The Groynes

The Groynes is a recreational area located in Northwood, Christchurch, New Zealand.

It is a great place for a family day out, with lots of walking tracks, fishing spots, picnic areas, and a large dog exercise park. The park is named after the large concrete blocks that jut out into the Otukaikino Creek. There are two main walking tracks in the park: the Otukaikino Track and the Waimairi Walkway. The Otukaikino Track is a long walk running from Belfast to Roto Kohatu lakes via the Groynes and Clearwater Resort. The Waimairi Walkway is currently closed during construction of the SH bypass.

Anglers can fish in the fishing and recreation lakes all year. However, the streams in the park are closed to fishing during spawning (April to October). All anglers need to have a fishing license available online from Fish and Game New Zealand. Licenses for children under 12 years old are free. The Groynes is also a great place for birdwatchers, with many species of duck including the New Zealand scaup and other birds including kingfishers, swallows, and pukekos.

There are multiple playgrounds throughout the Groynes with various equipment including a flying fox, bridge, multi-play structure, see-saw, slides, and swings. A new naturally inspired playground was installed on the western side of the reserve near the boatshed in 2016. Vehicle access to the Groynes will be limited to the South Bank Picnic and Playground Area until 13 October 2017. The rest of the Groynes can still be accessed via multiple footbridges. Please note that there are alternative pedestrian entrances at Clearwater Resort and Darroch Street Reserve, the latter offering a 40-minute walk that leads directly to the dog park. The park is open from 7.00 am each day. During daylight savings, it is open from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm, and for the rest of the year, it is open from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm.

In summary, The Groynes is a beautiful recreational area in Christchurch, New Zealand, with lots of activities for families, birdwatchers, and anglers. It is easily accessible and has multiple playgrounds and walking tracks.