Getting there
The main entrance and car park is off Cashmere Road but there are additional entrances further along Cashmere Road, as well as off Sparks and Sutherlands Roads.
Metroinfo(external link)(external link) has up-to-date bus information.
Opening hours and gates
The car park gates are open between 7.30am and 9pm during daylight saving time, and from 7.30am to 7pm for the rest of the year.
Ring Christchurch City Council on 0800 800 169 or 941 8999 to release locked in vehicles at owner's expense.
Facilities
There are no public toilets at Te Kuru. The closest are Halswell Domain and Halswell Quarry Park.
Dogs
Dogs under effective control are allowed in the reserve.
Because of the high numbers of wetland birds, we do encourage you to leash your furry friend to avoid disturbing our native and sometimes threatened species.
Walking and cycling
Walking and cycling is encouraged on the myriad of tracks and boardwalk at Te Kuru.
As the paths are shared, please take care and mind other users.
Cyclists should note that dogs are allowed off leash in the reserve and may need to take extra care when passing dog walkers.
Sometimes tracks may be underwater following heavy rainfall events. This is just part of how the stormwater retention facility works and the water will subside in due course.
Te Kuru is primarily a stormwater facility, designed to capture and treat floodwater before it is slowly released to rivers and streams.
The basins in the reserve can hold one million cubic metres of floodwater during major rain events, which hugely reduces the risk of downstream flooding in the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River.
The stormwater in Te Kuru may contain pollution and toxic algae so please keep yourself and dogs out of the water.
Read more about Te Kuru as a stormwater facility.
The wetland environment at Te Kuru attracts numerous native bird species such as pukeko, poaka/pied stilt and warou/welcome swallow. There are also more than 800,000 new native plants and trees on site.
You can help to protect the native plants and wildlife in the wetland by sticking to the existing tracks and observing wildlife from the edges.
Dogs are welcome to be off leash and under control in the wetland reserve but if your dog isn't easily recalled or can't help but chase birds, we kindly request that you keep your dog leashed.
You might notice that grassed areas are left to get long at times. This provides habitat for insects and birds.
