Category: Canterbury Foothills

The Pyramid, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ

Views of the Southern Alps and nearby Mt Potts on this off-track walk up The Pyramid (1748m), in Hakatere Conservation Park.

The big walk up Mt Potts was one of our favourites, and along the way you get views of The Pyramid (1748m). This peak is an easier alternative, but is entirely off track, so still not a beginner’s walk. Views of the Southern Alps are excellent, as are views of the southern face of Mt Potts. The long approach over mostly tussock is not so interesting however, and takes the sheen off the overall walking experience. Continue reading “The Pyramid, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ”

Mt Sunday Track, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ

Spectacular 360 degree views from the summit of Mt Sunday on this easy 3km round trip in Hakatere Conservation Area.

Mt Sunday is a roche moutonnée on the Rangitata River Flats, and you can climb it on a marked track in less than one hour. I tend to do short walks only if they are on the drive somewhere, but with my mother visiting we (Sophia and me) decided to drive to the Ashburton Lakes district and show her the area. Mt Sunday is not far from the end of the road and so we thought we’d take the opportunity to do this excellent short walk while down that way. There are significant peaks and wide open spaces all around, so you get a lot of views for little effort. Continue reading “Mt Sunday Track, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ”

Mt Torlesse ascent, Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Canterbury NZ

Spectacular views from Mt Torlesse (1961m), taking in other peaks in the Torlesse Range, including nearby Castle Hill Peak.

Mt Torlesse (1961m) is one of the most prominent mountains on the edge of the Canterbury Plains. I’ve seen it countless times driving past on my way west to other walks, or else from up in the distant Port Hills. After more than three years living in Christchurch it was finally time to climb it, and I picked a cracker of a day. There’s views of other peaks in the Torlesse Range, including a rugged aspect of Castle Hill Peak, and beyond these are peaks in the Craigieburn Range. To the east are the Canterbury Plains, and south-west is your route up. Continue reading “Mt Torlesse ascent, Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Canterbury NZ”

Mt Catherine to 1877m, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ

Spectacular views from pt. 1877m on Mt Catherine, of the Southern Alps, other peaks in the Canterbury Foothills, & the Ashburton Lakes area.

My plans to summit Mt Catherine in mid winter turned out to be a bit ambitious, but spectacular views from the minor peak at 1877m made this an excellent walk regardless. The grandeur of the Arrowsmith Range is to the west, many snowy mountains to the north, and Mt Catherine itself to the east. To the south-west are the wide open plains of the Ashburton Lakes area. Continue reading “Mt Catherine to 1877m, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ”

Black Hill Circuit, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ

This long walk to Black Hill (2067m) via Turtons Saddle offers seriously good views of the Rakaia River and countless mountains in all directions.

I’d had Black Hill (2067m) in mind for spring, with longer days and maybe a bit of snow left to enhance the look of these bare hills. But needing a plan B one mid-winter weekend, I decided to take a chance on this long walk in the snow. And what a walk it was. The views for the middle half were just spectacular, featuring the Rakaia River and more distant tributaries, the Wilberforce and Mathias Rivers, and countless snowy high peaks in all directions. Some of the best views I’ve seen in the Canterbury Foothills. Continue reading “Black Hill Circuit, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ”

Castle Hill Peak Circuit via Mt Plenty, Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Canterbury NZ

An alternative circuit route up Castle Hill Peak (1998m), over Mt Plenty, and returning via Foggy Peak for variety. Spectacular views the whole way.

This is an alternate and much less used route up Castle Hill Peak, a Canterbury classic. Starting at Dry Stream you climb steeply up a spur to Mt Plenty, with already excellent views along the way of the Craigieburn Range and other interesting topography. From there it’s a fairly easy ridge to join the main route to Castle Hill peak from Foggy Peak. The final ascent is quite steep and requires some confidence on either scree or possibly hard snow and ice. Views from the summit include other peaks in the Torlesse Range, and out over the Canterbury Plains. Returning to the start via Foggy Peak adds variety and includes great views of Lake Lyndon. A very satisfying circuit with views the whole way. Continue reading “Castle Hill Peak Circuit via Mt Plenty, Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Canterbury NZ”

Mt Lyndon Cloudy Hill Traverse, Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Canterbury NZ

A traverse of Mt Lyndon (1489m) & Cloudy Hill (1442m), with beautiful views of Lake Lyndon, & of impressive mountain ranges in all directions.

This is a fun traverse (or else return trip) taking in Mt Lyndon (1489m) and Cloudy Hill (1442m), in Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park. It offers excellent views of Lake Lyndon, and of many mountains in all directions. The lighting in winter was nice, accentuating the creases in the various ridges and spurs of the Torlesse and Craigieburn Ranges.

Continue reading “Mt Lyndon Cloudy Hill Traverse, Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Canterbury NZ”

Hamilton Peak and Nervous Knob Circuit, Craigieburn Range NZ

Fabulous views from the Craigieburn Range tops at Hamilton Peak (1922m) & Nervous Knob (1820m) on this sometimes steep circuit walk.

Another excellent walk in the Craigieburn Range, this one visiting Hamilton Peak (1922m) via Camp Saddle, then returning via Nervous Knob (1820m) and Broken River Ski Field. I liked the views from Hamilton Peak in particular, looking west over the Black and Grey Ranges, and east over the Castle Hill area. Doing a circuit adds variety and doesn’t add much to the overall time.  Continue reading “Hamilton Peak and Nervous Knob Circuit, Craigieburn Range NZ”

Mt Harper and Cairn Hill Circuit, Hakatere Conservation Park NZ

Great views on this circuit visiting Mt Harper (1829m), Cairn Hill (1589m) and Lake Emma in Hakatere Conservation Park.

I first visited Mt Harper / Mahaanui (1829m) in winter, not longer after coming to live in NZ. I very much enjoyed that walk and wanted to visit the Harper Range again. This time I decided on a circuit, climbing Mt Harper from Balmacaan Stream, then returning via Cairn Hill (1589m) and Lake Emma. You get excellent views of the Rangitata River, Ben McLeod Range, Ashburton Lakes area (including Lake Emma of course), and big mountains like Mt Taylor to the north east. Continue reading “Mt Harper and Cairn Hill Circuit, Hakatere Conservation Park NZ”

Mt Hutt via Steepface Hill, Canterbury NZ

Big views on this big walk up Steepface Hill and on to Mt Hutt (2185m), one of Canterbury’s iconic high peaks.

Climbing Mt Hutt (2185m) from Terrible Gully was my biggest ever day-walk, at least in terms of climbing. As one of the highest peaks in the Canterbury Foothills, and a prominent mountain that can be seen from right across the Canterbury Plains, it’s an iconic peak that I’d been wanting to climb ever since moving to Christchurch three years earlier. There are excellent views on offer almost the whole day, including those available from Steepface Hill (1876m) which you visit along the way. Continue reading “Mt Hutt via Steepface Hill, Canterbury NZ”