Little River, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Little River is a town in New Zealand
on Banks Peninsula
in the Canterbury
district.
on Banks Peninsula
, a major South Island
tourist destination, and 45 minutes drive from Christchurch
. It is on State Highway 75
, which links Christchurch and Akaroa
. Little River is a great place to visit for walks and mountain biking, and is a very popular stop over for its cafe and art gallery.
The road from Christchurch is at sea level but once past Little River, the road rises steeply and twists and turns its way to the top of the summit road. From the summit at Hilltop, all of the bays on the peninsula are accessible on equally steep and twisting roads leading down to them. Not all roads are sealed and some are more suited to four wheel drive vehicles.
is a cycling and walking track that opened in 2006, which largely follows the course of the old Little River Branch railway that ran to Little River from its junction with the Southbridge Branch in Lincoln
. This branch line
was opened to Little River on 11 March 1886, closed to passengers on 14 April 1951, and closed to all traffic on 30 June 1962. Between 1927 and 1934, Little River railway passengers were served by the experimental and popular Edison battery-electric
railcar
, the only one of its type to be built.
.
Today the population of the area is approx, a thousand people, with many people moving into the area seeking a more country / rural lifestyle.
and Okuti River
s. The combined waters form the Takiritawai River
, a short stream which flows into the eastern end of Lake Wairewa / Lake Forsyth
. The lake, rivers and streams abound in trout, perch (redfin) and eel. The world record for the largest brown trout caught was held by one of these rivers in the 1960s.
On 19 October 2011, the Okana River caused the worst flooding in Little River for many years, with State Highway 75
closed. Long term residents believe that the flooding was the worst since the Wahine storm
on 10 April 1968.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
in the Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
district.
Location
Little River is approximately 30 minutes drive from AkaroaAkaroa
Akaroa is a village on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name—the name Akaroa is Kāi Tahu Māori for 'Long Harbour'.- Overview :...
on Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
, a major South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
tourist destination, and 45 minutes drive from Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. It is on State Highway 75
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
, which links Christchurch and Akaroa
Akaroa
Akaroa is a village on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name—the name Akaroa is Kāi Tahu Māori for 'Long Harbour'.- Overview :...
. Little River is a great place to visit for walks and mountain biking, and is a very popular stop over for its cafe and art gallery.
The road from Christchurch is at sea level but once past Little River, the road rises steeply and twists and turns its way to the top of the summit road. From the summit at Hilltop, all of the bays on the peninsula are accessible on equally steep and twisting roads leading down to them. Not all roads are sealed and some are more suited to four wheel drive vehicles.
Rail Trail
The Little River Rail TrailLittle River Rail Trail
The Little River Rail Trail is a cycling and walking track on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.-Location:...
is a cycling and walking track that opened in 2006, which largely follows the course of the old Little River Branch railway that ran to Little River from its junction with the Southbridge Branch in Lincoln
Lincoln, New Zealand
Lincoln is a town in the Selwyn District of Canterbury, New Zealand. The town has a population of 2,727.-Location:It is located on the Canterbury Plains to the west of Banks Peninsula, 22 kilometres south of Christchurch.-History:...
. This branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
was opened to Little River on 11 March 1886, closed to passengers on 14 April 1951, and closed to all traffic on 30 June 1962. Between 1927 and 1934, Little River railway passengers were served by the experimental and popular Edison battery-electric
NZR RM class (Edison battery-electric)
The NZR RM class Edison battery-electric railcar was a popular and successful railcar that ran in Canterbury, New Zealand for eight years. The prototype was arguably the first successful railcar in New Zealand but it was not developed into a class...
railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
, the only one of its type to be built.
History
The population early last century numbered in the thousands, and people were mainly employed in timber milling and farming. A fairly localised but major industry was the harvesting and threshing of cocksfootDactylis
Dactylis is a genus of grasses in the subfamily Pooideae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. They are known in English as cock's-foot or cocksfoot grasses, also sometimes as orchard grasses.-Taxonomy:...
.
Today the population of the area is approx, a thousand people, with many people moving into the area seeking a more country / rural lifestyle.
Agricultural and Pastoral Show
Every year in January the Little River Agricultural and Pastoral Show is held in the beautiful Awa-Iti Domain situated in the middle of the town. This attracts many visitors as well as exhibitors and competitors in the equestrian arena and the numerous displays of sheep, cattle, dog trialling, produce, floral and cooking.Waterways
Little River nestles in a deep valley and myriads of streams and springs converge to form the OkanaOkana River
The Okana River, formerly called the Ohiriri River, is a river on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It flows southwest past the settlement of Little River where it meets the Okuti River, the two rivers forming the short Takiritawai River which flows into the...
and Okuti River
Okuti River
The Okuti River is a river of Banks Peninsula, in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It flows west to meet the Okana River. The combined waters form the Takiritawai River, a short stream which flows into the eastern end of Lake Forsyth two kilometres south of the settlement of...
s. The combined waters form the Takiritawai River
Takiritawai River
The Takiritawai River is a river of the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. A short river of approximately , it flows from the confluence of the Okana and Okuti Rivers to feed the top of Lake Forsyth, at the southwest of Banks Peninsula....
, a short stream which flows into the eastern end of Lake Wairewa / Lake Forsyth
Lake Forsyth
Lake Forsyth is a lake in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.It is fed by the Takiritawai River, a short arm of the Okuti River, and exits via a gravel bank into the sea in the vicinity of the small community of Birdling's Flat.State Highway 75 leading to Akaroa and part of the Little River Rail...
. The lake, rivers and streams abound in trout, perch (redfin) and eel. The world record for the largest brown trout caught was held by one of these rivers in the 1960s.
On 19 October 2011, the Okana River caused the worst flooding in Little River for many years, with State Highway 75
New Zealand State Highway 75
State Highway 75 is a State Highway in New Zealand servicing the Banks Peninsula region, connecting Christchurch on the northwestern part of the peninsula with Akaroa towards the east coast. It is wholly two lane , but partially functions as a major arterial corridor of Christchurch...
closed. Long term residents believe that the flooding was the worst since the Wahine storm
Wahine disaster
The Wahine disaster occurred on 10 April 1968 when the TEV Wahine, a New Zealand inter-island ferry of the Union Company, foundered on Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour and capsized near Steeple Rock...
on 10 April 1968.