Crater Rim Track – Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills, Christchurch NZ

A pleasant section of the Crater Rim Track in the Port Hills from Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob (573m) with views much of the way.

Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills

I thought about doing this pleasant section of the Crater Rim Track in the Port Hills above Christchurch when we visited nearby Gibraltar Rock. Coopers Knob (573m) is the highest point in the Port Hills and provides excellent views over Lyttelton Harbour to the north-east. Starting at historic Sign of the Bellbird, there are patches of native bush along the way, as well as other worthy viewpoints.

The route is fairly easy going, being mostly flat or undulating with just a few steep sections. Track notes at the end.

Crater Rim Track – Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob: The Scenery

Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
The gorse was blooming.
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
The patch of bush below Cass Peak.
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
Sophia checking out the views in this wide panorama from a rocky outcrop past Cass Peak.
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
Lyttelton Harbour
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
Cass Peak with its radar on top. You pass under these cliffs through a pleasant section of native bush.

Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills

Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
A patchwork of colour, with Gibraltar Rock in the distance.
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
Gibraltar Rock, which we visited the week before.
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
Coopers Knob to the left.
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
Views from the summit of Coopers Knob (573m).
Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
A panorama of Lyttelton Harbour.

Track Notes

Crater Rim Track - Sign of the Bellbird to Coopers Knob, Port Hills
On a marked track the whole way.

There’s a small parking areas at either end. The track is marked the whole way, and mostly flat / undulating, so not difficult. There are a couple of areas where you can leave the track for a bit to get extra views. We started at the Sign of the Bellbird historic site, and walked to Coopers Knob and back in about 2.5 hours or so.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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