26 Oct 2017

Christchurch Adventure Park set to reopen after Port Hills fires

1:08 pm on 26 October 2017

The Christchurch Adventure Park will reopen in December, after being badly damaged during the Port Hills fires earlier this year.

The Port Hills fire near Christchurch Adventure Park.

The fire engulfed the park in February. Photo: RNZ / Joelle Dally

Two fires broke out in February on the Port Hills, combining into one big fire which tore through 2000 hectares of land.

Eleven houses were destroyed and thousands of people were evacuated.

The park had to close while 240 hectares of burnt forest were logged, the chairlift and four zip lines were replaced, and mountain bike trails rebuilt.

Spokesperson Anne Newman said the park won't be the same as it was.

"We definitely know that we'll get people back, but it will be a different experience and if they just bear with us over the summer period as we open more trails. It will be an ongoing process, but they will have some new trails that they didn't have before the fire."

Insurer IAG is suing the park, accusing it of spreading the fire with its chairlift.

Instructors test out the new tracks at the Christchurch Adventure Park.

A trail on the park before the fire. Photo: Facebook / Christchurch Adventure Park

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