ?

Gnarl Factor: 1 ?

6.5km

40m

40m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

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Type of Run

Urban

Loop

Totally/mostly flat

Dog Friendly

Plantation/exotic forest

Riverside

Open tussock/grasslands

Run Makeup

15%
85%

Sealed Road

Gravel / Boardwalk

Average Uphill Gradient: +1.20%

Average Downhill Gradient: -1.10%

Garmin Course

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Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

00:55

Slow

00:40

Moderate

00:30

Fast

Start at the Old Stone House on Shalamar Drive. Head down the steps and around the house into the cul de sac, turning left onto Worsleys Road.

Enter the wetlands just past the dam gate and join the old road that was the main entry to the valley before the stormwater retention facility and Cashmere Estate subdivision were constructed. Hang a left to meander around a couple of ponds before continuing on around the edge of the wetlands, detouring around another pond on the way. Turn right near the entrance to the Adventure Park onto the paved footpath.

At the roundabout duck back into the wetlands. From here you're meandering around the trails, with brief stretches on the old access road and further detours around two more ponds. Jump back onto the Worsleys Rd footpath briefly before nipping back into the wetlands for one last bit of gravel trail.

Cross the road near the dam gates where you came in and turn left along the road to join the Cashmere Stream Esplanade path, which winds around behind the houses.

Cross the road again and turn left before joining the streamside path which runs through a pretty woodland. This joins Cashmere Road - turn right, cross the bridge and right again into Shalamar Drive and back to the Old Stone House.

There is active ecological restoration underway in the wetlands and there is also cultural history along the route.

If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.

Plenty of parking at the Old Stone House.

6 km

17 minutes

Yes

No

Easy.

Perfect throughout.

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Trail Legend

Alice Talbot

Alice Talbot

has completed Cracroft Wetlands once in the last year.

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Overlapping Trails

These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.

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