Mountain bike the Little River Rail Trail - epic mountain to lake views
Bike riding at it’s best - Little River Rail Trail at Birdlings Flat on the Banks Peninsula
The section of the Rail Trail between Birdlings Flat and Little River township is roughly about 20km return and is, for me, one of the most enjoyable parts of the track. Park up on the road leading down to the small settlement of Birdlings Flat - which is worthy of a trip out on it’s own accord and I will mention it shortly in a future post - and follow the well sign-posted gravel track. The Little River Rail Trail is about 49km in length, starting from Hornby, a suburb of southern Christchurch, out across to the small township of Little River on the Banks Peninsula. It is split into 6 handy sections and, as the name suggests, follows the route of an old railway embankment. The trail is pretty diverse and this part of the track from Birdlings Flat follows the shoreline of Lake Forsyth - or Te Roto O Wairewa to give it the much more interesting Maori name. The lake is home to an abundance of bird life that is easily spottable as you cycle along. On my recent ride I spotted all types of duck, geese, black swans and teals. There were even a few herons nesting.
Top Tip: take some binoculars if you enjoy bird watching as you won’t be disappointed. There are dozens of different types here.
Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the trail traverses through some patches of forest and wetland before ending at Little River itself - a welcome spot to enjoy a well earnt break and perhaps a refreshment of two - the town has some great spots which I’ll talk about in a future blog.
Miro Cafe, Christchurch, a foodies delight
The best breakfast to be found in Christchurch? just maybe….
One of my favourite spots for breakfast this place rocks great food and coffee. So far I’ve sampled their Portobello Mushrooms with panko crumbed eggs - intriguingly delicious. The Beef Cheeks - yes beef cheeks for breakfast - is also heavenly and very rich. There are also healthier options too with a range of nutritious smoothies and Acai Bowls and unusual concepts such as Buffalo Panna Cotta with citrus granola and seasonal fruit. You can even wash these down with a Cereal Killer cocktail or Breakfast Martini, personally I prefer to stick to the awesome coffee. The service is top notch and the atmosphere welcoming. Two huge open fires make for a cosy ambience and it’s only a short walk from Hagley Park, making it a great spot after an energetic circuit or two.
Miro is now open for Tapas on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening.