Showing posts with label Summit Walkway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summit Walkway. Show all posts

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Christchurch 360 Trail: A work in progress

Section walking the Christchurch 360 Trail

One of the side projects I am working on at the moment is completion of the new Christchurch 360 Trail.

Panoramic view of Lyttleton Harbour from the Summit Walkway

 The Christchurch 360 Trail is a long-trail joining existing tracks, parks and reserves and encircles the city of Christchurch. The total length is 135 km's, and can be walked, cycled or a combination of the two.

Official map of the Christchurch 360 Trail

Map Legend for Christchurch 360 map


As you can see on the map below I have completed a fair chunk of the trail, the pieces missing are interconnecting sections of road biking for the most part. I am going to make a concerted effort to complete the trail before the end of the Summer and will post when I have finished the remaining sections.


Sections of Christchurch 360 Trail completed as of Jan 2016
Here are some photos from completed sections of the trail

Sugarloaf Hills Section

This section starts at Halswell and ends at Evans Pass road. I've done numerous walks along Port Hill tracks over the years, and also mountain biked most of them at one time or another. This is one of my fully completed sections of the trail.


I've walked up Kennedys Bush Track four times and MTB'd up here at least 10 times...it used to be one of my MTB haunts back in the early 90's.

Near the start of Kennedy Bush Track on Kennedy Bush Spur


Mid way to the Summit Road, Kennedy s Bush Track

Below is the track finish/start up on the Summit Road, you follow the road from here around to the Sign of the Kiwi


Kennedys Bush Track, top of the track on the Summit Road
Kennedy's Bush Track is now rejuvenating after the monster wild fire we had on the Port Hills early in 2017. Most of the forest and scrub alongside the track is now gone...burnt by the fire, it is slowly being replanted.



The Port Hills wild fire, in early 2017 from the Cashmere Hills

The following are photos taken from the Sign of the Kiwi to Mt Pleasant Road.

Summit Walkway Sign part of the Christchurch 360 Trail

Governors Bay from near the Sugarloaf, Christchurch 360 Trail

TV transmitter, Sugarloaf looking South



Jon at the head of the Bridle Path



Bridle Path Sign, Heathcote Valley, Christchurch 360 Trail

Christchurch 360 Trail: Gondola terminus on Mt Cavendish

Lytelton Harbour from near Mt Evans part of the Christchurch 360 Trail
Christchurch 360 Trail, rest spot on way to Mt Pleasant

DOC track sign on Crater Rim Walkway, Christchurch 360 Trail

View to Pegasus Bay from Summit Road below Mt Pleasant


You can see more photos on my Bridle Path post and another about walking along the Crater Rim Walkway.

Godley Cliffs

I have mountain biked the section of Summit Road from Evans Pass to Godley Heads many times. Godley Heads is home to a series of World War II defence fortifications...there was a gun battery, MG posts and barracks here for the defence of Lyttleton Harbour. You should go have a look it is fascinating stuff...



The road from Evans Pass to Godley Heads

  Just as an aside...the only time they were ever allowed to shoot off the big 8 Inch gun they accidentally sank a local fishing trawler...they did not actually aim at it! Dead eye dicks all the way! Just as well the Imperial Japanese Navy never came calling...

DOC sign explaining the Godley Heads gun emplacements

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One of the gun casements at Godley Heads


The official track follows the course of the Crater Rim Walkway but I'm going to call that a finished part of this section. I still need to walk the rest of the section from Godley Heads to Sumner via Taylor's Mistake.

Looking down towards Taylor's Mistake from near Godley Heads
 
NB: There is a DOC campsite at Godley Heads, it is open over the summer months, make a booking before you go. 

Estuary/Marshes

I have walked/biked the route from the Ferry Road bridge to Sumner a couple of times, still need to walk/bike the rest of this section from Ferrymead to Waimairi Beach.

Christchurch 360: The pathway along the Estuary at Mt Pleasant

Christchurch 360:One of the marking signs near Redcliffs

Christchurch 360:Sumner Beach and Scarborough Heads

Christchurch 360:Looking back towards Cave Rock from Scarborough Heads

Dunes/Wetlands

I've walked from Waimairi Beach to the Adrenaline forest at Spencer Park, the walk up the Southern Pegasus Walkway is one of the tracks I use when fitness walking. I still need to complete the Wetlands section of the track.

Crossroads at start of Bottle Lake Plantation, Christchurch 360 Trail



Christchurch 360 marker near Waimairi Beach


Christchurch 360 Trail: the track near the old Burwood landfill

Southern Pegasus Walkway, MTB/walking track

Lunch stop on the PegasusWalkway, Christchurch 360 Trail




Entering Spencer Park on the Christchurch 360 Trail


Spencer Park surf lifesaving rooms, turn left here

Christchurch 360 route heading to Adrenaline forest

Brooklands Mouth

This section is best ridden on a bike. I have yet to complete this section although I have ridden my bike between Spencer Park and Brooklands before.

