Mt Thomas Circuit, Mt Thomas Forest Conservation Park, Canterbury NZ
A quick climb to the summit of Mt Thomas (1036m) for views over the Canterbury Plains & nearby hills, then a pleasant return through native forest.
Mt Thomas (1036m) is one of four smaller mountains less than an hour’s drive to the north-west of Christchurch, all of which have tracks to the summit and circuit options. The others are Mt Oxford, Mt Richardson, and Mt Grey (we’ve yet to climb the latter). Of the three we’ve now climbed, the walk up Mt Thomas was probably the least inspiring, however the loop walk we did was the shortest and hence was a good option when we wanted to get in a half day’s walk and be back in town for early afternoon. To be fair the best views were probably those to the west which were obscured by cloud on the day we did this walk. For me the most scenic section was the return leg from the summit along a broad ridge and then down through a valley of native forest on the Wooded Gully Track. Track notes at the end.
Mt Thomas Circuit: The Scenery
A section of cleared pines early on in the walk. Much of the summit track is through pine plantations, although the upper sections have native plants lining the track. The view north from the summit of Mt Thomas (1036m). Looking north-east from the summit. Tough lighting for photography. A panorama of mountains to the north, taken on the summit. A hazy zoomed-in panorama of the Canterbury Plains, taken on the summit. A bit of zoom to capture misty hills to the north. On the ridge from the summit.
Nice beech forest, or almost woodland, at the start of the Wooded Gully Track. We had lunch at this landslide.
The Wooded Gully Track passes through a lush forested gully. Hence the name. Pleasant native forest towards the end of the Wooded Gully Track. I think they call this type of forest podocarp forest. It was mostly beech forest higher up.
Track Notes
On a marked track the whole way. We walked anti-clockwise. As you can see there are a few other options to choose from in the area.
We walked anti-clockwise and it’s a marked track the whole way. It’s reasonably steep along the summit track to the summit, but easy enough walking. It’s then along the broad ridge and down into the valley through lush native forest. Just a half day walk.
