Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Christchurch > Clifton Hill Walk
Clifton Hill Walk
- Location
- Park on Main Road beside Sumner beach.
- Description
This is a hilly walk offering excellent views over Sumner and the estuary. The Zigzag is one of the steepest and longest footpaths in Christchurch city. Halfway on the walk is the Brownlee Reserve. There are two crossings of Main Road.
Leave the car park following the beach past Shag Rock to Rapanui Lookout with seats. Walk along the gravel path parallel to Main Road beside the estuary to the yacht club at Moncks Bay. Cross to Mulgans Track next to 262 Main Road.
Follow the zigzag track to the end of Kinsey Terrace which offers fine views over the estuary. Walk past the historic Kinsey Terrace houses to Clifton Terrace. Turn right and walk up Clifton Terrace past the tree house to the top half of the Zigzag.
You can take a shortcut here by continuing down the Zigzag to Nayland Street.
Turn right following the Zigzag to Panorama Road. Cross and follow a steep track to the top of Brownlee Reserve. The reserve features a children’s playground, picnic tables and trees.
Walk down the gravel and earthen track exiting onto Clifton Terrace. Continue downhill on footpaths past a seat offering superb views of Sumner. Walk the downhill end of the Zigzag track to Nayland Street. Turn left crossing the Main Road returning past the toilets back to the car park.
Short walk option: After leaving the car park walk along the beach to Rapanui Lookout and seat, 20 min return.
Dogs may be exercised off the leash at Brownlee Reserve.
- Distance
- 3.5 km
- Duration
- 1.15 hours
- Amenities
-
- Benches
- Birds
- Carpark
- Dogs Allowed
- Food and Drink
- Historical
- Lookouts
- Picnics
- Plant Life
- Playground
- Swimming
- Toilets
- Source
- Christchurch City Council Brochure – Coast, Cliffs and Caves 2006
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk