GETTING TO BIRDSONG
Birdsong Retreat Address: 251 Wainui Valley Road, Wainui, 7582
Flying Options:
Christchurch International (CHC) Airport
Christchurch is the largest and main city on the South Island of New Zealand.
If you are flying in, we recommend arriving at least one day before the training begins and spending a night in Christchurch. Birdsong Retreat is located 90 minutes by car from the airport.
Bus Options:
There are one or two companies that will offer a shuttle bus service from Christchurch to Akaroa. They usually do the run twice a day (google Akaroa-Christchurch bus service). If you book passage on a shuttle bus, please make sure to get off in Barry’s Bay Cheeseshop or Duvauchelle Store which is approximately 8 km from Birdsong Retreat/Wainui. DO NOT go all the way to Akaroa. We will be able to collect you from your dropoff point.
Driving Directions:
Note: Please do not follow GPS directions which take you on the back roads via Okuti Valley/Little River. These are unsealed and sometimes not passable roads. Take Highway 75 to French Farm and turn off as noted below.
Hwy 75
Head out towards Banks Peninsula/Akaroa on Hwy 75. You will go through Little River and then up the hill where the Hilltop Café is.
From the Hilltop, drive down the hill. At the base of the hill you will see a sign for “French Farm/Wainui” – turn right onto Wainui Main Road. (It’s the turn off right before Barry’s Cheese Shop).
It is 8 km to Wainui. Once in Wainui, go to the far end of the bay, over the little bridge (You will pass Cemetery Road on the right; there is also a Cemetery Road before you come into Wainui – ignore this one). Make a right onto Wainui Valley Road towards the YMCA camp. We are approx 1 – 1 ½ km past the YMCA.
A little past the YMCA (maybe 300 yards/metres), the road forks at a bank of mailboxes, and Wainui Valley Road veers to the left (Donovans Road to the right) and becomes an unsealed road.
Follow Wainui Valley Road approx 1 km up hill, over a white bridge and up a steep bit. You will see white gates on the LEFT with #251, carry on further past that entrance to the next drive: There will be an entrance on the LEFT with a sign that says BUDDHA BUNGALOW. Enter driveway slowly and carry on to the bungalow & Temple where you will off-load your gear and then we will determine where to park for the duration.