Views stun as park re-opens after fire
Things were hectic at the Christchurch Adventure Park this time last year but its second opening has proved steady.
The park has reopened, 10 months after the $20 million facility was forced to close due to severe damage during the Port Hills fire in February.
Spokeswoman Anne Newman said the park had a ‘‘really good, steady opening’’ the second time around, with ‘‘thousands’’ through the gate in the first week back.
‘‘We’re pleased with opening and the first week of our operation, and we know we’re about to go into the height of our season.’’
Newman confirmed the number of mountainbikers was down from this time last year, but said that was to be expected. The park has reopened with three trails, after its previous network was badly damaged by the fire.
‘‘We’re not concerned about it. We know we’ve got good support and we know as we bring on more trails, more riders will come back.’’
She said there had not been any significant injuries, just the ‘‘standard scrapes and bruises’’ that came with the sport.
Rebuilding the trails is ongoing. Two more trails were expected to be finished within two weeks.
Newman said there had been a ‘‘different type of customer’’ at the park since the reopening, with more of the general public coming in for coffee or lunch at the cafe.
She said those who had been on the chairlift said the views were amazing since trees damaged by the fire had been cut down, which was most of the forest that had been there before.
The ziplines had proved especially popular and the park had been holding Christmas functions throughout December.
It had also been affected by the record-breaking 47-day dry spell in Christchurch, with the dry conditions proving challenging for trail builders.
Newman said Wednesday’s rain had helped settle in some of the trails being built.