Coastal Geomorphology of the Northern Canterbury Coastline

Details

Currently Full

Date: Wednesday 4 February
Departs from: Christchurch
Ends: Christchurch
Leaders: Dr Sarah McSweeney and Dr Sophie Horton
Cost ($NZD inc 15% GST): $115 per person

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Description

The field trip will travel by bus ~1.5 hours north of Christchurch, to Gore Bay, and then work our way back down the coastline to return to Te Pae. We will visit a diverse range of coastal features including estuaries, hapua (braided river mouth lagoons), eroding cliffs, and gravel, sandy and composite beaches. Each stop will offer spectacular lookouts of the coast and as we drive through the hinterland, you will also see very active hillslope processes and evidence of tectonics. The trip will also cross several major river systems and will meet them again downstream at the coast and visit their estuaries and lagoons. These include the Hurunui River and its hapua, which is a more ‘natural’ system, and the Waimakariri mouth and Brooklands lagoon, which has a long history of human modification. Both coastal and inland erosion is prominent in the area and we will visit communities facing severe coastal erosion. Community groups and members will share their local knowledge at some locations in addition to field trip leaders. The Hurunui region (just north of Christchurch) is well known for its outstanding vineyards and we will visit one of these for a quick stop on our way back to the city.

Start and finish locations: The trip begins and ends at Te Pae.

Start and finish times: Participants need to arrive to Te Pae at 7.30 am for a 7.40 am departure. The trip will return to Te Pae at ~5.00-5.30 pm.

What to bring:

• Filled water bottle
• Packed lunch (no lunch provided)
• Additional snacks
• Sun protection (sunhat, sunscreen)
• Warm clothing
• Water/windproof jacket
• Hiking/sturdy walking shoes
• Any personal medication

What to expect: Some stops will include short walks that are no long walks longer than 400 m. Most walking is on stable ground, but there will be one shingle beach (Gore Bay) which can be quite steep at times. It is optional to walk on and explore this beach. If you prefer not to, there is a covered shelter for people to relax at.

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