Mt Harper Circuit, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ
This circuit walk up Mt Harper (1829m) offers wide open views of the Ashburton Lakes District & the Rangitata River, with the Southern Alps providing the backdrop.
With a forecast of cloudy weather to the north and west of Canterbury this walk up Mt Harper (1829m) in the Ashburton Lakes District was a plan B. It turned out to be one of the best walks we’ve done, with fabulous views in all directions. There’s variety in the views as well, with rugged snowy peaks, lumpier mountains, wide plains punctuated with shallow lakes, and the Rangitata River Valley. The overall impression is of remoteness, which I always like on a walk.
We shared the mountain a while with just one other walker despite being a mostly cloudless Saturday. He was intending to parasail off the summit, but the wind was picking up and turned back, leaving Mt Harper entirely to us. Track notes at the end.
Mt Harper Circuit: The Scenery
A fairly epic panorama of the Southern Alps viewed from an icy Lake Camp, at the start of the walk. Ascending the lower slopes with Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater behind. Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp. The Moorhouse Range Sophia backed by the Southern Alps. I forget exactly where this was, but it’s not on the summit. A friend said Sophia looks like she just landed here from somewhere, perhaps after a gymnastics routine. Looking roughly north west.
Looking north-west towards the alps over unnamed peaks in the same range.Sophia ascending the last bit to the summit. Looking towards the alps and the Upper Rangitata Valley, and perhaps Havelock River. Various mountain ranges including Mt Taylor (2333m), the highest point in the Canterbury Foothills, and Mount Somers to the far right. The tops were quite snowy. I took a lot of pictures of the Ben Mcleod Range. One of my favourite shots of the day. Sophia in the foreground and the impressive Ben McLeod Range in the background. A panorama of the two peaks at 1644m and 1658m, and a bit of the Ben McLeod Range to the left. I liked the small plants here casting small shadows. The Rangitata River. I took this shot on a short detour off the main route. Looking up Forest Creek. The Sinclair Range to the right. Viewed from a spot off the main route. Yet another picture of the Ben McLeod Range. Mt Guy in the mid ground. Moody light over the Rangitata River. Moody lighting looking north-west. Looking down the Balmacaan Stream Valley from near the saddle. Mt Taylor and friends as dusk approached.
Track Notes
We walked this circuit up Mt Harper clockwise. The start is on a vehicle track, as is the section from Balmacaan Saddle to the end. Otherwise it’s off track through open country, so no problem with navigation in good weather.
We walked this route clockwise, opting to climb steeply through tussock to get to the summit earlier in the day, and then have views over the Rangitata Valley on the way down. One advantage of this is if you start to run out of light the last sections of the walk are on an obvious vehicle track.
The start is on a vehicle track, as is the section from Balmacaan Saddle to the end. Otherwise it’s off track through open country, so no problem with navigation in good weather. Roughly 1200m of ascent and descent, at the hard end of moderate. I’ve seen others recommend 5-8 hours to complete the walk, and that seems about right. Two hours drive from Christchurch.
We got the idea for this walk from a newly purchased book, Canterbury Foothills and Forests: A Walking and Tramping Guide, which has sooo many options for tramps in the region. My blog has more photos of course, so even if you buy it then keep coming back here to check out the scenery! 🙂
3 thoughts on “Mt Harper Circuit, Hakatere Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ”
Hi Edward, Thanks for sharing of a great walk! I’m planning to do it in coming days too. Just like to know how long it took you to finish? I will be flying from Auckland first thing in the morning so hopefully start walking around 10am, and plan to catch 7pm flight back, but not sure if I will have enough time (being an intermediate tramper)… Your advice would be highly appreciated.
Hi Harrison. I really should put in time estimates to my trip reports. It’s the question most people ask. I think this one can be done in 7-8 hours but the drive in to the area is long – at least 1.5 hours from Chch, but probably a bit longer, so a day trip from Auckland would be very ambitious! You can go up and down the short route (the way I went up) but you’d miss out on some of the best views. If you are listed for time then a much shorter walk would be to climb Mt Guy, which is opposite Mt Harper roughly. Not as much fun though.
I’m impressed that you would even attempt a South Island tramp as a day trip from Auckland! One thing to note: check that the roads into the area are open. The recent flooding washed away a few bridges. I think Mid Canterbury was affected more than other places.
Hi Edward,
Thanks for sharing of a great walk! I’m planning to do it in coming days too. Just like to know how long it took you to finish? I will be flying from Auckland first thing in the morning so hopefully start walking around 10am, and plan to catch 7pm flight back, but not sure if I will have enough time (being an intermediate tramper)… Your advice would be highly appreciated.
Cheers
Harrison
Hi Harrison. I really should put in time estimates to my trip reports. It’s the question most people ask. I think this one can be done in 7-8 hours but the drive in to the area is long – at least 1.5 hours from Chch, but probably a bit longer, so a day trip from Auckland would be very ambitious! You can go up and down the short route (the way I went up) but you’d miss out on some of the best views. If you are listed for time then a much shorter walk would be to climb Mt Guy, which is opposite Mt Harper roughly. Not as much fun though.
I’m impressed that you would even attempt a South Island tramp as a day trip from Auckland! One thing to note: check that the roads into the area are open. The recent flooding washed away a few bridges. I think Mid Canterbury was affected more than other places.