Victoria Park, Christchurch

Victoria Park is a large recreational area on the Port Hills above Christchurch, New Zealand.

[1] The park was formally opened by William Rolleston on 22 June 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

[2] The park has an information centre, and features open parkland, planted gardens and pine forest, with a variety of walking tracks[2] and a permanent orienteering course.

[3] Mountain biking tracks extend into the adjacent Bowenvale Reserve, and include several challenging downhill routes, including the Nationals Down Hill Track.

[4] 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.

Gates of Victoria Park. The plaque reads: "This park was opened 22 June 1897 in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of H M Queen Victoria by the Hon William Rolleston , for many years Supt of Canterbury "