Woza Mark

Woza Wanderer

2010-01-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

My SAKI wandering and wondering continues in my Woza Wanderer blog.

Orton Bradley Park and Mt Herbert Walkway

2009-12-14T17:22:00.000-08:00

2009. Turnoff Sign, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay

Early one nor'wester Saturday morning, I drove overs Dyers Pass, Port Hills, to Governors Bay, Teddington and Charteris Bay, as I wanted to climb the saddle between Mt Herbert (919m) and Mt Bradley (855m), via Orton Bradley Park and Mt Herbert Walkway.

2009. Orton Bradley Park Gate, Charteris Bay

2009. Orton Bradley Park Gate Information Board

2009. Orton Bradley Park Camp Site Information Board

Orton Bradley Park rose from Charteris Bay and went up Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley saddle valley. After paying my entrance fee into the honesty box, I parked my car in the picnic / camping ground.

2009. Start of Valley Track & Mt Herbert Walk, Orton Bradley Park Camp Site

2009. Orton Bradley Park Valley Track Start

I'd walk through Orton Bradley Park (about 1 hour) then walk up steeper Mt Herbert Walkway (about 3 hours) to Mt Herbert Shelter on top of the saddle between Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley. I'd climbed the summits on previous walks.

My trek up to Mt Herbert Shelter took me 4.5 hours, as I did a half hour detour through Mt Herbert summit gorse. My downhill return to Orton Bradley Park should've taken 3 hours, but I descended in 4 hours, as I detoured twice: (1) Lost in gorse. (2) Alternative track to Big Rock top, Orton Bradley Park.

2009. Flax Mill Site Information, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Purple Foxglove, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Water Pump, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Sheep Below Birches, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

At the end of Orton Bradley Park picnic area, I read an information board, and started along Valley Track following a stream on my left through exotic and native trees. By direction signs, I went through a gate and walked over poplar kapok on the path.

I passed a sign giving the history of an old flax mill, and passed a water pump under cool trees beside the stream, and sheep grazing below birches.

I passed through groves of shady kanukas, Kunzea ericoides, their white blossoms dusting hill slopes like fresh snow. I passed several exotic numbered trees, crossed a stile, and read a loading caution sign on a kanuka by a wooden road bridge.

2009. Footbridge by Road, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Orton Bradley Park Farmer & Sheep Dogs by Valley Track

I walked below gums and macrocarpas, where a male jogger passed me going downhill. A farmer on his quad bike and 6 sheep dogs went downhill on the farm road too. Thereafter I had tracks to myself until I reached Mt Herbert Walkway saddle top.

2009. Valley Track Stile, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Log Footbridge Over Stream near Ropes Course, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Valley Track to Mt Herbert, Orton Bradley Park

Below gums I crossed another stile by a stream and a log bridge (loading limit 3 persons) and passed two more direction signs showing walks to a Waterfall and Tablelands and MT HERBERT 3 HRS 50 MINS. I passed ORTON BRADLEY ROPES COURSE in gums on the far side of the stream.

Through trees I had glimpses of Big Rock, with Mt Herbert slopes left and Mt Bradley slopes right. Beyond the gums I passed through more white flowering kanuka, and saw an Australian magpie strutting a hillside sheep paddock.

2009. Paddock by Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Flowering Kanukas, Kunzea ericoides, Valley Track below Mt Bradley (855m)

2009. Valley Track Bush, Orton Bradley Park below Mt Herbert (919m)

2009. Kanuka Grove, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park view of Mt Herbert (919m)

2009. Valley Track Sign Board, Orton Bradley Park

Orton Bradley Park poles with red tops marked the way. Below Big Rock on my left, I had fine views of Mt Herbert, the saddle and Mt Bradley ahead.

In grassland at another log bridge (load limit 5 persons) I passed more direction signs to a Waterfall and Mt Herbert. Looking back, I saw distant Sugarloaf, Port Hills.

2009. Valley Track Stile & Farm Road below Mt Bradley, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Valley Track view of Mt Herbert (919m)

2009. Valley Track view of Port Hills

Breaking out of kanuka and kowhai, Sophora tetraptera, or Sophora microphilla, I passed a foxglove patch and crossing another stile I joined the farm road ascending grassland. I would see many purple and white foxgloves on Mt Herbert slopes.

Looking back, I saw Witch Hill, Port Hills. I passed another Waterfall sign and a stile and a FOREST & BIRD sign on a fence.

2009. Valley Track Signs & Dipslope below Mt Herbert

2009. Valley Track view of Mt Bradley (855m)

2009. Valley Track view of Port Hills from Coronation Hill to The Tors

2009. Valley Track Sheep view of Mt Bradley

2009. Valley Track Stream view of Mt Bradley

2009. Valley Track Duckboard Bridge view of Mt Herbert

Following red topped poles, I passed more direction signs: CARPARK VIA TABLELANDS; MT HERBERT... with Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley ahead. The higher I climbed the more Port Hills were revealed behind: a view from Marleys Hill to The Tors appeared, with Quail Island, Rapaki and Cass Bay below.

A brown rabbit bounced over the track into cover on a Mt Bradley slope. I'd see several rabbits on my way up Mt Herbert, the gorse giving good cover. Three fantails fluttered into roadside bush.

2009. Valley Track Thistle view of Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to The Tors

2009. Valley Track view of Side Valley going up Mt Herbert

2009. Orton Bradley Park Southern Boundary Sign

2009. Fence Line, Orton Bradley Park left, Private Landowners right & Gorse

With the bushy stream on my left and ORTON BRADLEY SOUTHERN BOUNDARY sign on a fence, near a MT HERBERT RTN 5 HRS sign, I crossed a stile into boob high grass, which I slashed with my macrocarpa walking stick to expose a DOC sign:

MT HERBERT WALKWAY

MT HERBERT SHELTER -> 2 hrs 30 mins
PRIVATE PROPERTY PLEASE KEEP TO MARKED TRACK

2009. DOC Sign, Mt Herbert Walkway, Orton Bradley Park Southern Boundary

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bush near Orton Bradley Park

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Bush, Orton Bradley Park & Port Hills

I'd find the latter impossible due to gorse infestation and badly marked tracks. Fixed to the top of the DOC sign was a PRIVATE LANDOWNERS sign. The contrast between Orton Bradley Park and Private Landowners' properties either side of the fence was startling: Orton Bradley Park - clean grassland, no gorse pollution. Private landowners - native bush with gorse pollution.

2009. Stream by Mt Herbert Walkway below Mt Herbert Dipslope

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse view of Side Valley & Gorge going up Mt Herbert Dipslope

The next DOC sign I'd see 3.5 hours later would be on the windy saddle between Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley summits. Between the top and bottom signs on Mt Herbert Walkway, I'd see massive gorse infestation, and a mishmash of DOC marker poles with yellow tops, some with orange, plastic triangles on top too.

Some markers were fence standards with yellow plastic cylinders on top. Some older wooden poles were gnawed by animals. Some poles were loose in the soil, pointing at weird angles to the sky, some fallen. One fallen pole I re-erected against a rock, adding to weird angled poles.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Thistle & Gorse by Bushy Valley. Port Hills beyond

During my 3.5 hour trek up Mt Herbert Walkway, I guesstimated that during 1/3 of that time I passed through ugly gorse infestation which started beyond Orton Bradley Park boundary in Private Landowners' land and continued up to Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley summits, with some native bush and grasslands between. What a mess!

I thought PM John Key and his Climate Change Issues Minister, Nick Smith at Copenhagen Global Climate Conference could trade NZ gorse credits with other countries instead of carbon credits for pine trees, as NZ's gorse infestation biomass could suck up as much carbon as an equal pine forest biomass.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Impenetrable Gorse Infesting Grassland on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse going up Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle

During December 1996, for a week I drove around NZ South Island with SA octogenarian friend Gillie, and besides clean, green NZ, from Blenheim in the north to Wanaka in the south, from Greymouth in the west to Christchurch in the east, we saw massive gorse and broom infestations. Thirteen years later, there was no sign infestations had ceased.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Grass, Thistle & Gorse on a Mt Herbert Slope. Charteris Bay & Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorge going up Mt Herbert Dipslope

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassy Slope, Broom & Bluffs

2009. Red Flowers & Clover, Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bluffs view of Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Charteris Bay & Port Hills from Hoon Hay Reserve to Witch Hill

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Thistle view of Gorge below Mt Herbert Dipslope

At the start of Mt Herbert Walkway after I waded through high grass, the track veered left up a side valley towards Mt Herbert dipslope. I walked through overgrown tree nettles, Urtica ferox growing beside the track. I got stung, leaving a wheal which itched for hours, like a bluebottle sting, or burn from a hot iron. I boulder-hopped a stream and passed kowhai, pittosporums, five fingers, ferns, whiteywoods...

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay & Port Hills

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorge below Mt Herbert Dipslope

Mt Herbert Walkway followed the stream up the side valley for a while with high gorse both sides of the track and Mt Herbert bluffs ahead. The walkway became vague with shonky marker poles. By one pole I pushed through overgrown gorse, finding myself on a trackless, grassy slope, polluted by thistles and impenetrable gorse on both sides going down to the main valley above Orton Bradley Park.

I scrambled up the grassy slope to distant marker poles above bluffs, where I had grand western views of Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour, Governors Bay and Port Hills to hazy Southern Alps. I watched an Australian harrier soaring above Mt Bradley slopes, hunting for prey. Small birds scattered, like confetti.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Grassland & Bush below Mt Herbert

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Foxgloves & Bush below Mt Herbert

2009. Tree Nettle, Urtica ferox growing across Mt Herbert Walkway

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway close up view of Tree Nettle, Urtica ferox needles which give a nasty sting. Red Admiral butterfly larvae feed on the leaves.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bush view of Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland & Bush view of Port Hills

Through more steep grassland, DOC marker poles led me to more native bush up the side of Mt Herbert, where again I avoided overgrown tree nettles. I zigzagged upwards, passing gnarly whiteywoods, with glimpses of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Southern Alps through trees. The higher I climbed the more Port Hills were revealed.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Mt Cavendish

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Gorse on Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Cavendish

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of a Break in the Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Spur, with gorsy saddle below Mt Bradley Slope

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Mt Pleasant

Above the bush Mt Herbert Walkway sidled through grassland below the saddle towards Mt Bradley again, where the wind writhed grass like a sack of stoats. Westwards, Port Hills were a vast amphitheatre above Quail Island and Lyttelton Harbour with Mt Bradley slopes and Mt Herbert slopes forming a proscenium arch with the sky: Mt Bradley cutting off Gebbies Pass and Mt Herbert cutting off Lyttelton, Mt Pleasant and Godley Head in the wings.

With gorse on a Mt Herbert summit spur behind, and rocks in grassland below, I coolpixed views. As it was hot midday, I scoffed Coke and a cheese roll.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Spur

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit right (919m). Mt Herbert Summit Spur left & Dipslope top left

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Pleasant. Pegasus Bay top right

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Summit Slope gorse view of Mt Bradley slope left, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Mt Vernon

2009. Mt Herbert Summit Slope view of Gorse in Saddle Valley between Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley. Mt Herbert Summit Spur right. Mt Herbert Walkway greening through gorse middle left

The track continued sidling below the Mt Herbert summit ridge, infested with gorse. Rounding the ridge Mt Bradley side, the track zigzagged through gorse up the saddle, towards Mt Herbert summit, the track deeply rutted in places.

As my Nikon memory card was full, I slogged upwards, deleting coolpix, distracting me from the track. By dead gorse I missed the turn up to the saddle top. Fifteen minutes later, while climbing through dead gorse up Mt Herbert summit spur, I realized my mistake.

2009. Gorse & Dead Gorse Patch on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle. Mt Herbert Walkway goes below dead gorse, then goes up saddle top left between live & dead gorse

2009. Mt Herbert Summit Slope Gorse view of Mt Bradley slope left, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Witch Hill

2009. Rutted Mt Herbert Walkway passing gorse to Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle Top

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Sugarloaf to Mt Pleasant with Lyttelton below. Pegasus Bay top right

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Pleasant with Lyttelton below. Hazy Southern Alps & Pegasus Bay behind

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Mt Herbert Gorse on Summit Slope. Mt Herbert Dipslope top left

Backtracking for 15 minutes, I coolpixed vast gorse pollution on the saddle and on Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley summit slopes. At the saddle top a DOC sign stated:

MT HERBERT SHELTER <- 15 min
PACKHORSE HUT -> 1 hr 45 min
ORTON BRADLEY PARK -> 1 hr 45 min

2009. DOC Sign at Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle Junction between Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Mt Cavendish

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Walker, Gorse Polluted Saddle between Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Lake Ellesmere & Mt Bradley Summit Ridge

Crossing the saddle two blokes passed me on their way to Mt Bradley, with views over the saddle to Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific, and spectacular western views down valley to Orton Bradley Park and beyond to Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps. They were the first people I saw since Orton Bradley Park.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Mt Vernon

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Quail Island & Lyttelton Harbour, with Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Pleasant. Hazy Pegasus Bay top right

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Mt Herbert Shelter below Gorse Polluted Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse Polluted Saddle going up to Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors

Towards Mt Herbert summit further up the saddle track, I crossed the fence stile to Mt Herbert Shelter. A DOC sign stated:

MT HERBERT SHELTER

SUMMIT & MT HERBERT WALKWAY
PACKHORSE HUT -> 1 hr 30 min
ORTON BRADLEY PARK -> 2 hrs
PORT LEVY SADDLE <- 2 hrs
DIAMOND HARBOUR <- 3 hrs

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, DOC Sign & Mt Herbert Shelter

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle & Mt Bradley. Lake Ellesmere left & Port Hills right

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Mt Bradley (855m)

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit & Pacific

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit & Pacific

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit & cloudy Pacific

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Longdrop overlooking Kaituna Valley

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Gorse view of Longdrop overlooking Kaituna Valley Head

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Herbert Summit Slope, Kaituna Valley Head & Banks Peninsula

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Mt Herbert Summit Slope going to Port Levy Saddle

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Coronation Hill & hazy Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Mt Bradley & Port Hills Gibraltar Rock & Coopers Knobs. Canterbury Plains behind

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Mt Bradley Slope, Head of the Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Mt Ada. Canterbury Plains behind

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Mt Bradley Slope, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Marleys Hill. Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps behind

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Scott Scenic Reserve. Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps behind

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Bradley. Lake Ellesmere behind left. Head of the Bay & Port Hills behind right

2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle going towards Mt Bradley Summit Ridge. Lake Ellesmere behind

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Herbert Summit Slope & Dipslope, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Sugarloaf to Mt Pleasant with Lyttelton below

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Herbert Dipslope, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Lyttelton below Port Hills from Witch Hill to Mt Pleasant. Hazy Southern Alps & Pegasus Bay behind

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Cavendish. Hazy Southern Alps behind

While the buffeting wind changed from nor'wester to south-easter, I coolpixed views around Mt Herbert Shelter and around the nearby longdrop: Mt Herbert summit, down valley to Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Mt Bradley, Lakes Ellesmere, Kaituna Valley, Banks Peninsula.

I had Mt Herbert Shelter to myself. I sat on a bench and finished my lunch - Coke, 2 muesli bars, another cheese roll - while enjoying a south-easter, back massage, vibrating wooden Mt Herbert Shelter. The south-easter chilled the air.

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Mt Bradley Slope, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Scott Scenic Reserve

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Bradley Summit Ridge & Lake Ellesmere

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Dead Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Dead Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Mt Cavendish with Lyttelton below

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Dead Gorse view of Gorse below Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle. Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills behind

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle & Mt Bradley. Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills behind

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse, Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Ridge. Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Saddle view of Gorse on Saddle & Mt Bradley. Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse below Mt Herbert Summit (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to The Tors beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Ridge. Mt Herbert Dipslope, Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Saddle & Mt Bradley Slopes. Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Cavendish beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Slopes. Mt Herbert Dipslope right. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Saddle & Mt Herbert Summit Slope (919m)

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Spur. Mt Herbert Dipslope & Port Hills Mt Pleasant beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills & Southern Alps

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Native Bush Remnant surrounded by Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Ridge

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Saddle Slope. Mt Herbert Dipslope & Port Hills Mt Pleasant beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse above Orton Bradley Park. Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills & Southern Alps beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse above Orton Bradley Park. Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Mt Pleasant beyond

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse view of Mt Bradley Slopes, Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Mt Vernon

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass & Gorse view of Mt Bradley Slopes, Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Scott Scenic Reserve

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass & Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass & Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to The Tors

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Sugarloaf to Mt Pleasant above Lyttelton

I texted Leah from the Shelter, and on my return to Orton Bradley Park I tried to find the track section I'd missed below Mt Herbert bluffs on my way up. All I found were two marker poles going up the bluffs, but no track.

I descended the grassy slope, and became lost in the gorse for about 15 minutes, beating about the bush, trying to find where I'd pushed through overgrown gorse on my way up Mt Herbert Walkway. I wondered why farmers didn't use goats to chomp gorse? Farmer's would save on herbicides, and make money from goat meat.

2009. Gnawed Marker Post & Foxgloves, Mt Herbert Walkway

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bush view of Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Witch Hill

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass view of Charteris Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Witch Hill

2009. Thistle, Gorse & Grass Slope below Mt Herbert Walkway near Orton Bradley Park

2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse & Broom view of Side Valley going up to Mt Herbert Dipslope

2009. Orton Bradley Park Valley Track view of Valleys going up Mt Herbert (919m)

Back on track, it was a relief to leave Mt Herbert Walkway gorse, long grass and tree nettles. A young couple passed me, going up. Wherever they went, they had hours of walking ahead.

In Orton Bradley Park, I took an alternative track across a log bridge over the stream to Big Rock top, where I coolpixed views over Lyttelton Habour and Port Hills, and the walk I'd done on Mt Herbert Walkway.

2009. Valley Track view of Big Rock, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Log Bridge going from Valley Track to Big Rock, Orton Bradley Park

2009. Orton Bradley Park Sign by flowering kanuka near Big Rock. Mt Herbert backdrop

2009. Orton Bradley Park, near Big Rock view of Quail Island & Port Hills from Hoon Hay Reserve to Mt Cavendish.

2009. Orton Bradley Park Big Rock view of Mt Herbert (919m)

2009. Orton Bradley Park Big Rock view of Mt Herbert (919m) & Saddle going to Mt Bradley (855m)

2009. Orton Bradley Park Big Rock view of Saddle & Mt Bradley (855m)

2009. Orton Bradley Park below Big Rock view of Flowering Kanukas & Port Hills

Returning to my car, I passed Orton Bradley Outdoor Education Centre through gums and macrocarpas, with lots of suspended ropes, ladders and tyres signifying the Ropes Course.

2009. Orton Bradley Park Ropes Course

2009. Orton Bradley Park Ropes Course Sign

2009. Wooden Footbridge, Valley Track near Orton Bradley Park Picnic / Camp site

On my drive back to Burnside, I stopped on Dyers Pass top at Sign of the Kiwi to coolpix distant Mt Herbert across Lyttelton Harbour.

2009. Top of Dyers Pass, Sign of the Kiwi view of Mt Herbert (919m) beyond Lyttelton Harbour.
(2010. Sign of the Kiwi closed for a while & the kiwi sign & nearby gatepost lantern were removed)

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

Crater Rim Walkway and Godley Head Road

2009-12-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

2009. Evans Pass / Summit Road Intersection, Port Hills, NZ

One sunny Saturday afternoon I parked my car at the top of Evans Pass, Port Hills, as I wanted to walk Crater Rim Walkway from Evans Pass towards Godley Head. I was spoilt for choice, as there were walks up Mt Pleasant and walks down Sumner Valley: Rapanui Bush and Capt Thomas Walk.

2009. Rapanui Bush & Capt Thomas Walk Signs by Evan Pass Top. Mt Pleasant backdrop

2009. Evans Pass Top view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Evans Pass Top view of Lyttelton Harbour, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

At the top of Evans Pass I looked across Lyttelton Harbour to Purau, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley. On my left was an old quarry below Crater Rim bluffs. I would loop round the top of the quarry on Crater Rim Walkway.

2009. Canterbury Centenary Plaque, Captain Joseph Thomas, Evans Pass Top, Port Hills

Below yellow road signs, I found a surveyor's metal benchmark fastened to a rock, and a bigger, bronze plaque also fastened to the rock stating:

CANTERBURY CENTENARY
1850 1950
IN 1849 CAPTAIN JOSEPH THOMAS
ENGINEER & SURVEYOR ON BEHALF
OF THE CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION
CHOSE THE SIGHT FOR THE SETTLEMENT.
THIS MONUMENT COMMEMORATES HIS
WORK & THAT OF HIS ASSISTANTS IN
PREPARING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE
COLONISTS OF 1850

2009. 1950 Arbor Day / Canterbury Centennial Plaque, Evans Pass rock above Rapanui Bush

Across the intersection overlooking Sumner Valley, a rock had two plaques. A bronze plaque stated:

ARBOR DAY
1950
PLANTED
TO COMMEMORATE
THE CENTENNIAL
OF CANTERBURY

2009. 1950 Sumner Youth Club Centenary Tree Plaque, Evans Pass rock above Rapanui Bush

A black granite plaque stated:

HE WHO PLANTS A TREE
PLANTS PEACE.
YOUTH CLUB SUMNER
AUG. 1950

2009. Carpark, Evans Pass Top. Godley Head Road left

2009. Scarborough Reserve Sign above Godley Head Road near Evans Pass Top

2009. MTB Warning Sign, Godley Head Road, below Crater Rim Walkway

2009. Start of Godley Head MTB Track / Crater Rim Walkway above Godley Head Road, near Evans Pass

2009. Crater Rim Walkway Sign above Godley Head Road near Evans Pass

2009. Briefly shared Godley Head MTB Track / Crater Rim Walkway near Evans Pass

On Godley Head Road I crossed a stock grid, and at SCARBOROUGH RESERVE sign I climbed the first steep, stony bit of Crater Rim Walkway to a clump of gum trees. Closer to Godley Head Road, Godley Head MTB track went below Crater Rim Walkway, which went up the hill spine.

Crater Rim Walkway followed a quarry fence well marked with orange plastic squares nailed to fence posts. Each orange square had a white "W" on it. Two male MTBs slogged up the MTB track.

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Summit Road / Evans Pass Intersection. Godley Head Road right

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Purau, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

209. Crater Rim Walkway view of old Quarry Roads below Evans Pass. Summit Road going up Mt Pleasant right. Lyttelton Harbour, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley left

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Sumner Valley & Pacific. Godley Head Road top right

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Godley Head Road above Sumner Valley. Pegasus Bay backdrop

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Port Hills. Summit Road going up Mt Pleasant right

While I sweated up the hill through dry, north-facing tussockland, I had warm Pacific breezes and grand views of Sumner Valley on my left. On my right I had glimpses of the quarry, Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour and Banks Peninsula peaks.

In dry tussockland I passed matagouri and thistles on my left, and behind the fence on my right I passed cotyledons & matagouri, Discaria toumatou. Behind were views of Summit Road winding up Mt Pleasant.

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Mt Pleasant (499m) Port Hills. See Summit Road & Jollies Bush

2009. Crater Rim Walkway thistle view of Sumner Valley, Richmond Hill, Clifton, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit, Christchurch, Pegasus Bay

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Charteris Bay, Port Hills, Summit Road going up Mt Pleasant

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay, Port Hills

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Mt Evans & The Monument

2009. Crater Rim Walkway thistle view of Taylors Mistake, Godley Head Road going to Godley Head, Pacific

2009. Crater Rim Walkway thistle view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth flanked by Godley Head & Adderley Head

In thistle pollution on the hilltop, I coolpixed Sumner, Christchurch and Pegasus Bay. The fence turned sharp right, looping round Crater Rim, past a beacon to Lyttelton Harbour side of the quarry. Towards the Pacific, I had glimpses of Scarborough and paragliders above Taylors Mistake.

Above me, an Australian harrier soared. Following fence markers, I had grand views of Lyttelton Harbour, Banks Peninsula peaks, Mt Pleasant and Port Hills.

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Diamond Harbour below The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Crater Rim Wallkway view of Mt Pleasant (499m) Port Hills

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Evans Pass & Summit Road on Mt Pleasant (499m)

2009. Crater Rim Walkay view of Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills & Quarry below Evans Pass, Mt Pleasant

20009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Purau, Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton Harbour, Charteris Bay, backdropped by Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Port Hills

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour below Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour below Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Charteris Bay, Governors Bay, Port Hills

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay below Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Port Hills

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelon Harbour, Ripapa Isand, Purau below Banks Peninsula Peaks

2009. Crater Rim Walkway zoom view of Ripapa Island & Purau

2009. Purple Legume Flowers, Crater Rim Walkway above Lyttelton Harbour

In cooler, wetter tussockland, scattered with tiny, purple legume flowers, Crater Rim Walkway doubled back, going downhill beside the quarry, with views of Ripapa Island (with Fort Jervois and its disappearing guns), Diamond Harbour, Banks Peninsula peaks, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Evans Pass and Summit Road going up Mt Pleasant.

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth: Godley Head left, Adderley Head right

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay backdropped by Banks Peninsula & Port Hills Peaks

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Godley Head & Adderley Head flanking Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Godley Head Bluffs by Lyttelton Harbour Mouth. Adderley Head right

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour & Mt Evans

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour & Purau below Banks Peninsula Peaks

After I crossed a stile, Crater Rim Walkway left the quarry fence, and went downhill along the top of bluffs towards Godley Head at Lyttelton Harbour Mouth, with views of Adderley Head the opposite side. Wooden poles marked the way.

While strolling downhill, I watched a ship spewing brown muck into Lyttelton Harbour far below, the ebb tide flushing pollution to the Pacific. A smiley black Labrador jogged past, uphill, his panting master behind.

2009. Crater Rim Walkway going down to Godley Head Road above Taylors Mistake

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau & Diamond Harbour below Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley. Charteris Bay beyond

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Model Aeroplane & Paragliders above Scarborough. Pacific backdrop

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Scarborough, Taylors Mistake, Pacific

2009. Crater Rim Walkway view of Taylors Mistake Valley Head left, with Godley Head Road going to Godley Head

2009. Godley Head Road view of Scarborough Reserve Sign overlooking Lyttelton Harbour, Purau & Banks Peninsula peaks

2009. WW2 Concrete Guard Hut by Godley Head Road overlooking Lyttelton Harbour

2009. Purple Legume Flowers, WW2 Guard Hut, Godley Head Road, Port Hills

2009. WW2 Guard Hut, Godley Head Road view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay, backdropped by Mt Bradley & Port Hills

Approaching Godley Head Road above Taylors Mistake, I crossed another stile, and coolpixed views from two WW2 concrete guard huts overlooking Lyttelton Harbour.

I took 1 hour 20 minutes to walk from Scarborough Reserve sign at Evans Pass to Scarborough Reserve sign by Godley Head Road overlooking Taylors Mistake one side and Lyttelton Harbour the other.

2009. Scarborough Reserve, Godley Head Road view of Lyttelton Harbour & Charteris Bay. Port Hills backdrop

2009. Godley Head Road thistle view of Scarborough, Taylors Mistake, Pacific

2009. Godley Head Road view of Red Model Aeroplane backdropped by Godley Head

2009. Godley Head Road view of Paragliders above Scarborough

2009. Godley Head Road view of Paraglider & Green Model Aeroplanes backdropped by Mt Evans

It took another hour to return to my car along Godley Head Road. At the head of Taylors Mistake valley, I watched seven blokes flying model aeroplanes in fresh breezes.

Further on I watched eight paragliders soaring Taylors Mistake winds. They took off below Godley Head Road, soared Taylors Mistake void along Godley Head Road towards Mt Evans, then circled back, blown by Lyttelton Harbour winds.

The Australian harrier soared closer to Taylors Mistake beach.

2009. Godley Head Road view of Paraglider above Taylors Mistake

I had spectacular views of Scarborough, Sumner, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Christchurch and Pegasus Bay.

On my way down to Evans Pass again, I looked into another roadside WW2 concrete guard hut. Like the other two guard huts, it was soiled by decades of dry stock dung, broken glass and rubbish. Roadside sheep stared at me while I passed.

Closer to Evans Pass, with wisps of white cloud tickling Mt Pleasant summit, I saw a black car wreck lying beside narrow Godley Head Road, windows smashed, panels crunched, rubbish strewn in tussocks beside the car. Four yellow POLICE stickers were stuck on the side of the wreck.

Coda: Evans Pass was closed after the 22.02.11 & 13.06.11 earthquakes due to rockfall hazards.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Matagouri (DOC)

Legs Above Lyttelton: Chalmers Track & Mt Pleasant Pics

2009-12-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) Port Hills (1)

Pics of a 4 hour, Christchurch Port Hills circular walk from Summit Road, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle, down Major Hornbrook Track towards Lyttelton, along Chalmers Track up to Mt Pleasant WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery, and Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), then returning via Broadleaf Lane and Summit Road to Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle.

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle zoom view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), Port Hills (2)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track / Cavendish Bluffs Track Junction, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle, Port Hills (3)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Mt Cavendish & Mt Pleasant Bluffs & Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) (4)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track / Chalmers Track Junction & view of Mt Cavendish Gondola Station (5)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Native Bush, Macrocarpas & Bluffs below Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) (6)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Red Valerian festooned cliff above Lyttelton (7)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Cavendish (445m) (8)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (9)

2009. Chalmers Track Broom Polluted view of Mt Cavendish (445m) (10)

2009. Chalmers Track Oak, Broom & Gorse view of Mt Cavendish (445m) (11)

2009. Chalmers Track Broom Polluted view of Lyttelton, Mt Bradley, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (12)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton below Mt Cavendish Ridges (13)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (14)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (15)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (16)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley & Charteris Bay (17)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs (18)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Pleasant Ridges & Bluffs. Bush Gully to be climbed right, with grass on top (19)

2009. Chalmers Track Broom Polluted view of a Mt Pleasant Ridge above Lyttelton (20)

2009. Chalmers Track view of a Mt Pleasant Ridge above Lyttelton. Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley backdrop (21)

2009. Chalmers Track view of a Mt Pleasant Ridge above Lyttelton (22)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley & Charteris Bay (23)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley & Charteris Bay (24)

2009. Chalmers Track Kowhai, Sophora tetraptera view of Bluffs Below Mt Pleasant Summit (25)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (26)

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island & Port Hills (27)

2009. Chalmers Track view of DOC Sign, Stone Wall & Bush Gully up a Mt Pleasant Ridge (28)

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Lyttelton, Mt Cavendish Ridges & Port Hills (29)

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay & Port Hills (30)

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Mt Pleasant & Mt Cavendish Ridges above Lyttelton. Governors Bay & Port Hills backdrop (31)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge Top view of Lyttelton, Mt Cavendish, Governors Bay & Port Hills (32)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge Top view of some Mt Pleasant Ridges, Mt Cavendish & Port Hills. Summit Road & The Tors beyond (33)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay & Port hills (34)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge going down to Evans Pass. Purau, Mt Evans & The Monument Backdrop (35)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth & Adderley Head (36)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Evans Pass / Summit Road Junction, with Godley Head Road left. Lyttelton Harbour Mouth & Pacific beyond (37)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Chalmers Track up a Bush Gully. Lyttelton, Quail Island, Governors Bay & Port Hills beyond (38)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) (39)

2009. Walkers coming off Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track by a WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement. Quail Island, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass backdrop (40)

2009. Walkers coming off Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track. Lyttelton, Quail Island & Port Hills backdrop (41)

2009. Walkers, Mt Pleasant WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery (4 Gun Emplacements & Command Post). The Monument & Cloudy Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley backdrop (42)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge below Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) Port Hills (43)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Richmond Hill, Sumner & Scarborough (44)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Tussockland Windblown Trees, Port Hills (45)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Crater Rim, Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) & Port Hills (46)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery. Mt Evans & The Monument backdrop (47)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Godley Head, Lyttelton Harbour Mouth, Adderley Head & Pacific (48)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough & Pacific. Godley Head Road right, going towards Scarborough (49)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (50)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Cloudy Christchurch & Pegasus Bay (51)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Pit below Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) Port Hills (52)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of distant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery. Mt Evans & The Monument backdrop (53)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge zoom view of WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery. Mt Evans & The Monument backdrop (54)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge zoom view of WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery: 4 Gun Emplacements, 1 Command Post (55)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Richmond Hill, Sumner & Scarborough. Cloud Shadow over Pacific backdrop (56)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (57)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of distant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery, Lyttelton Harbour & Mt Evans (58)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Richmond Hill & Scarborough. Cloud Shadow over Pacific backdrop (59)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Moncks Spur, Redcliffs, Barnett Park, Clifton, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pacific (60)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Moncks Spur, Redcliffs, Barnett Park, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit, Pegasus Bay (61)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Tussock Paddocks, Cloudy Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Pegasus Bay (62)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Summit Road winding above Moncks Spur, Redcliffs, Barnett Park, Clifton, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (63)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Tussock Paddocks, Cloudy Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (64)

2009. Telecom Masts on Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) Port Hills (65)

2009. Telecom Masts on Cloudy Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) Port Hills (66)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Summit Road, & from Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth to Scarborough. Cloud Shadow over Pegasus Bay backdrop (67)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (68)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Purau & Diamond Harbour below Mt Evans & cloudy The Monument & Mt Herbert (69)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Lyttelton Harbour & Purau below Mt Evans (70)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Lyttelton Harbour & Mt Evans (71)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth flanked by Godley Head & Adderley Head (72)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge going down to Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough & Godley Head by Lyttelton Harbour Mouth. Cloudy Pacific backdrop (73)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Moncks Bay, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit, Clifton, Richmond Hill, Sumner & Scarborough. Pacific backdrop (74)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Redcliffs, Moncks Bay, Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (75)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Summit Paddocks, Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Pegasus Bay (76)

2009. Louring Clouds over Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Apparatus (77)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth to Scarborough. Cloud Shadowed Pegasus Bay backdrop (78)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (79)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Beacon (499m) Port Hills (80)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton Harbour, Purau, Mt Evans & The Monument. See WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery on Mt Pleasant ridge left (81)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Purau & Diamond Harbour below Mt Evans, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (82)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton & Diamond Harbour below Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (83)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Spur view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour & Charteris Bay below Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (84)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Spur view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass (85)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Spur view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass, Governors Bay (86)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Spur view of Lyttelton, Charteris Bay, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass (87)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Spur view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass, Governors Bay, Port Hills (88)

2009. Legs above Lyttelton, Port Hills (89)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass, Governors Bay (90)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass, Governors Bay, Port Hills (91)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Mt Cavendish (445m) & Port Hills Crater Rim. Governors Bay below (92)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view of Mt Cavendish (445m) Port Hills & Cloudy Christchurch (93)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view of Cloudy Christchurch & Canterbury Plains (94)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Apparatus view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains & Pegasus Bay (95)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view of Mt Cavendish (445m) & Port Hills Crater Rim. Governors Bay below (96)

2009. Louring Clouds over Mt Pleasant Summit Beacon (499m) Port Hills. The Monument right (97)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Apparatus & Summit Beacon view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth (98)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Sheep view of Summit Beacon (499m) Port Hills. Mt Evans behind (99)

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve Summit view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (100)

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve Entrance & Sign, Port Hills (101)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Farm view of Clifton, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pacific (102)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Farm Road view of Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay (103)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Farm view of Mt Pleasant Slopes going down to Clifton across to Godley Head. Pacific backdrop (104)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Farm view of Cloudy Christchurch & Canterbury Plains (105)

2009. Mt Pleasant, Broadleaf Lane / Summit Road Junction. Christchurch backdrop (106)

2009. Mt Pleasant, Summit Road view of John Britten Reserve looking across Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley, Christchurch & Canterbury Plains (107)

Coda: 2010-2011 earthquakes extensively damaged Lyttelton & Christchurch. Aftershocks caused rockfall hazards to Port Hills tracks for months.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See "Cyber spies win new powers" in NZ (Stuff Co)

Chalmers Track and Mount Pleasant Summit

2009-12-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

2009. Linwood Avenue view of Mt Pleasant & Mt Cavendish, Port Hills, Christchurch

One cloudy and cool Sunday morning, I parked beside Linwood Avenue to coolpix Mt Pleasant, Mt Cavendish and the Tors, as I intended climbing Mt Pleasant (499m) that afternoon.

