MAP / LANDMARKS / DALLINGTON LANDING
Dallington Landing
Dallington Landing is the perfect place for a rest stop. A pause (okioki).
Maybe you packed a picnic? In fact a ‘picnic in a forest’ is the inspiration for the building design. Constructed in 2022, the landing was a finalist in the 2023 Timber Design Awards.
Look up. Imagine the main structure as a large tree trunk with branches.
Look down. Follow the curves of the koru shape in the pathway.
Look around. We’re close to the Ōtakaro Avon River. What do you notice? The river is an integral part of our city’s landscape. Yet how often do you busy humans take it for granted?
Growing in the vicinity are native tree species such as tōtara, kahikatea, and mataī trees. You would need to rest here a long, long time to see the regenerating forest fully grown! Come back and watch the plants’ progress.
‘Landings’ are important connection points between land and water: they are a stepping off (and on) point for travellers. There are many landings along the rivers of our city, where people launch and ‘land’ their kayaks and canoes. Most are low-key, with small wooden platforms or the like.
In the early colonial days, many people travelled by punt, paddle steamer or boat. It was a key way to transport goods around the city. Today, Māori waka are paddled along the central city part of the river, just as was done hundreds of years ago.
Can you imagine paddling yourself to school or work? It would be a quieter but maybe wetter way of getting around the city!
Links:
Structure design
Mana whenua blessing
Land ownership transferred to council
https://www.newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/red-zone-hand-over-from-crown-to-council-completed