Port Hills and Banks Peninsula volunteer days

This volunteer programme aims to restore and maintain the native forest in designated areas of the Port Hills. Volunteers plant native trees each winter and maintain them in spring and autumn to reduce competition from grass.

Maintenance is the most critical part of ecological restoration success. Without regular maintenance for the first three years, plants wouldn't survive due to grass competition.

Autumn plant care days

Winter planting days

Spring plant care days

Where to meet

• Barnett Park: Meet at the end of Bay View Road, Redcliffs. On-street parking is available, but please keep accessways clear for residents. 
• Eastside Bush: Meet in the car park behind the Victoria Park Visitor Centre, next to the Park Ranger HQ.
• Dry Bush: Park at the top of Huntsbury Avenue and walk up Huntsbury 4WD track to the site (1.3 km or 25 minutes), or park on Summit Road and walk down Huntsbury Track to Dry Bush (0.8 km, 10 minutes). Look for the park ranger truck at the cattle stop next to the gate at the entrance to the bush. There is no parking on Huntsbury Track. Check out our walking track map for more information on accessing these tracks.
• Bowenvale Reserve: Meet at 20 Swanton Drive, Huntsbury. On-street parking. Please keep access ways clear for residents.

Additional information

Eastside Bush and Dry Bush are steep sites and not suitable for very young children or a lot of children at one time. If children do attend, they can still get Children's University credits.

Barnett Park is a flat site ideal for families and for obtaining Children's University credits.

For more information, please contact fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz.

This volunteer programme aims to revegetate red-zoned properties in the Port Hills, transforming the area and restoring its unique biodiversity.

Planting over the next ten years will support climate and ecological resiliance, expand habitats for native birds, lizards and insects, and create connections to other sites of ecological significance.

Registrations are essential as we must limit numbers and access to the site due to continued rockfall risk in the area. Please contact ranger Sarah.Mankelow@ccc.govt.nz to register your interest.

This is your chance to get involved.

Te Kāio / Tumbledown Bay

Join Wairewa Rūnanga and Christchurch City Council for a planting day at Te Kāio / Tumbledown Bay.

Stay tuned for more dates.

For more information email: alison.evans@ccc.govt.nz.

2025 planting days

Pop along to Halswell Quarry Park to help plant native plants from 10am to midday on:

• Saturday 31 May
• Saturday 14 June
• Saturday 19 July (in association with Trees for Canterbury(external link))
• Saturday 2 August

Look for directions outside the single-storey stone cottage on the main driveway of Halswell Quarry Park.

Contact Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz if you have any queries.

We recommend:

• Weather-appropriate clothing and lots of layers – rain jacket, hat etc.
• Sturdy footwear for rough and uneven ground.
• Gardening gloves.
• Sunscreen.
• Water bottle and a snack.