The Little River Rail Trail is a cycleway and walkway that closely follows the route of an old 19th century railway line between Hornby and Little River via Prebbleton, Lincoln, Motukarara & Birdlings Flat.

The Little River Rail Trail takes you through a changing landscape that has seen a thousand years of human history alongside State Highway 75 from Christchurch to Akaroa.

The Little River Rail Trail passes through rural areas and settlements on the Canterbury Plains, past the massive flanks of the ancient volcanoes which make up Banks Peninsula, and hugs the shoreline of a vast lagoon, Te Waihora or Lake Ellesmere, and its smaller twin, Te Roto o Wairewa or Lake Forsyth.

The lakes and associated rivers and wetlands are rich in wildlife and natural vegetation which you will see along the way. For our tour, the 39km trail starts at the historic Little River Railway Station and winds alongside Lake Forsyth, with close up views of the volcanic hills and lakeside views.

From here the trail heads out of Banks Peninsula and toward Lincoln, riding is mostly off road and through wetland areas that is home to much birdlife. You can expect to pass a number of farms, and you will see not only dairy cows and sheep but a wide range of wildlife and animals.

Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora is a shallow, brackish coastal lake and New Zealand’s fifth largest. An internationally important wildlife area, 166 bird species have been recorded here, including 133 indigenous species, some of which you will see on any given day.

We stop off at Kaituna Quarry before heading to Motukarara for a taste of railway history, Motukarara Station was once a major part of the Little River Rail Trail and a fantastic little piece of history along the way.

We then head towards Lincoln where the rail trail features a mix of on road and off road sections connecting Motukarara to Lincoln where you will really get a feel for the flat rural landscape of Canterbury with the Southern Alps mountains as a stunning backdrop to the west.