Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Banks Peninsula - Lyttleton Harbour > Lyttleton > Bridle Path - Crater Rim Walkway

Bridle Path - Crater Rim Walkway

Location

From the west side of the Godley Head car park take the signposted Crater Rim Walkway, which starts just below the Sign of the Kiwi, by a low stone wall and sidles around the hillside to a small car park.

Description

Godley Head to Bridle Path – 5.5km, 3.5 hours return

This section of the Crater Rim Walkway follows the crest of the Port Hills from Godley Head to the Bridle Path.

This walkway climbs and sidles dramatically along steep rocky slopes overlooking Lyttelton Harbour. Rejoin Godley Head Road at Breeze Col and again at Livingstone Col, before climbing over a hill and descending to Evans Pass. Here the short Rapanui Bush Track drops down to join Captain Thomas shared-use track, which descends to Sumner.

At Evans Pass, the Crater Rim Walkway resumes about 200 metres west along the Summit Road. Steadily climb to a spur where views of Lyttelton and the upper harbour unfold. Continue up past four concrete WW 2 anti-aircraft gun emplacements and sidle through light forest under rock outcrops and overhangs below the summit of Mt Pleasant (known to the Maori as Tauhinu-Korokio after two native shrubs that were once common near its summit). From the car park at Major Hornbrook Saddle climb over Mt Cavendish, passing by the gondola. Descend easy slopes to the bridle Path car park on the Summit Road.

Toilets: Godley Head car park.

Sign of the Kiwi to Ahuriri Reserve – 8km one way, 3.5 hours one way

This section of the Crater Rim Walkway follows the crest of the Port Hills from the Sign of the Kiwi to Ahuriri Reserve.

Follow the left track around scrubby slopes above Lyttelton Harbour to a small open area on the roadside opposite a large gravel car park. Cross the Summit Road and continue skirting above the road before re-crossing at Worsleys Road. The Crater Rim Walkway climbs to the top edge of Hoon Hay Scenic Reserve, and then descends gradually to follow the Summit Road to the car park at the head of Hoon Hay Valley. Follow the Crater Rim Walkway, through native scrub under the steep flank of Mt Ada, overlooking Lyttelton Harbour. Once on the saddle it is a short distance to the Sign of the Bellbird car park.

The Walkway now sidles again on the harbour side, this time under the dramatic domed Cass Peak. Continue southwards along the tops passing several bush remnants and rock outcrops. The Walkway climbs away from the Summit Road and up onto the slopes of Coopers Knob/Omawete. At 573 m, the highest point on the Port Hills, the views down the length of Lyttelton Harbour are breathtaking. A short detour leads to the summit, with a little easy scrambling over rock – this can be slippery in wet weather. A descent through native bush brings you to the end of the Crater Rim Walkway at a car park opposite Ahuriri Reserve.

Toilets: Sign of the Kiwi, Sign of the Bellbird.

Amenities

• Birds
• Carpark
• Dogs Allowed
• Historical
• Plant Life

Source

www.ccc.govt.nz

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