Christchurch could soon be home to a roller coaster - or rather, a Mountain Coaster - a gravity-powered roller coaster that follows the natural contours of a hill.
It's part of an adventure park development in Cashmere Forest, which features the roller coaster, bike trails, outdoor rock-climbing, a zip-line and a 1.8 kilometre, 430 vertical-metre chairlift.
The project is backed by NewUrban Group in partnership with Jianping Wang and Beijing construction company Huadu International Group.
The Christchurch City Council is pouring $2 million into the park as well, thought to be the only attraction of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says it has generated excitement around the world.
"The concept of a beautiful bike park just 17 minutes' cycle from the central city is the sort that inspires plenty of international visitors and thrill-seekers," she says.
"This development will draw a lot of the tourist market who all-too-often skip straight from Auckland to Queenstown for their adventuring."
The park will be built between Dyers Pass, Worsleys and Summit roads.It will bring an estimated $150 million to the Canterbury region and attract year-round tourist activity says leisure development company Select Evolution.
Spreydon-Heathcote Councillor Tim Scandrett says the park "ticks all the boxes" in relation to community outcomes and is a great example of local and central government working together.
"Christchurch Adventure Park will be the biggest and best of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and will help anchor and re-establish Christchurch as a destination," he says.
Mr Jianping Wang says NewUrban Group is delighted to work with the council to achieve such a positive community outcome.
"We are long-term investors in Christchurch and want to be actively engaged in the fabric of the city's development," he says.
The first stage of the Christchurch Adventure Park is hoped to be completed by the end of 2016.
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