Korowai-Torlesse Tussocklands Park is a conservation area about one hour’s drive from Christchurch. There’s fairly easy access to some of the peaks in the park from Porters Pass, which rises to 939m of elevation. One of the easiest peaks to reach is the oddly named Trig M (1,251m), and the views from the summit are excellent, taking in various mountain ranges and adjacent Lake Lyndon .
The shortest route to the top is from Starvation Gully, and takes roughly 2.5-3 hours return. If that’s a bit short then try the Coach Stream Track, which will take closer to 4 hours return. There’s a bit more variety on this route, and good views towards the Canterbury Plains earlier on in the walk. A great views to effort ratio whichever route you choose, and not far from Christchurch if you are based there.
Track notes at the end.
Trig M via Coach Stream Track: The Scenery
I think we joined the Starvation Gully Track around here.
Track Notes
The Coach Stream Track is pretty straightforward, and there’s more information in the DOC brochure for walks in the Korowai-Torlesse Tussocklands Park . The easement through farmland was pretty pooey (cow pats) when we did it, but that’s not a long section. (Note that this section is closed in spring for lambing). The rest is nice. An alternative and shorter track starts from Starvation Gully (and is open year round). The two tracks join towards the top. I think you see more interesting scenery from the Coach Stream Track.
Alternate Route Back
We took an alternate route on the way down that I read about in Wilderness Magazine. You make a partial loop, but the going got quite rough in one section and I’m not sure it adds much to the walk (although you avoid the cow dung this way).
You walk on a faint but obvious track from part way down the Starvation Gully Track. The track runs along a ridge and then down a fence line, crossing over the fence three times to stay on a track of sorts. As you descend more it gets very steep and scrubby. If you persist then you will come to another fence to the left and perpendicular to fence you are following. Cross over this and head over to the start of the obvious (but probably disused) vehicle track which runs up to the highway. (I think this may have be a section of the old coach road). From there it’s an easy descent back down to the outward track.
Yes, it is a section of the old coach road – from the late 1860s.
See my book on the Castle Hill area available on John O’Malley’s websitehttp://www.castlehill.net.nz
Good to know. I’ll check that out 👍😀