2009. Summit Road, Port Hills view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch & Pegasus Bay

2009. Summit Road view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch & hazy Canterbury Plains

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle view of Lyttelton & Diamond Harbour. Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley covered by cloud

After driving up Mt Pleasant Road, I parked my car at Summit Road, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle, as I wanted to do a circular walk along Chalmers Track below Mt Cavendish and Mt Pleasant bluffs, then summit Mt Pleasant.

From Summit Road, I coolpixed Christchurch and Canterbury Plains. Across the saddle, from the concrete roof of a WW2 guard hut I coolpixed Lyttelton and Banks Peninsula.

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle view of Mt Pleasant (499m)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track / Cavendish Bluffs Track Junction view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour & Mt Bradley

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Lyttelton & Diamond Harbour

2009. Major Hornbrook Track broom polluted view of Mt Pleasant

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Mt Pleasant

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Mt Cavendish (445m) with Gondola Station on top

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Major Hornbrook Track / Chalmers Track Junction on the way down to Lyttelton. Hazy Mt Evans backdrop

For 10 minutes I walked down stony Major Hornbrook Track through native bush and broom pollution, with views of Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert ahead; views of Mt Pleasant bluffs on my left; views of Mt Cavendish ridge on my right.

2009 Confusing DOC Sign: Major Hornbrook Track / Chalmers Track Junction

2009. Chalmers Track broom polluted view of hazy Mt Evans

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Chalmers Track Wooden Gate & Stile

On my way down to Lyttelton, by a DOC sign at a track junction, I turned left down grassy Chalmers Track, marked by orange poles. Chalmers Track continue down through native bush and broom below Mt Cavendish and Mt Pleasant bluffs.

Mt Evans views ahead, I passed an open, wooden gate and stile beside a dry stream. Chalmers Track briefly followed a fence, till I came upon a curved-roofed, concrete building in a bushy gully beside ruins of old concrete and stone wall structures below a red valerian festooned cliff.

2009. Chalmers Track & Red Valerian Festooned Cliff

2009. Chalmers Track view of Cliff & Mt Cavendish

2009. Chalmers Track Red Valerian Polluted Ruins. Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley behind

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton & Diamond Harbour. The Monument, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley backdrop

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Cavendish

Looking back up Chalmers Track I had views of Mt Cavendish Gondola Station and Mt Pleasant bluffs. Below sprawled Lyttelton suburbs down to the harbour.

Chalmers Track turned left across an old stone culvert. I crossed a stile below two old oaks, and zigzagged up through native bush, poroporo, broom and gorse, with views of Mt Evans ahead, Lyttelton below on my right, and Mt Cavendish bluffs behind.

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Mt Bradley, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Cavendish & Major Hornbrook Track

2009. Chalmers Track broom polluted view of Lyttelton

2009. Chalmers Track, Broom & Poplars above Lyttelton

2009. Chalmers Track Gorse Pollution & Native Bush view of some Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Chalmers Track Poroporo & Broom

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton & hazy Port Hills

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail Island

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail island

2009. Chalmers Track view of Mt Cavendish & some Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton & hazy Diamond Harbour

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton & Mt Evans

2009. Chalmers Track view of Broom, Native Bush & some Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Chalmers Track view of a Bush Gully climb up a Mt Pleasant Ridge

2009. Chalmers Track view of a Mt Pleasant Ridge above Lyttelton

Below Mt Pleasant bluffs, in open grassland I crossed another stile, and coolpixed Lyttelton below. Continuing below Mt Pleasant bluffs, I watched an Australian harrier soaring in the grey sky. A fantail fluttered across Chalmers Track into dark bush.

2009. Chalmers Track view of Broom & Native Bush below Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Chalmers Track view of more Broom & more Native Bush below more Mt Pleasant Bluffs. Kowhai, Sophora tetraptera, top left tree

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Mt Bradley, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley & Quail Island

I strolled through a grove of kowhai, Sophora tetraptera, and at another grassy lookout above Lyttelton 2 men, 2 women and 4 dogs passed. I watched 2 more women walking their dogs in Lyttelton below.

2009. Chalmers Track view of Kowhai, Sophora tetraptera grove below Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass

2009. Chalmers Track Gorse Pollution above Lyttelton

In grassland below Mt Pleasant bluffs I passed yellow lupins, purple foxgloves and cabbage trees, Cordyline australis, wafting floral scent. By an old stone wall, I passed the last upper Lyttelton house in a bushy gully. At a break in the stone wall a DOC sign directed me up the bushy gully:

CHALMERS TRACK <->
MAJOR HORNBROOK TRACK <- 1.5 km / 40 min
MT PLEASANT BLUFFS TRACK -> 700 m / 20 min

2009. Chalmers Track DOC Sign, Stone Wall & Bush Gully up a Mt Pleasant Ridge

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully up a Mt Pleasant Ridge

2009. Chalmers Track Gully view of hazy Port Hills

2009. Chalmers Track Gully view of Lyttelton & hazy Port Hills

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Lyttelton & Port Hills

2009. Chalmers Track Gully view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay & Port Hills

2009. Chalmers Track Stone Steps in Bush Gully

Up the gully track, I passed bluff caves on my left, and on my right more bluffs with glimpses of the old stone wall going up the steep slope. Heating up, I stripped off my jersey.

Up the gully, I sweated up stone steps past ribbonwoods, Plagianthus regius, tree nettles, ferns, whiteywoods, tree fuchsias, some trees marked by orange plastic triangles. A male jogger squeezed past, going down.

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully Understorey

2009. Near top of Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton & Port Hills

2009. Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Mt Pleasant Summit & Bluffs

2009. Near top of Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Mt Pleasant & Mt Cavendish Ridges above Lyttelton. Port Hills Summit Road backdrop

2009. Near top of Chalmers Track Bush Gully view of Lyttelton & Governors Bay. Port Hills backdrop

2009. Top of Chalmers Track view of Lyttelton & Governors Bay. Port Hills backdrop

I panted upwards, through more bush, past mossy rocks, and over roots, more stone steps, and leaf litter. Above gully bluffs, the track broke into tussockland on a Mt Pleasant eastern slope, with cooling Lyttelton breezes on my back.

On top of the grassy ridge, breezes from Evans Pass cooled me quickly. On my way up to Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery, by a ridge fence I passed another DOC sign stating:

MT PLEASANT BLUFFS TRACK <->
SUMMIT RD CARPARK <- 2 km / 1 hr
EVANS PASS -> 1 km / 30 min

2009. Confusing DOC Sign, top of Chalmers Track, not mentioning Chalmers Track

The DOC sign was confusing as it didn't show Chalmers Track below.

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Mt Pleasant (499m) & Mt Cavendish (445m)

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay & Port Hills. Bridle Path, middle distance ridge

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Chalmers Track in Bush Gully above Lyttelton. Quail Island, Governors Bay, Port Hills backdrop

It took me 1 hour 50 minutes to dawdle along Chalmers Track from Major Hornbrook Track junction to the ridge sign below Mt Pleasant WW2 AA Battery, with Evans Pass eastwards, and Lyttelton, Governors Bay and Port Hills behind.

I would take another 2 hours to summit Mt Pleasant, and return to my car on Summit Road via Broadleaf Lane below Mt Pleasant summit.

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge going down to Evans Pass. Purau, Diamond Harbour, cloudy Mt Evans & The Monument backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth by Adderley Head

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Summit Road / Evans Pass Intersection, with Godley Head Road left. Lyttelton Harbour Mouth & Adderley Head backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Ridge view of Lyttelton, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay, Gebbies Pass & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Cavendish, Mt Pleasant & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay & Gebbies Pass

I crossed a stile with views over Summit Road / Evans Pass intersection far below. At Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery, I counted 20 walkers passing through, myself included. Two blokes stood behind the WW2 command post wall, sheltering from the wind and looking at Lyttelton below.

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battey view of Mt pleasant Summit (499m) & Mt Cavendish Summit (445m)

2009. DOC Sign: Mt Pleasant WW11 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Cloudy Banks Peninsula

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Cloudy Mt Evans & The Monument

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Evans & The Monument

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Godley Head, Lyttelton Harbour Mouth & Adderley Head

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Sumner, Scarborough & Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Richmond Hill, Sumner & Scarborough

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Windblown Trees above Summit Road & Richmond Hill

Thirteen walkers trudged up Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track, lugging heavy backpacks. They were overdressed in boots, longs, shirts / windcheaters, hats. Their leader waved his arms about. After my gully climb, I was still cooling off, wearing jandals, shorts, shirt.

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Port Hills & Crater Rim

2009. Walkers fresh off Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track, by a Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement overlooking Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass

2009. Walkers by a Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement overlooking Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay, Gebbies Pass & Quail Island

Beneath louring, grey clouds, I crossed a fence on my way up Mt Pleasant summit ridge. On my left I viewed Lyttelton, Port Hills and Banks Peninsula. On my right, I saw Summit Road winding down to Mt Evans Pass. I saw Adderley Head and Godley Head by Lyttelton Harbour Mouth. I saw Scarborough, Sumner, Pegasus Bay. I watched MTBs cycling through Greenwood Park above Summit Road.

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge Fence overlooking Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge Fence view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Lyttelton, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Gebbies Pass, Governors Bay, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge zoom view of Richmond Hill, Sumner & Scarborough

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Pit view of Mt Evans & The Monument

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Pit view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Pit view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay

A distance above the WW2 AA Battery I found an 8 m x 5 m concrete-walled pit, and wondered whether WW2 military had used it as a water cistern, or for waste?

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Quail Island, Gebbies Pass & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Clouds Over Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Cloud Shadow on the Pacific beyond Richmond Hill, Sumner & Scarborough

2009. Windblown Trees below Mt Pleasant Summit. Christchurch backdrop

2009. Crater Rim below Mt Pleasant Summit, Port Hills

I trudged up trackless, soggy Mt Pleasant summit ridge, aiming for the two Telecom masts and geodetic beacon on Mt Pleasant summit. I pulled on my jersey, as the wind was numbing. I'd been chilled by Mt Pleasant winds on another walk too, as Mt Pleasant was at the end of the Port Hills, winds gusting up from Lyttelton Harbour one side and Pacific the other.

2009. Mt Pleasant Crater Rim above a Mt Pleasant Ridge above Lyttelton & Diamond Harbour. Mt Evans & The Monument backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Crater Rim view of distant Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft battery on a ridge. Lyttelton Harbour & Mt Evans beyond

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge zoom view of Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Battery

2009. Mt Pleasant Crater Rim view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth & the Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge view of Cloud Shadow on the Pacific, beyond Richmond Hill & Scarborough

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Ridge View of Cloudy Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Pegasus Bay

On my way up, I zigzagged across the Crater Rim to look at Lyttelton and cloudy Banks Peninsula peaks on my left. On my right, I looked down Port Hills farm paddocks and reserves towards Redcliffs, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, Canterbury Plains and cloudy Southern Alps.

2009. Geodetic Beacon & Two Telecom Masts on Mt Pleasant Summit, Port Hills

2009. Two Telecom Masts on Cloudy Mt Pleasant Summit, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Shelterbelts Below Summit overlooking Christchurch

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Summit Road winding past Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth towards Evans Pass

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Purau & Diamond Harbour below cloudy Mt Herbert

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Battery, Purau, Mt Evans & The Monument

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit zoom view of Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Geodetic Beacon & Telecom Apparatus, Port Hills

After crossing a fence and greeting sheep in a summit paddock, I relaxed below Mt Pleasant summit beacon, with magnificent views of Lyttelton Harbour below and Banks Peninsula beyond. I texted Leah from Mt Pleasant summit. I wondered if the two Telecom masts were kauri wood?

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Geodetic Beacon, Port Hills, (499m)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Pacific & Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Clifton, Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough & Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view from Southshore Spit, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth to Scarborough

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Sheep view of Telecom Apparatus & Christchurch

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Mt Cavendish & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass & Port Hills

2009. Lyttelton Summit view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit: Two Feet Above Lyttelton, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Mt Pleasant Summit Spur & Lyttelton Harbour views

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Lyttelton, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Purau, Mt Evans & The Monument

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Beacon view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Beacon Below Louring Clouds, Port Hills, (499m)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Beacon view: Clifton to Scarborough. Pegasus Bay beyond

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view: Southshore Spit to Scarborough. Pegasus Bay beyond

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view: Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit, Pegasus Bay

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Building view: Christchurch, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit, Pegasus Bay

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast & Building view of Christchurch

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Apparatus, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Apparatus view of Lyttelton Harbour Mouth

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Mast view of Mt Cavendish, Governors Bay & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Telecom Mast view of the other Telecom Mast & Geodetic Beacon, Port Hills (499m)

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Mt Cavendish above Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley, Christchurch & Canterbury Plains

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit view of Christchurch & Canterbury Plains

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve view of Christchurch & Canterbury Plains

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve view of Mt Pleasant Slopes descending to Clifton, Scarborough & Godley Head. Pacific backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve. Christchurch & Canterbury Plains backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve Sign & Telecom Apparatus on Mt Pleasant Summit, Port Hills

With views over Christchurch, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps, I strolled down a dirt track through tussockland in Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve. I crossed a stile, and passed more sheep to pine and macrocarpa shelterbelts by farmhouses below Mt Pleasant summit.

At the top of Broadleaf Lane, I passed through a farm gate with a Christchurch City Council sign stating:

PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH
PRIVATE LAND
TO MT PLEASANT RESERVE
PLEASE KEEP TO ROAD

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve view of Mt Pleasant Slopes from Clifton to Lyttelton Harbour Mouth & Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant Scenic Reserve Farm Road below Mt Pleasant Summit. Christchurch & Canterbury Plains backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Summit Farm, Port Hills. Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay backdrop

2009. Farm Road going up to Mt Pleasant Summit Reserve, Port Hills

I walked down to Summit Road, and watched two women photographing themselves in John Britten Reserve. Another couple wandered down Kenton Track towards Mt Pleasant houses.

2009. Port Hills Broadleaf Lane / Summit Road intersection view of Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay

2009. Summit Road / John Britten Reserve view of North-Facing Valleys: Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley. Christchurch & Canterbury Plains backdrop

2009. Summit Road view of Walkers going down John Britten Reserve, Kenton Track to Christchurch

Coda: 2010-2011 earthquakes extensively damaged Lyttelton & Christchurch. Aftershocks caused rockfall hazards to Port Hills tracks for months.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Ribbonwood, Plagianthus regius (Te Ara)

Mount Pleasant Bluffs Track and Summit Road

2009-11-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

Coolpix of a circular walk along Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track, part of Crater Rim Walkway, Port Hills, from Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle on Summit Road, below Mt Pleasant summit bluffs to Mt Pleasant eastern slopes, then return via Summit Road:

2009. Summit Road view of Heathcote Valley, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Mt Thomas (1)

2009. Crater Rim Walkway / Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track in Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle, going up to Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), Port Hills (2)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle & Summit Road Carpark (3)

2009. Mt Cavendish (445m) view of Port Hills (4)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills (5)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills (6)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley (7)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track broom polluted view of Major Hornbrook Track & Bridle Path on Mt Cavendish slopes above Lyttelton. Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills beyond (8)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track broom polluted view of Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (9)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track broom polluted view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay (10)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track broom polluted view of Lyttelton, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley (11)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Major Hornbrook Track, Mt Cavendish (445m) & Port Hills (12)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Cavendish Spurs, Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Port Hills (13)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills (14)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Cavendish Spurs, Governors Bay, Port Hills (15)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Radio Mast on Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), Port Hills (16)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle. Canterbury Plains beyond (17)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant Summit Spur, Lyttelton, Quail Island, Port Hills (18)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills (19)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay (20)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Purau, Diamond Harbour (21)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Evans. WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery seen on left skyline of Mt Pleasant northern slope (22)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Cabbage Tree view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Port Hills (23)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills (24)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass (25)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley (26)

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs. Governors Bay & Port Hills backdrop (27)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track below Mt Pleasant Summit (499m). Port Hills backdrop (28)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), Port Hills (29)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs, Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Port Hills (30)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert (31)

2009. WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun emplacement (1 of 4) below Mt Pleasant Summit (499m). Mt Cavendish (445m) beyond (32)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacements (2 of 4). Pegasus Bay beyond (33)

2009. Mt Pleasant view of Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific (34)

2009. Mt Pleasant view of Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific (35)

2009. Mt Pleasant Water Tank view of Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific (36)

2009. Summit Road view of Moncks Spur above Redcliffs & Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, Southern Alps backdrop (37)

2009. Summit Road view of Barnett Park, Redcliffs, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit. Pegasus Bay (38)

2009. Summit Road view of John Britten Reserve above Heathcote Valley & Avoca Valley. Christchurch & Canterbury Plains beyond (39)

2009. Summit Road view of John Britten Reserve above Heathcote Valley & Christchurch CBD. Canterbury Plains beyond (40)

2009. Summit Road view of Heathcote Valley side going up to John Britten Reserve. Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Pegasus Bay beyond (41)

2009. Summit Road view of Morgans Valley, Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains (42)

2009. Summit Road / Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Pegasus Bay (43)

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont

Mount Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Ruins

2009-11-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

Coolpix of Mt Pleasant eastern slope WW2 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery Ruins - 4 concrete gun emplacements above ground each with magazines, 1 command post half buried in rock. Battery Camp Ruins - further down Mt Pleasant eastern slope:

2009. DOC Sign: Mt Pleasant WW11 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Battery, Port Hills

2009. WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement below Mt Pleasant (499m) Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement. Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement. Gebbies Pass, Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant (499m) WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement above Mt Pleasant Bluffs

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail Island

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Purau, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Diamond Harbour

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Evans, The Monument, Purau

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery zoom view of Mt Evans, The Monument, Purau

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacements above bluffs. Pegasus Bay backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacements. Pegasus Bay backdrop

2009. Command Post Roof view of Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacements & Pacific

2009. Command Post Roof view of Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement, Lyttelton Harbour, Adderley Head, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement view of Godley Head, Lyttelton Harbour, Adderley Head, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Command Post Roof view of Mt Evans, The Monument & Mt Herbert, Banks Peninsula

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Command Post Roof view of Diamond Harbour, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. WW2 Anti Aircraft Command Post Roof view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), Mt Cavendish & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Banks Peninsula Peaks: Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Purau, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Summit Road / Evans Pass Intersection, overlooking Lyttelton Harbour & Mt Evans

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Summit Road / Evans Pass Intersection. Godley Head Road left. Lyttelton Harbour, Adderley Head, Pacific backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant view of Scarborough, Godley Head Road, Lyttelton Harbour Mouth, Adderley Head, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins, Jollies Bush, Pegasus Bay

2009. Mt Pleasant zoom view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins, Jollies Bush, Pegasus Bay

2009. Mt Pleasant view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins, Jollies Bush, Summit Road, Richmond Hill, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins view of Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant view of WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins, Jollies Bush, Summit Road, Richmond Hill, Pacific

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont

Around Mount Pleasant Summit

2009-11-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

2009. Summit Road view of Heathcote Valley side going up to John Britten Reserve, above Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Mt Thomas & Pegasus Bay backdrop

2009. Summit Road view of Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD, Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps

2009. MTB, Summit Road, Mt Cavendish. Christchurch, Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps backdrop

2009. Summit Road Carpark, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle. Governors Bay & Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle view of Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle view of Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass

One Saturday morning, nor'wester blowing, yet cloudy and cool over the Port Hills, I parked my car at Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle by Summit Road, as I wanted to walk around Mt Pleasant summit (499m). Two other cars were parked on the saddle.

Down Summit Road side of the saddle I looked at Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Pegasus Bay and Southern Alps. On the other side I stood on a WW2 guard hut roof and looked at Lyttelton and beyond to Banks Peninsula.

2009. Dog Walker, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle, Port Hills

2009. Crater Rim Walkway / Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track going towards Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs

2009. Summit Road Carpark, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle. Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps backdrop

I watched a woman walking her big, fluffy, white dog towards Major Hornbrook Track. Starting left, I followed a bloke about my age toting a backpack full of rockclimbing gear along Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track, part of Crater Rim Walkway. The track climbed towards Mt Pleasant summit, then became a rocky contour path below Mt Pleasant summit bluffs. I passed 4 rockclimbers: 1 climbing, 3 on the path.

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Rockclimber, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track below Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs, Port Hills

2009. Stone Steps & Tree Fuchsia, Fuchsia excorticata, across Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track

2009. Bluff Overhang, Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track. See Rockclimbers' Stainless-Steel Bolts

2009. Duckboard Bridge, Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track, Port Hills

I walked through native bush below Mt Pleasant basalt bluffs, and found 2 more blokes rockclimbing: 1 climbing, 1 belaying below. I passed low caves at bluff bottoms, smelling of urine, and looked at rockclimbers' stainless-steel bolts attached up a cave overhang.

Where the track wasn't rocky, it was dry clay covered in roots and leaf-litter. I passed whiteywoods, tree nettles, tree fuchsias and mountain horopito, ramarama, pepper trees, Pseudowintera colorata, with redly stained green leaves. I crossed a duckboard bridge over a dry stream in bush so dark my Nikon flashed a coolpix: 10.30 am.

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Broom Polluted view of Major Hornbrook Track below Mt Cavendish. Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Broom Polluted view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Head of the Bay & Governors Bay, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Broom Polluted view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Broom Polluted view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Purau, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lytteton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Spur below Mt Pleasant Summit

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant Summit, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track southern view of Bluffs below Mt Pleasant Summit. Canterbury Plains beyond saddle

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track southern view of Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs & Mt Cavendish. Canterbury Plains beyond

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Major Hornbrook Track below Mt Cavendish. Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs track view of Governors Bay & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Broom Polluted view of Lyttelton, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass

In native bush openings, I had spectacular broom-polluted views over Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, southern Port Hills and Mt Cavendish.

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Radio Masts & Trig beacon on Mt Pleasant Summit

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Mt Pleasant Southern Slope, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Mt Cavendish

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Mt Cavendish, The Tors & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Purau, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

Mt Pleasant Bluffs track zigzagged up a windy spur, partly sheltered by kanukas. I sat on a spur rock and scoffed Coke, apple, snack bar, while admiring views: Mt Pleasant summit with radio masts and trig beacon; saddle view of Canterbury Plains, Christchurch, Southern Alps; Mt Cavendish; Port Hills peaks to Gebbies Pass; Governors Bay; Head of the Bay, Charteris Bay, Quail Island; Lyttelton; Diamond Harbour; Mt Herbert; Mt Bradley; The Monument; Mt Evans; Banks Peninsula. On a northern Mt Pleasant slope, I saw a skyline view of a WW2 Anti-Aircraft Battery.

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Mt Evans, The Monument, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Mt Evans, Banks Peninsula

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur view of Banks Peninsula. See top left WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery, Mt Pleasant eastern slope

2009. Kanuka on Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Spur. See WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery on Mt Pleasant eastern slope skyline

Closer to the spur, I saw Major Hornbrook Track and Bridle Path winding below Mt Cavendish to Lyttelton. I watched rockclimbers I'd passed, climbing and abseiling, the yellow shirted bloke a rock spider clinging to the red-lichened cliff he climbed.

2009. Track Marker on Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Tree, Port Hills

Back on Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track, a scrawny youth caught up with me. A young woman passed, going fast down stone steps through native bush.

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant eastern slope with WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery on skyline

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs & Spur

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs, Lyttelton, Quail Island, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Purau, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Broom Polluted view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Purau, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail Island

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track Cabbage Tree view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills, Quail Island

2009. Mt Herbert Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant Summit Bluffs, Spur, Lyttelton, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Port Hills, Quail Island

2009. Mt Pleasant Bluffs track view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail Island

On the other side of the spur, zigzagging down more stone steps, I passed through more native bush below more Mt Pleasant basalt bluffs. Trees were marked with orange plastic triangles, unnecessary I thought, as Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track was well worn. A skinny couple, their skinny, adult daughter and small, fluffy, white dog passed, trekking to Mt Cavendish.

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track & Spur below Mt Pleasant Summit (499m)

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs, Lyttelton, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Lyttelton & Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Lyttelton, Quail Island, Port Hills

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail Island

I zigzagged up a bluff break to the WW2 Anti-Aircraft Battery in tussockland on a Mt Pleasant eastern slope. It took me 1 hour 30 minutes to dawdle Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track from Mt Cavendish-Mt Pleasant saddle to the AA Battery. The young woman jogged by, returning to Mt Cavendish.

2009. Jogger, Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacements

2009. Walker, Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacements

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement view of Mt Pleasant Summit (499m) & Mt Cavendish (445m)

I lingered an hour or so on Mt Pleasant eastern slope, as the views were magnificent: Mt Pleasant summit; Lyttelton Harbour towards Adderley Head and Godley Head; Summit Road / Evans Pass crossroads; Scarborough; Sumner; Pegasus Bay; Southern Alps; Canterbury Plains; Christchurch. And southern views over Lyttelton, Bays..., Banks Peninsula peaks and Port Hills.

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Sign by Gun Emplacements. Mt Pleasant Summit (499m), Mt Cavendish (445m) & Port Hills backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Control Room view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Bradley, Gebbies Pass, Quail Island

2009. Graffiti, Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Control Room Window

2009. Jogger, Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Summit Road, Lyttelton Harbour & Mt Evans

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Summit Road / Evans Pass Intersection. Lyttelton Harbour & Adderley Head backdrop

I explored the WW2 Anti-Aircraft Battery: four 3.7 inch AA gun emplacements - large lumps of thick concrete with graffiti, and a flat roofed thick concrete control room, half buried in solid rock. I stood on the flat roof of the control room and took 360 degree coolpix, while three men jogged by.

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery view of Summit Road / Evans Pass Intersection. Godley Head Road left. Pacific, Lyttelton Harbour & Adderley Head backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant eastern slope Gate & Stile on the way down to WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp. Pacific, Godley Head & Adderley Head backdrop

2009. Mt Pleasant eastern slope view of Pacific, Scarborough & Godley Head Road

Further down Mt Pleasant eastern slope, overlooking Scarborough, Sumner and Pegasus Bay, I explored demolished Battery Camp ruins amongst tussock, clover and thistles: cracked concrete slabs; low broken walls; 3 series of concrete steps going nowhere, backdropped by windblown trees.

2009. WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins, overlooking Richmond Hill, Scarborough Beach & Scarborough

2009. Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins view of Jollies Bush, Summit Road, Richmond Hill. Pacific backdrop

2009. Cracked Concrete: Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins overlooking Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough & Pacific

2009. Military Steps Going Nowhere: Mt Pleasant WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery Camp Ruins

"Typical military," I thought, "Leaving a wasteland of thistles and cracked concrete."