Waimakariri Braids

Another fully completed section, this used to be my haunt back in my MTB crazed days, I have ridden almost all of the tracks and gravel roads from the Waimakiriri Bridges to Macleans Island.

I go "off piste" at the end as I used to do a road cycling circuit from my flat in Avonhead, around the Airport, past Macleans Island and back down West Coast Road. This is slightly off the official route (its actually longer by 5-7 km's than the official trail), but again Im going to call it completed .

Start of the MTB track at McLeans Island

Travelling through McLeans Island forestry block


Rain swollen Waimakiriri River from the Christchurch 360 Trail

Avonhead Gardens

I used to have a bike circuit out behind the airport which took in Mcleans Island Road, Orana Wildlife Park and the Old West Coast Road. I would bike round there 2-3 times a week.  I've also walked the section from Deans Bush to the University, but still need to complete the other parts of this section.


Walking through Riccarton (Deans) Bush

Riccarton Bush is a remnant of the Kahikatea forest that once clothed much of the Canterbury Plains. If you are walking this section do so on a Saturday so you can check out the Farmers Market they hold at Riccarton House each Saturday. Real good eats.....

Riccarton Farmers Market, Riccarton House

Opawaho Divide

I have not completed any part of this section.




Monday 23 November 2015

Rod Donald Hut: from Port Levy Saddle: 21 November 2015

The newest tramping hut in New Zealand: Rod Donald Hut

The weather in the mountains was rubbish over the weekend so I decided to go for a short day tramp on Banks Peninsula. On Saturday I visited the brand new Rod Donald Hut about an hour away from Port Levy Saddle.

Rod Donald Hut overlooking Western Valley, Banks Peninsula

Day trip to Rod Donald Hut, Banks Peninsula

This hut only opened in October and is the next step in a long term plan to develop a series of multi day tramps on Banks Peninsula. Here is a Christchurch Press article which discusses the new hut and the Rod Donald Trust who own the hut. Rod Donald was a Green Party MP with long standing ties to Banks Peninsula. The hut and surrounding bush will bear his name and are a fitting tribute to his environmental work over many, many years.

Te Ara Pataka: Port Levy Saddle to Rod Donald Hut

You can now walk the Te Ara Pataka track over 2-3 days from Gebbies Pass to Hilltop Tavern with a night spent in Packhorse Hut and another in the new Rod Donald Hut. This breaks it down into a 3 hour+5 hour+5 hour tramp. It is on the paper road along the crest of the ridges...this is the route proposed by Harry Ell back in the 1920's. All this land is privately owned farmland with a few scenic bush reserves between the various farms.


The massive car park at Port Levy Saddle
The Port Levy Saddle is accessible from Western Valley road just past Little River township, it is a steep, narrow gravel road but still usable by a two wheel drive vehicles. The saddle provides access to the Summit Walkway: turn north west for Mt Herbert and south east for Hilltop Tavern.

Start of Te Ara Pataka- NW to Mt Herbert
Wide angle view of my direction of travel on Te Ara Pataka

Start of the Summit Walkway- SE- my direction of travel

As you can see the weather was not fantastic even on Banks Peninsula, thankfully it improved as the day progressed. It wouldn't really matter though, it is only one hour to Rod Donald Hut from the car park so even if it is raining it is not too dangerous a proposition.


Me and the beast in the cold wind on Port Levy Saddle


Port Levy from Te Ara Pātaka near Port Levy Saddle

Start of Te Ara Pātaka at Port Levy Saddle

View back to the Port Levy Saddle car park
The Te Ara Pataka walkway starts out following an old farm track but then branches off with poles marking the route. You should follow the marked track as the rest of this area is private farmland and it would be good to be able to maintain the access the farmer has given across their land. 

Te Ara Pataka: old 4 W/D track on way to Waipuna Saddle

Te Ara Pataka: doesn't that weather look nice...
The views kept disappearing into the low laying cloud, travel on Banks Peninsula has the same challenges of tops travel in the higher Southern Alps. You need to carry warm clothing and wet weather gear with you as it gets cold and wet very quickly up here.

On the positive side the views are awesome!


Limited view of Western Valley from Te Ara Pataka

Te Ara Pātaka Walkway meandering across the ridges
Hmmm....must get a bit windy over Waipuna Pass if the extreme lean on this tree is anything to go by...
Waipuna Saddle: I wonder which way the prevailing wind blows...?
Summit Walkway heading towards Hilltop Tavern etc.


The signs on the walkway and the turn off too the hut are really good as you can see from the next three photos. The hut track is clearly marked from both the Mt Herbert side and the Hilltop Tavern side. 


Rod Donald Hut Track, the turn off to the hut...

My cell phone worked here so if you haven't already booked a bunk for the night do it from the saddle. Obviously, you are so well organised this will not be necessary...!

...another sign for Rod Donald Hut...

...and yet another sign for Rod Donald Hut!...

You descend a surprising distance from Waipuna Saddle, probably 200 meters at least, but the track is well marked and not too steep.

Glimpse of the Rod Donald Hut from the access track


Rod Donald Track: yes, it is an old sheep track...

The trust who own the land are using the gorse as a natural nursery for native trees, eventually the natives will push the gorse out and this will be dense luxuriant native bush. 


Gorse as a nursery plant for natives near Rod Donald Hut

First part of the hut you get to is the wood shed, there are some good tips for chopping wood, necessary now that most of us never light a fire in our home. Will the ability to light a fire become a "lost art", judging by some of the ham fisted attempts I've seen in other DOC huts it is already an arcane one. There is a good supply of wood in the shed, and the stove is an old pot belly.

Welcome to the Rod Donald woodshed!

After about an hour you arrive at the hut. All I can say is WOW, it is a totally awesome hut and a fitting tribute to Rod Donald. It is an old farm building that has been gutted and converted into a hut and the volunteers involved have done a fantastic job re-animating it. I'm sure it will become a must visit location both for Christchurch trampers and those from further afield. 

Great job people!


Rod Donald Hut (2015)
Jon at Rod Donald Hut: the porch


Fancy composting toilet, Rod Donald Hut

Both Packhorse and Rod Donald are now on the DOC hut booking system, this is an excellent idea as it will ensure you have a place to sleep at the end of your tramp. It is a very reasonable $15 per night and all the funds go towards the upkeep of the huts and the Summit Walkway. I envision that this will become the first overnight stay for many new trampers over the years to come.


Upstairs bunk room (8 Beds), Rod Donald Hut


Map of Te Ara Pātaka (Summit Walkway)


View from the veranda at Rod Donald Hut


Rod Donald Hut, nice new sign on door


Interior of the Rod Donald Hut


The kitchen and general areas of the hut have been well thought out, they are colourful, have plenty of space and great views of Little River and Western Valley from every window. There are two more bunks on this level.


Interior of Rod Donald Hut
Me inside the Rod Donald Hut


Little River and Western Valley from Rod Donald Hut

The Rod Donald Trust have started extensive planting on the slopes surrounding the hut, this is going to be a stunning area of native bush in about 20-25 years with a range of three story species endemic to the Peninsula.

Another view of the outside of Rod Donald Hut

Western Valley road heading towards saddle

After chatting with the four Czech tourists in the hut and eating my lunch I headed back to the car for the trip home. You have to climb back up to the walkway from the hut but I found the climb surprisingly easy, the camber and state of the track made for good walking. 


Bush and gorse along track from Rod Donald Hut

Given the bend in these trees it makes you wonder at the ability of nature to survive in even the most extreme conditions.


Waipuna Saddle: must be windy up here...!

Te Ara Pātaka,the track to Rod Donald Hut goes through the yellow gorse

Below, you can see the track heading off into the distance following the fence line, three hours will see you at Montgomery's Bush, another two at the Hilltop Tavern over looking Akaroa Harbour. The track to the hut can be seen branching off to the right into the gorse,  half way across the saddle.

Summit Walkway heading south east to Hilltop Tavern

Crossing ridge, view of car park in distance



Me near the farm gates at Port Levy Saddle

As you can see some 'red neck' has been taking pot shots at the DOC sign. It looked like they were trying to make a "bullet face", they just weren't very good shots...

Bullet riddled sign near Port Levy Saddle...


The track follows the contours of the ridge line shown in the photo below in a long sweeping left hand direction. It goes up over the bush covered crest on the left of shot and then drops down to Waipuna Saddle. 

Te Ara Pātaka Track follows ridge line out to left of photo

View out to Port Levy from the saddle

You can clearly see the hut as you come back down Western Valley Road, it is at the apex of the zig-zag driveway pictured below. My understanding is that the driveway will be removed once the bush regenerates on this spur, leaving it cut off from road access. The driveway has a locked gate at the bottom just after leaving the access road.

The trust have started to plant on the slopes around and below the hut, eventually it will all be native bush.

The Rod Donald Hut from Western Valley Road

Just a short trip but a tantalising taste of the Te Ara Pataka or the Summit Walkway. I have already booked a spot in the two huts for the nights of 1-2 April 2016, I will be walking the track starting from Hilltop and walking back towards Gebbies Pass, this allows me to use public transport to get to the start of the track. Kathryn and the kids will pick me up from Gebbies Pass on the Sunday.

I look forward to the experience....!


Access: On the Akaroa-Christchurch Highway, past Little River take gravel Western Valley Road to the car park at Port Levy Saddle
Track Times: 1 hour to Rod Donald Hut, 1.5 hours return
Hut Details: Rod Donald Hut: serviced, 10 bunks, wood burner, water tank, wood shed, toilets
Miscellaneous: On DOC Hut booking system, must be booked for overnight visit, this track is very exposed to the weather, care needed in strong wind, rain, cloudy conditions

The wildly over priced Little River Cafe


P.S: I stopped at Little River to get a cold drink and while there checked out the food in the cafe attached to the store. They wanted $14.00 for a steak and cheese pie, $16.50 with salad on the side! A basic ham sandwich on white bread was $10.00! That is just atrocious...obviously priced for the massive numbers of tourists who pass by on the way to Akaroa.