Peninsula and Plains Orienteers

Permanent Courses

Try a walk in a park with a compass

There are a number of permanent orienteering courses available throughout New Zealand. Click here for a map on the Orienteering NZ website. It is the perfect way to get active whenever you want, enjoy the scenery and get out into some green spaces with your family at a time that suits you.

There are 4 courses in Christchurch, and a day trip away could include one of the many permanent courses in Tekapo. They offer options to suit a wide range of abilities. There will be courses suitable for beginners, children, families, as well as, for experienced orienteers. 

Please note copyright: Peninsula and Plains Orienteers Incorporated retains ownership and copyright for these maps. The maps are made available for individual and school use only and not for business or commercial purposes unless permission has been granted by PAPO (Peninsula and Plains Orienteers) . Please contact the committee if you wish to use these maps in any other instance. Many volunteer hours go into making these maps so you can appreciate them and explore nature in a new way. We enjoy making every journey more interesting. 


First time on an orienteering course?

If you haven't done any orienteering before you may want guidance on the different colours of each course. Head to our FAQ page and scroll down to "what level to start on?" . It is best to start on a white course  – which is the  easiest course. FAQ page here 

We also have a useful page of resources and topics. It is a good idea to print out and become familiar with the common symbols on all maps. Look at the legend and symbols used before you head out. Have squizz at this page here and scroll down to the map legend and symbols subheading to find some guides.  

 

Halswell Quarry

Halswell Quarry Park terrain is open parkland and some forested areas, 12 km south of centre of Christchurch | Ōtautahi. 

Three courses available - maps and instructions:

The instructions for all courses and a form to write the answers on are here.

  • The best place to start is easiest navigation, which are the White courses (lick on red hyperlinked word 'White' to download the white course map). it is 1.1 km long which as a first timer, it will often take you much longer to walk than you think as you don't walk in a straight line often. 
  •  Slightly harder navigation:  Yellow course (click on lick on red hyperlinked word  'yellow' to download map). The course is 1.3 km in length.  
  •  More challenging with some uphill and route choice: Choose an Orange course (click on red hyperlinked word  'Orange' to download map). This is 2.1 km. 

Finished the course?  The number/letter codes to check when you have finished the courses can be found here. You can use these to check you found the right control. Match the control number to the letters you found on the control posts.

This permanent orienteering course has been jointly created by Peninsula and Plain Orienteers and the Halswell Quarry Park Rangers, with the help of a grant from the Rata Foundation.

The Groynes

The 3 courses are available for download here.
The Groynes terrain is open park and forested areas, 12 km north of centre of Christchurch. 

Maps and instructions:

  •  The best place to start is easiest navigation, which is the White course.  (click on the red hyperlinked word' White' to download the white course map).  It is 1.9 km long. 
  •  Slightly harder navigation is the Yellow course (click on the red hyperlinked word ' Yellow' to download the white course map).– 2.6 km. 
  • Up for a challenge? Pick Your Own course - as easy or hard as you make it

Finished your course? Number/letter codes to check when you have finished the courses can be found here. You can use these to check you found the right control. Match the control number to the letters you found on the control posts.

For school groups and corporate training, contact Horizons Unlimited ph: 384-0384. Email: info@horizons.co.nz

This permanent orienteering course has been jointly created by the Kahikatea Adventure Education Trust, Peninsula and Plain Orienteers, and the Groynes Park Rangers.

Spencer Park

Maps and instructions are available at the Spencer Park Camp Shop, $4 each, the shop is open 7 days a week, 8am–6pm..  Maps also available for download here: The park offers 4 graded courses (1-4).

Spencer Park terrain is coastal pine forest and park, 12 km north from the centre of Christchurch. 

  • The best place to start is the easiest navigation on the White course (click on red hyperlinked word 'white' to download the map). This course is 1.1km.  
  •  Slightly harder navigation is the Yellow course  (click on red hyperlinked word 'Yellow' to download the map). This is 2.0km. 
  •  More challenging with some route choice is the Orange (click on red hyperlinked word 'Orange' to download the map). Course length is 3.3km. 
  •  The hardest navigation is the Red course = 4.0km. 

Finished your course? Number/letter codes to check when you have finished the courses can be found here. You can use these to check you found the right control. Match the control number to the letters you found on the control posts.

Victoria Park

Maps are available for download here. Victoria Park offers 5 graded courses from white to orange/red and one score or rogaine-style course.
Vic Park terrain has forest and open areas, 9 km south from the centre of Christchurch. 

  • The best place to start is easiest navigation, which is the White course (click on the red hyperlinked word' White' to download the white course map). The course is 1.3km. 
  • Slightly harder navigation is on the Yellow course (click on the red hyperlinked word ' Yellow' to download the white course map). The course is 1.6km. 
  • More challenging with some route choice are on the Orange course (click on the red hyperlinked word 'Orange' to download the white course map) = 2.4km, 
  • Challenging navigation Orange/Red Short course = 2.9km, 
  • More challenging navigation Orange/Red Long  course = 3.8km
  • Plan your own route on a score/rogaine-style course. There is no course drawn on the map, but there will be a number of controls, and the aim of the score course is to visit as many controls as possible in a set amount of time. You can set a time of an hour and see how many you and your friends can find. 

Finished your course? Number/letter codes to check when you have finished the courses can be found here:  VP-PermanentAnswers2021.pdf . 
You can use these to check you found the right control. Match the control number to the letters you found on the control posts.

Tekapo

Unfortunately, the permanent courses at Tekapo/ Takapō are no longer available due to felling of the forest in the regional park.

NZSS Orienteering & Rogaine Champs 2026