Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Banks Peninsula - Lyttleton Harbour > Lyttleton > Quail Island Walkway
Quail Island Walkway
- Location
- A ferry service operates daily to Ōtamahua/Quail Island from Lyttelton between October and April. Trips can be organised at other times by contacting Sea Cruises or the Black Cat Group.
- Description
Begin at the wharf and climb through the wooded area above the rocky shore line, to pass the visitor centre. Passing the reservoir, the path follows the basalt cliff tops over open grassland to the site of the Ward brother’s cottage. Just past the cottage is the turn-off for the shorter loop. Continue to the northern point where there is a bird observation barricade. From here the track turns south-west and skirts a stock dam, basalt quarry and then the view point to the ships' graveyard and around to Walkers Beach. On the southern-most point is the grave of the only leper to die on the island.
The track then follows behind water-ski beach to the terraces where the old leprosy colony was sited. It climbs a short distance to go past the dog kennels and through an oak grove above the swimming beach and quarantine barracks. Descend to the main track which winds around the beachfront past the old jetty back to the wharf.
- Distance
- 4.5 km
- Duration
- 2.3 hours
- Level
- Medium
- Amenities
-
- Birds
- Camping
- Historical
- Lookouts
- Plant Life
- Swimming
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk