Te Waoku Kapuka - Pick up Styx

A delightful urban loop just out of Belfast (Christchurch). Park up at the entrance on Guthries Road next to the Te Waoku Kapuka sign, then head in through the little gate and along beautiful native bush (regenerating and mature kahi). Keep running and cross an amazing bridge and into the Kaputahi Community Orchard.

Continue to the gate on Marshlands Road. Cross the road carefully and head into the little reserve on the other side which is the entrance to the Styx Loop Conservation Park Track. This track is a 2 km out-and-back walk along the river. Follow down this track and turn left at the round concrete stock water trough. Follow the track with the river on your right hand side through cool crisp regererating forest. When you get to the end turn around and come back to Marshlands Road.

Run back in to the orchard but stay right on a big grassy area and follow this down to the fenceline with the golf course on your right. If you look left you can pick up a nice gravel path that takes you back to the main track to Guthries Road, then dive in to the right and take an inner loop back to Guthries just to experience a little more of this lost enchanted forest in suburbia before you reach the car. There are several nice wooden seats and tables to relax on..then head back to your car.