The Drayton Reserve comprises a narrow valley between the hillside suburbs of Mt Pleasant and Redcliffs, rising from near sea level at McCormacks Bay, to about 180m altitude at the Mt Pleasant Rd / Craigieburn Lane intersection. The Reserve is about 1km long, 50-150m wide and about 8ha in area. The reserve is a “Local Park” under the Christchurch City District Plan. Volunteers help return the reserve to its original forest and other vegetative cover, for conservation, passive recreation and educational purposes.