Victoria Park, Christchurch

{{Short description|New Zealand protected area on the Christchurch Port Hills}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2015}}

{{coord|-43.5896|172.6437|format=dms|display=title}}

File:Gates of Victoria Park.jpg by the Hon William Rolleston, for many years Supt of Canterbury"]]

Victoria Park is a large recreational area on the Port Hills above Christchurch, New Zealand.{{cite web | url =http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/porthillsmountainbikingmap-tracksrides.pdf |title=Port Hills mountain biking |publisher= Christchurch City Council |format=PDF |accessdate=25 August 2013}}

Description

The park was formally opened by William Rolleston on 22 June 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.{{cite web|title=Victoria Park|url=http://www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/parkswalkways/popularparks/victoriapark.aspx|publisher=Christchurch City Council|accessdate=10 September 2011}}

The park has an information centre, and features open parkland, planted gardens and pine forest, with a variety of walking tracks and a permanent orienteering course.[http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/venue/victoria-park-christchurch Victoria Park], [http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/ Event Finder], New Zealand.

Mountain biking tracks extend into the adjacent Bowenvale Reserve, and include several challenging downhill routes, including the Nationals Down Hill Track.[http://www.onyourbike.co.nz/tracks/christchurch-tracks/4-victoria-park-nationals-downhill-track "Victoria Park"], onyourbike.co.nz

The park was the site of the 1954 Parker–Hulme murder that has inspired plays, novels, non-fiction books, and most notably, the Oscar-nominated film Heavenly Creatures.

References

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