Coes Ford

Coes Ford is located on the Selwyn River about half an hour from Christchurch. It's named after a pioneering farmer, Jack Coe, whose land bordered the river. The ford used to be the main link between Springston and Leeston.

There's a free camping area nearby. It's spacious, with mature trees dotted about offering welcome shade during hot summer months. The campground is on each side of the road, however the western part is closed during winter months.

It's a popular area for picnics, swimming and camping. Water is available but not suitable for drinking. There are toilets and rubbish bins are provided.

Dogs are welcome, and can be run off lead. There's lots of space to exercise them, plus lovely swimming holes to cool off in. PLEASE check the water condition first - this river has a history of water pollution and toxic algae.

Click here to take you to a site about Canterbury Recreational Water Quality, or contact the local council.

The day we visited the water was clean, with a good flow. The dogs loved it - Paddy swam so much that when we got home he was too tired to climb up the steps.

                             

We've heard it can also be a popular spot for those pesky mosquitoes, so if you're planning on calling in, take along some dimp. We must have struck an insect-free day, there wasn't a mossie in sight.

The photo below shows what Coes Ford was like the day we were there. However a few months ago the river was a major concern due to high toxic levels. A newspaper article written in February this year, shares photos and explains how bad the condition of the river was. Click here to be taken to the article.

As we were leaving a lady riding her horse arrived leading a young foal.

Coes Ford is a lovely spot and we had a fabulous afternoon relaxing by the river. Perhaps we were lucky and struck the right time of the year to visit - the river was clean and safe to swim in.

Selwyn Huts

Roughly 40 minutes south of Christchurch beside the Selwyn River, is a cluster of charming little baches. Just before you arrive at 'The Selwyn Huts' the road sweeps around a sharp right hand bend, before narrowing down to pass through this tiny settlement. 
On the left are an assortment of baches, cribs, holiday homes. Some are permanent dwellings, while others seemed closed up, maybe they're used for holidays or fishing weekends. And on the right is a grassy covered stop-bank.

Steps dug into the stop-bank's edge make climbing easier. And down the other side of the bank is the Selwyn River - a popular spot for trout fishing.No dogs are allowed on the reserve (the stop-bank area). 

Locals have grown flowers around the bases of power poles adding character to this delightful settlement.

The sealed road stops after the last house before merging onto an unsealed road. 

A couple of kilometres further on are the Lower Selwyn Huts. The area's more open and is nestled beside the mouth of the Selwyn River.

Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihoura) can be seen in the distance (when standing on top of the stop bank). The tiny black dots you can see in the murky coloured lagoon are maimais. And although it's too far away to see, lots of swans and cygnets were swimming and feeding in the lake.

The photo below was taken at the end of the road looking out towards Lyttleton.

The 50 odd holiday homes are situated on the left of the road driving towards the lake. The area of the Lower Selwyn Huts allows dogs, perhaps it's because duck shooters dwell there.

Residents of the Lower Selwyn Huts were evacuated a few months ago (near the end of July) due to flooding. Unfortunately Lake Ellesmere wasn't opened prior to the bad weather. Large swells had made it unsafe for machines to work, so a channel was unable to be formed. The lake is regularly opened to the ocean for cultural and environmental reasons. On average about 30, 000 cubic metres of gravel is removed to open the lake, it closes naturally as gravel washes back into the channel.