By Lance Smith
 On weekdays the runners of Invercargill are likely to be spotted within the spacious bounds of Queens Park, which is located just three blocks from the central city or along the Waihopai River embankment.Queens Park is 81 hectares of bush, golf course, aviary, animal enclosures, botanical hothouses, duck pond, gardens, children’s playground and countless tracks, trails and paths including a 4km fitness trail. It is also the site of the Southland Road Championships where a traffic management plan is more about avoiding wandering ducks than avoiding cars.
The Waihopai River is bordered both sides by a flood prevention embankment that features a metalled track along the top, giving 8km of off-road running from one end of the city to the other. It’s flat and scenic with plenty of entrances and exits enabling you to run anything from a couple of km’s to 20km. At each end there’s a bird sanctuary, one freshwater lagoon and a salt water lagoon. Taking the track around the latter adds another 4km to a run. It’s understandably popular with runners, walkers and cyclists.
 But come weekends the bulk of the city’s runners head to Sandy Point Domain, a short 5 - 10 minute drive from central Invercargill. This is not the jewel in the crown of Invercargill outdoor recreation; this is the crown itself.Bordered three sides by water (river, estuary, ocean beach), the 2000 hectare reserve caters for car racers (Teretonga), archers, water skiers, rowers, golfers, paint ballers, mountain bikers, walkers, horse riders, rugby and soccer players, anglers, hot rodders and, of course, runners.
There are so many options for both recreational and serious runners that many just set out and take whatever track grabs their fancy at the time. Feeling good and want to go longer? Easy, turn down another track. Bit tired and want to cut it short? Take one of the tracks or roads that gives you a shorter way back to the car park.
 Visitors wishing to experience the delights of Sandy Point should head along Dunns Road, past the airport and turn left into Sandy Point Road just over the Oreti River Bridge. Stop off at the visitors’ centre about a kilometre down the road and pick up a map, then carry on another 5 kilometres or so to MacLennan’s Flat. After parking the car at the entrance to the Petrie’s and Rover Tracks the first decision is a choice between Rover or Petrie’s. Rover follows the coast and has a few wee pinches while Petrie’s is flat, shorter and shaded by pine forest. Whichever, you’ll end up in Daffodil Bay.
Here you’ll see a flat area of grass straight ahead. This leads to a rather gruelling set of stairs, a favourite of local sprinters and jumpers into their strength training. Breach the stairs and you’ll find yourself in a pleasant stretch of native forest with the calls of tuis and bellbirds adding a melodious counterpoint to the sound of your footsteps and breathing.
A few minutes later you’ll come to a road (glorified track actually). The running track resumes on the other side of the road and takes you to Hatch’s Hill lookout, the highest point in the reserve. A sprint up the stairs justifies a breather at the top to appreciate the view.
 Decision time again. You’ve probably been running 30 minutes by now, so you can head back to Daffodil Bay on the Coastal track, retrace your steps on the inland track you came on (bit longer than the coastal track) or continue another 2 kilometres or so to historic Whaler’s Bay, so named for the industry established there in the 1830’s. Or you can add another 20 minutes by taking the Roundtree Track loop. If that’s not enough, you have the Oreti Beach option that will extend the run to well over two hours. But be warned: there is nothing between you and the South Pole so choose a mild and relatively windless day, preferably when it’s low tide. And don’t miss the turn off into Christies Road that takes you back to the McLennan’s Flat carpark.
Sandy Point hosts a number of competitive activities including the popular St Pauls Off Road Half Marathon. This covers some of the tracks described above as well as Oreti Beach and the entire 21.1km is, as its name suggests, off road. If you’re in the region on October 16 be sure to get an entry form or enter on the day.
Click below map for a map of the area:
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