Christchurch City Council walking tracks added to innovative app Plan My Walk

Christchurch City Council’s Parks and Spatial teams have worked with the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) to add Council managed tracks onto MSC’s website and app Plan My Walk.  

The MSC website and app for walkers provides easy planning for short and long-distance trips throughout New Zealand, enabling users to be more aware and educated, and therefore more able to proactively plan and manage their personal safety.

It contains essential track information like length, terrain, location and difficulty; suggested gear lists; relevant track alerts; weather forecasts and reviews and advice from previous track users.

People can use it to plan their walk, including what gear and food to take, and can share the trip plan with others for safety purposes.

The app is believed to be the first of its kind, says MSC Chief Executive Mike Daisley adding “pulling together weather, track alerts, gear lists, and then being able to put all that into a plan and share it with a trusted contact – that's a first.

“It combines all aspects of trip planning like no other app does, whether it’s a short walk in a regional park or a multi-day tramp in the Southern Alps."

Daisley notes the long-term goal is creating awareness around the importance of planning before heading into the outdoors while building a community that will support effective preparation through the sharing of track reviews.

Council Head of Regional Parks Kay Holder says it was a valuable project to be part of.

“The more that councils and other track and land managers get involved, the more comprehensive and accurate the walking database becomes for New Zealanders and tourists alike.

“We’ll continue to assist by keeping MSC informed of new tracks, track maintenance and closures on the Council’s track network,” she says.

The app is funded, owned and run by MSC, which spent more than 1000 hours on research and development and launched it in 2021. They recently gained funding from Herenga ā Nuku, the Outdoor Access Commission, to complete further development work over the next two years.

Plan My Walk is completely free to use.

Image. Misty Peaks Track Credit: Christchurch City Council