2009. Mt Pleasant eastern slope view of Richmond Hill, Jollies Bush, Summit Road, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant eastern slope view of Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant, Greenwood Park view of Jollies Bush, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant, Greenwood Park zoom view of Jollies Bush, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant, Greenwood Park view of Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant, Greenwood Park view of Summit Road corner above Richmond Hill, Sumner, Scarborough, Pacific

2009. Mt Pleasant, Greenwood Park view of Redcliffs, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, Mt Thomas

2009. Mt Pleasant, Greenwood Park view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps

Below the Battery Camp ruins, several MTBs raced along a Greenwood Park track towards Evans Pass. I walked through well watered tussockland amongst scattered trees with views over Jollies Bush, Scarborough, Sumner and Pegasus Bay, till I came to a wide track through Greenwood Park going down to Summit Road.

2009. Summit Road Stile, Greenwood Park, Mt Pleasant eastern slope

I crossed a Greenwood Park stile near a Summit Road corner, and marched up Summit Road on the northern side of Mt Pleasant back to my car:

Left: Greenwood Park MTB track...

2009. Greenwood Park Sign, Summit Road, Mt Pleasant

Right: Pine shelterbelt by Summit Road overlooking Eastenders Track, Barnett Park, Redcliffs...

2009. Mt Pleasant, Summit Road view of Eastenders Track right, Barnett Park, Redcliffs. Moncks Spur left, going down to Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Pegasus Bay backdrop.

Left: Farm House below Mt Pleasant summit...

2009. Summit Road view of Farm House below Mt Pleasant Summit

Right: Two Scottish Highland cattle and a stinking roadkill possum by another pine shelterbelt below the farmhouse...

2009. Roadkill Possum, Summit Road below Mt Pleasant Summit

Left: Summit Rd / Mt Pleasant Rd junction signs below Mt Pleasant summit...

2009. Summit Rd / Mt Pleasant Rd Signs, Summit Road below Mt Pleasant Summit

Right: View down Mt Pleasant summit slope to Avon-Heathcote Estuary mouth...

2009. Summit Road / Mt Pleasant Road Junction view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth

Left: View up to Mt Pleasant summit beyond shelter trees...

Right: JOHN BRITTEN MTB TRACK below Summit Road...

2009. Summit Road view of John Britten MTB Track below Mt Pleasant Summit. South New Brighton & Pegasus Bay backdrop

Left: BROADLEAF LANE & NO EXIT signs near a skyline pine...

2009. Broadleaf Lane Sign, Summit Road below Mt Pleasant Summit

Right: JOHN BRITTEN RESERVE & KENTON TRACK TO HEATHCOTE QUARRY signs...

2009. John Britten Reserve Sign, Summit Road below Mt Pleasant Summit. Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD & Canterbury Plains beyond

2009. Kenton Track to Heathcote Quarry Sign, Summit Road below Mt Pleasant Summit. Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD & Canterbury Plains beyond

Left: Two MTBs sped past, while I marched on Summit Road around Mt Pleasant summit.

2009. MTBs, Summit Road, John Britten Reserve Corner, Port Hills

Right: Round John Britten Reserve corner views of Mt Cavendish, The Tors, Castle Rock, southern Port Hills, Heathcote Valley, Morgans Valley, Christchurch CBD...

2009. Summit Road view of Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley. Christchurch & Canterbury Plains beyond

2009. Summit Road view of Mt Cavendish, The Tors, Castle Rock, Port Hills

2009. Summit Road view of Morgans Valley Development, Heathcote Valley, Christchurch

Left: Another farmhouse below Mt Pleasant summit. More Saturday afternoon MTBs whizzed past, smiling...

Right: Scott Bench below Summit road with views of Mt Cavendish, The Tors, Castle Rock, Heathcote Valley, Morgans Valley, Avon- Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Pegasus Bay...

2009. Summit Road view of Scott Bench, Morgans Valley, Heathcote Valley, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

2009. Scott Plaques, Scott Bench, Summit Road, Mt Pleasant, Port Hills

2009. Scott Bench view of Summit Road, Mt Cavendish, The Tors, Castle Rock, Port Hills

It took me 1 hour to march along Summit Road from Greenwood Park, Mt Pleasant eastern slope to Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish saddle, Mt Pleasant northern slope.

Ten cars were parked on Summit Road saddle, mid afternoon walkers and rockclimbers coming and going. Two Maori men drove by in their giant three-wheeler "cars," and waved.

2009. Summit Road Carpark, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle, Port Hills. Christchurch & Canterbury Plains backdrop

2009. Summit Road, Mt Pleasant-Mt Cavendish Saddle, Port Hills. Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps backdrop

Two months later on a warm Wednesday afternoon, Leah and I walked a Greenwood Park track from Summit Road corner to the WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery. We didn't see Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, Barnett Park, Summit Road, Sumner, Scarborough, Evans Pass, nor Godley Head, as a vast fog bank about 400m high had covered the Pacific, and rolled over Christchurch and Port Hills valleys below Greenwood Park where we walked on Mt Pleasant eastern slope.

As we walked in bright sunlight at fog's edge, the fog made the air humid. We hardly saw Jollies Bush as wisps of fog floated over it. Likewise WW2 Battery Camp ruins. On our right we saw sheep under windblown trees going up towards Mt Pleasant summit.

We sat on a rock drinking CocaCola by the WW2 Anti Aircraft Battery, and watched fog creeping over Lyttelton Harbour, Purau and Diamond Harbour, and up Mt Herbert valleys, leaving Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley still visible.

The rest of Lyttelton Harbour, Lyttelton and Port Hills from Mt Pleasant to Gebbies Pass stayed sunny, with wispy clouds forming over Dyers Pass and Governors Bay.

Two walkers passed, puffing towards Mt Pleasant Bluffs Track. In the distance, we watched two paragliders floating over Bridle Path top by Summit Road, circling and vanishing behind Mt Cavendish.

Coda: The 2010-2011 earthquakes caused extensive quake damages to Christchurch, Heathcote Valley, Lyttelton, Evans Pass, Scarborough, Sumner, Redcliffs...

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont

Down and Up Lyttelton Caldera

2009-11-19T19:18:00.000-08:00

Coolpix of a circular walk down and up Lyttelton caldera, from Summit Road Bridle Path carpark, along Crater Rim Walkway (briefly) along Cavendish Bluffs Track below Mt Cavendish (445m) down steep Major Hornbrook Track to Lyttelton, along steep Lyttelton roads, up steep Bridle Path back to Summit Road:

2009. Summit Road Bridle Path Carpark by Pioneer Women Memorial Hut. Mt Cavendish with Gondola Station & Mt Pleasant backdrop (1)

2009. Jane Deans Bench, Bridle Path top, Heathcote Valley side. The Tors & Castle Rock backdrop (2)

2009. Heathcote Valley with Avon-Heathcote Estuary & Pegasus Bay backdrop (3)

2009. Emily Rose Jacobs Bench, Bridle Path Carpark. Quail Island & Banks Peninsula backdrop (4)

2009. Cavendish Bluffs Track view of Lyttelton, Mt Bradley, Quail Island, Gebbies Pass & southern Port Hills (5)

2009. Cavendish Bluffs Track view of Mt Pleasant. Major Hornbrook Track left (6)

2009. Cavendish Bluffs Track / Major Hornbrook Track junction view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley & Gebbies Pass (7)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Bluffs below Mt Cavendish (8)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track view of Mt Pleasant Bluffs (9)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track Walkers below Mt Cavendish Gondola Station (10)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track / Chalmers Track Junction below Mt Cavendish Bluffs & Gondola Station (11)

2009. Major Hornbrook Track start / end, Somes Road, Lyttelton, below Mt Cavendish & Mt Pleasant slopes (12)

2009. Ross Parade / Ross Terrace view of Lyttelton, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (13)

2009. Hawkhurst Road view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans & The Monument (14)

2009. Flimwell Lane view of Lyttelton houses on Mt Cavendish slopes (15)

2009. Top of Flimwell Lane below Ticehurst Terrace, on the way to Bridle Path, Lyttelton (16)

2009. Ticehurst Terrace on the way to Bridle Path, Lyttelton (17)

2009. Ticehurst Terrace view of Lyttelton houses on Mt Cavendish & Mt Pleasant slopes (18)

2009. Ticehurst Terrace / Bridle Path Intersection, Lyttelton (19)

2009. Bridle Path view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (20)

2009. Gate Post & Wooden Bench, Bridle Path, Lyttelton (21)

2009. Bridle Path view of Lyttelton Harbour (22)

2009. Bridle Path view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans, The Monument & Mt Herbert (23)

2009. Cressy Bench, Bridle Path (24)

2009. Randolph Bench, Bridle Path (25)

2009. Randolph Bench Plaque, Bridle Path (26)

2009. Randolph Bench view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour & Mt Evans (27)

2009. Randolph Bench view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (28)

2009. Randolph Bench view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley & Quail Island (29)

2009. Randolph Bench view of Mt Bradley, Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (30)

2009. Randolph Bench view of Quail Island & Gebbies Pass (31)

2009. Upper Bridle Path view of Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Mt Evans & The Monument (32)

2009. Bridle Path WW2 Guard Hut view of Mt Evans (33)

2009. Bridle Path Carpark view of Diamond Harbour, Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley (34)

2009. Summit Road view of Bridle Path, Heathcote Valley, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch, Pegasus Bay & Southern Alps (35)

Coda: The 2010-2011 earthquakes caused extensive quake damages to Castle Rock, Heathcote Valley, Lyttelton & Christchurch.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont