Gibraltar Rock and Omahu Bush, Port Hills, Christchurch NZ
A pleasant circuit walk in Omahu Bush, stopping at Gibraltar Rock for 360 degree views over the Port Hills and Canterbury Plains.
The short walk from Summit Road to the top of Gibraltar Rock (502m) is a good leg stretcher if you are in that part of the Port Hills. For a leisurely 2-2.5 hour walk, continue on into Omahu Bush and do a circuit, dropping down into the valley to visit a small waterfall, then climb back out to the start. Depending on the route you take you will walk through sections of native bush, and in areas of regenerating bush with gorse. There are good views from a few points, including of course the summit of Gibraltar Rock.
Gibraltar Rock from the car park. Sophia on the summit of Gibraltar Rock (502m). Coopers Knob to the left. I’ll visit there next time and will bring my mirrorless camera – from what I’ve seen online the views look pretty good. The view west from the summit.
Point 402m, and in the distance, Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora. Down in the valley. This waterfall was just a minute off Nelsons Track. Looking across the reserve up towards Gibraltar Rock. Looking back down the valley from the Rhodes Track.
Almost back. We took Kirks Track back to the road and then it was a couple of hundred metres to the car park.
Track Notes
From the Gibralta Rock car park we visited the rock, then back tracked a bit to continue on Prendergasts Track, then Kirks Track, Nelsons Track, saw the waterfall, then continued on Rhodes Track which climbs back up to near the start.
On tracks the whole way. We did the widest circuit and it took a little over two hours plus time for photos on Mt Gibraltar.
