Come visit the recently enhanced Bailes Island. Nestled within the Waimakariri River Regional Park, the area has been transformed into an idyllic spot for recreation.

Its convenient car parking, variety of picnic areas, biodiversity plantings and shared tracks allow you to enjoy the space and explore the surrounding areas with ease – whether you’re settling beside the river or wandering along Templars Island Trails, connecting Ōtukaikino Stream through to McLeans Island. 

Bailes Island Picnic area is due to open on the 30th of October 2021. You can access it from the west end of Coutts Island Road.

The re-opening 

The newly enhanced Bailes Island picnic area.

Parks and forests team leader James Page, said he is looking forward to the Bailes Island area being re-opened.

“It’s a breath-taking space that I think the public will now be able to make the most of,” he said.

James said he’s grateful to the many groups who have helped plant in the wider area, assisting in the transformation.

“We’ve had many different groups and organisations give up their time including Sustainable Coastlines, Forest and Bird, Belfast Rotary, 360 Trail and many schools. 

“I’d like to give a special thank you to Ferndale School which has run its Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award there for the past four years, planting about six-thousand natives into the Sanctuary,” he said. 

James said the school’s ongoing support has been incredible.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary – the last remaining sizeable freshwater wetland in the lower Waimakariri River – is just beside Bailes Island and well worth a visit. More than 40 native plant species have been recorded in the wetland. It’s also an ideal habitat for the secretive bittern, marsh crake and spotted crake.