Parks and Green Spaces

Parks and green spaces provide a variety of health benefits by promoting physical activity, connection to nature and opportunities for community engagement. Nature-based programs can even be prescribed by health care providers as part of alternative, cost-effective treatment plans.

There are a number of large parks in Halswell as well as lots of smaller parks and pocket parks. Many of these spaces include play equipment, open spaces, sports fields and walking or mountain biking tracks. New wetlands and parks are being developed as water retention basins which are important for preventing flooding in the Heathcote catchment when it rains heavily as well as creating habitats for waterfowl and walking tracks through these unique environments.

Halswell Quarry Park

Our biggest park is Halswell Quarry Park which can be accessed from Kennedys Bush and Cashmere Rds at the base of the hill.
As the name suggests, the Park was once the site of a quarry from which Halswell Stone was mined and used in a variety of ways and places around Christchurch. The quarry had a long life – opening in the 1860s and not closing until the 1990s when it was made into the Park that we have today.
The park provides wonderful opportunities for walking, mountain biking, orienteering and picnicking and has a series of Sister Cities Gardens.

Westlake Park

Westlake park can be accessed from a range of streets - Westlake Dr, Wales St, Arkwright Tce, Chilwell Pl, Brigham Dr, Marquess Ave and Wigram Rd. There are two lakes in the park developed after the gravel pit on this site closed. A wide range of birds can be sighted at the lakes, which have refuge islands on them for birds to roost and breed.

Halswell Domain

Found in Halswell Rd, the Domain provides facilities for Scouts, Rugby League, Soccer, Softball and Cricket to name a few. It is also the home of the Model Engineers, who run large model trains etc at the weekends

Curletts Reserve / Ngā Puna Wai

Augustine Drive

Waterways

Halswell is an interesting place for water. Both the Heathcote and the Halswell Riversdrain from this area, with one draining out to the Avon/ Heathcote Estuary/ Ihutai (North of Banks Peninsula) whilst the other drains into Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora (South of Banks Peninsula).

Wetlands

Halswell has many wetland areas to manage stormwater and improve the quality of water flowing into our rivers. These provide habitats for native fauna and flora as well as many recreational opportunities