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Key facts
- Distance
- 520 m return via same track
- Walking time
- 20 min
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Craigieburn Forest Park
- Dog access
- Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
A short, family-friendly loop track from the Environment Centre carpark.
This DOC directory entry covers Craigieburn Nature Walk in Canterbury, within Craigieburn Forest Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 520 m return via same track
- Walking time: 20 min
- DOC grade: Easiest
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The beginning of this track can be accessed from the Hut Creek Track, and Environment Centre track (15 min 600 m one way), or from Jacks Pass on the Broken River Road. At Jacks Pass, park vehicles on the right-hand side of the Environment Centre Road before the locked gate (do not block the road or gate) and walk 550 m (15 min) past the locked gate to the Environment Centre carpark.
This pleasant walk through mountain-beech forest begins at the Environment Centre carpark. The loop track can be done either way but it is best to go anticlockwise.
Follow the short path or road down to the Environment Centre, the track entry is sign-posted. About 350 m in is the junction for the link track that goes down to the Broken River Ski-field Road (225 m 5 min).
The track continues through the forest slowly climbing back to the Environment Centre carpark. This track gives the opportunity to view beech tree life at all stages of development, and what grows on the trees – the various lichens, mosses and a small insect which secretes honey dew (a small droplet of sweet liquid that birds and other insects feed on).
Between late December to February, the red flowers of the native mistletoe/pikirangi can produce patches of blazing colour through the tree canopy. Common native forest birds living in this area include rifleman/titipounamu, bellbird/koromiko, tomtit/miromiro and grey warbler/riroriro.
Mountain biking
No mountain biking allowed.
Getting there
Turns off State Highway 73 into the Broken River Skifield Road, around 108 km from Christchurch.
Broken River Ski-field Road is extremely narrow and winding, we recommend travelling slowly (20 km per hour) to avoid collisions and to look for areas where two vehicles can get past each other.
In winter, this road may require tyre chains to access. We also recommend not travelling inwards on this road in the afternoons as there can be many vehicles exiting the ski-field.
There is no vehicle access to the Environment Centre. There are locked gates near Jack’s Pass, Bridge Hill and on SH.73 (Bridge Hill Road). Parking is very limited at all track-heads; do not block road access.
Know before you go
Fire-damaged trees hazard
Tracks within the Craigieburn Forest areas were affected by a previous large fire and may contain ongoing hazards from fire-damaged trees.
Be aware:
Dead or damaged trees may fall without warning.
Falling branches, limbs, and dead spars can occur at any time, including during calm weather.
Hazards may increase during periods of strong wind, heavy rain, or snow.
Take extra care when travelling through fire-affected areas, remain alert to your surroundings, and avoid stopping beneath dead or damaged trees where possible.
Be ready for alpine weather
This is an alpine area and people should be prepared for extremes of weather. Always check the forecast before you go. Weather forecasts for Mt Cheeseman and Canterbury High Country
Carry warm layers, a waterproof raincoat and sun protection. Find packing lists here.
Expect wasps, especially in summer and early autumn
Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light coloured clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.
No fires
No fires are allowed within Craigieburn Forest Park.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
