Cheviot

Forest walks, local history and coastal views

Cheviot combines a nature experience rich in forests with insights into the town’s history and opportunities for coastal outings. In Cheviot Hills Reserve, marked, easy walking tracks wind through centuries-old oaks and eucalyptus trees, among other things. There are also plantings of ash, pine and native trees. If you enjoy combining a stay with walks and local history, you’ll find a range of options to consider when planning your trip.

The reserve is a forested area with exotic and native trees. Some notable specimen trees are among the largest of their kind in New Zealand. The Ready Money Trail runs through the area; daffodils blooming there in spring are a highlight. Access to Cheviot Hills Reserve is at the southern end of Cheviot. It is via State Highway One or Gore Bay Road, 1.2 km from the town centre. You can take the reserve’s location into account when choosing holiday accommodation in Cheviot, without making walks the only reason for your trip.

Insights into Cheviot’s history

Cheviot Hills Reserve contains the original plantings and former residence of William “Ready Money” Robinson. He owned the Cheviot Hills estate from 1857 to 1889. The Cheviot Museum on Hall Street adds the social history of Cheviot’s development to this historical perspective: it explores the transformation from a large agricultural estate into a thriving rural community. If you’re interested in how a place has developed, you can consider the museum and reserve as different ways to explore Cheviot’s history.

Cheviot Hills Domain also offers walking opportunities, with a footpath and picnic areas. The surviving front steps of the historic mansion lead to the cricket pavilion. A separate footpath runs from Cheviot along Gore Bay Road into the domain. It features plantings of tree species dating back to the 1860s. For a stay focused on green open spaces and historical traces, these features offer a different emphasis from the forest walks in the reserve.

Walks, coast and active outings

The surrounding area also offers nature experiences with their own distinctive character. St Anne’s Lagoon, a popular nature reserve, lies about 2 km north of Cheviot. In the past, the lagoon supplied eels to Māori settlements in the surrounding area. The Manuka Bay Lookout Track follows the coast and offers sea views as well as lush forest. Trees and plants growing along the track include whauwhaupaku, also known as five-finger, small-leaved kōwhai and various ferns. The combination of coastal scenery and forest offers a different focus from the variety of trees in the reserve.

For a drive, a coastal loop route runs from Cheviot along Gore Bay Road to the beach, passing Cathedral Cliffs. The route includes some uphill sections. Another option is a public, unsealed road with a steady climb to a summit. From there, views extend over the Hurunui River, the Lowry Hills Range and the Cheviot Basin. Road cycling and mountain biking are also highlighted as cycling options in Cheviot. Depending on whether you’d rather focus on walking tracks, coastal scenery or a route with a climb, these differences can help shape your choice of destination and accommodation.

Other places

Hanmer Springs, Gore Bay, Amberley, Leithfield, Lyford, Hawarden.

For the broader travel overview: Hurunui District.