Planning a trip to one of Canterbury's rivers, lakes or coastal areas? Find out where the access points are and what you can expect when you get there.

Our interactiverecreational access map can help you explore our beautiful region and decide which publicly accessible site best suits your chosen activity. We have information available on more than 1,000 sites, stretching the entire length of the region.

If you're planning a recreational activity like kayaking, hunting, fishing or rafting, you can use the map to find the best access points for the site you are headed to and information about the conditions to expect when you arrive.

The details you need to plan your trip

The information on each site includes:

  • accessibility (e.g. vehicle or pedestrian), terrain and any obstacles present
  • public facilities such as toilets, boat ramps or play equipment
  • key features
  • links to summer recreation water quality results (where available)
  • a photo of the location.

All the sites are accessible to the public without the need for the landowner’s permission.

How to use this map?

  • click on a marker to see information about specific sites
  • use the search bar to input a site name or location 
  • zoom in and out using the + and - buttons on your mouse scroll wheel to adjust the map's zoom level
  • click and drag the map to move around.

Publicly accessible river, lakes and coastal site map

Responsibility, respect and safety outdoors

We are committed to providing this information in the context of responsible use and behaviour in the outdoors.

The Walking Access Commission provides achecklist of access rights and responsibilities, which covers topics such as dogs, vehicles, fire risk, caring for the environment and Māori land.

Broadly, it is about being responsible through:

  • taking responsibility for your actions
  • following any advice or guidance offered
  • being considerate and respecting the interests of other people
  • caring for the environment
  • seeking permission for access to private or Māori land
  • earning and respecting the tikanga Māori so that behaviour does not cause cultural offence
  • getting the correct permits for hunting and fishing.

There is also useful information on the Department of Conservation's website on:

More information

For more, visit theOutdoor Access Code pages on the Walking Access website.

Please note every effort is made to identify and verify public access sites through site visits and checking the data using maps, plans and the digital cadastral database (DCDB). As such, the information on the map is accurate at the time of the survey and may change over time.

If you have any feedback on any aspect of the sites or would like more information about the project, pleasecontact us via advisory services or call0800 324 636.