I thought it would be nice to spread some holiday cheer with all that is going on at the moment and what better way to do that, than to do a Secret Santa!
Secret Santa is easy.
– Email your details and we will randomly match you up with another keen runner/adventurer/weekend warrior.
– Work out what your giftee likes and then get creative; find/make/buy them an awesome gift for about $10.
– Send your gift and wait for yours!
I’m happy to co-ordinate all of this so if you’re keen send me an email at runningdreamsnz@gmail.com with your:
– Name:
– Email Address:
– Delivery Address:
– Any social media handles your gifter can follow you on (instagram, twitter etc)
– A few words about you (or some hints about what you want…)
We’ll collate all the details and send you your Secret Santa information on the 27th of November 2016.
I can’t stress enough that this should be fun and enjoyable, but I also want to keep people safe. So just a few terms and conditions:
You agree that:
– you have an address in New Zealand that parcels can be sent to
– you agree to give out your personal details (they will not be used for any other purpose)
– you are over 16 years old
– there is a chance that you may not receive a gift if the person who is your Secret Santa does not send a gift
– you will respect the privacy of the person you are Secret Santa for
– you will not knowingly or recklessly use or attempt to use the Secret Santa for a purpose for which it was not intended, including an unlawful purpose
Remember to get your package sent in time for Christmas!
Sending within New Zealand dates
Standard Post, ParcelPost, ParcelPost Tracked –Tuesday 20 December
I recently (as in yesterday) created a new instagram account. (@runningdreamsnz you should go follow me) Instagram is perhaps my favourite of the Social Media’s because of my love of taking photos. I have kept my personal account of course which will still cater to my daily personal photo sharing. I guess my new account (@runningdreamsnz you should go follow) means I can talk about running and cycling and adventures without some of my more personal things getting in there. It got me thinking though – who must I follow first on this new account??! Now to be fair they all were the top five of the suggestions, but the more I think about it, the more these Instagrams are definitely ones that I couldn’t live without…
1. @jaiandalex my younger brother’s of course! I am lucky to have these guys to adventure with and bounce crazy ideas off. And I love their photos…
2. @youngadventuress Liz Carlson and her amazing photographs inspire me to explore New Zealand and the world to the fullest extent. I honestly think her photos capture the soul of what travelling and adventure are all about!
3. @kilianjornet Kilian Jornet is not only a champion Trailrunner, ski mountaineer, alpinist, adventurer… He also takes stunning photographs and has such a huge heart helping those in need as he did after the earthquakes in Nepal in 2015. Inspirational.
4. @annamcnuff I first heard of Anna when she ran the Te Araroa Trail in 2015. This Brit chick has a wicked sense of humour and is the original Adventure Queen. I would still just be running 5km road races if it wasn’t for her posts and blogs inspiring me to see more of the world in a human powered way!
5. @wildthingsnz I love this account because not only does it showcase beautiful New Zealand trails, it connects you with an amazing community of like minded runners who love getting out and running in this beautiful country of ours!
Quite often I am asked why my page is called “Running Dreams”. To put it simply it is because I can’t run. I am a terrible runner, but I always had a dream to traverse huge amazing mountainous landscapes and so here we are. Here is a list of BHAG that I have in no particular order:
Kepler Track
Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Half done as part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit in September 2016)
Roy’s Peak
Cycle Cape Reinga to Bluff (I’ve actually done this! February/March 2016)
Cycle from East Cape to Cape Egmont
Christchurch 360 Trail (Done August 2015)
Land’s End to John O’Groats
The Bob Graham Round
The Frank Whitten Round
The Old Ghost Road
Queen Charlotte Track
Avalanche Peak
Mt Ruapehu
The Pinnacles (Coromandel)
The Appalachian Trail
The Trans Am Bike Race
Coast to Coast (team)
Bike Cairo to Cape Town
Cycle the Tibetan Plateau
Anapurna Circuit
Everest Base Camp
Le Race (Christchurch)
Run 5km
Run 10km
So many more I could add but will end it here… Comment what your Big Hairy Audacious Goals are below or what big goals you have already achieved! I would love to hear them!!
I love noodles, and having savoured the some of the most delicious noodle dishes in Asia, nothing in New Zealand really quite compares. Now, normally my budget only allows me the two minute variety, but I realise they aren’t very healthy – and so I came up with this alternative which is relatively cheap and darn quick and easy to put together. I have this down to about ten minutes to prepare. If you’re not keen on chilli and garlic, no problemo. The oyster sauce and soy sauce combination is still pretty good. Well I think so! I love stir fry because they are so easy and you can experiment and make it to your taste. Here’s mine:
Ingredients:
– 2 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
– 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce (I use Salt reduced but whatever you like)
– 1-2 cloves of Garlic
– 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
Add these all together in a bowl and mix to combine and set aside.
– 100g any meat (I usually use NZ Beef Schnitzel)
– 1 Cup any vegetables (here I used Watties Super Mix of green beans, red capsicum, carrots, broccoli & spinach)
– 1 packet of Udon Noodles
Fry the meat over medium to high heat. Once the meat is cooked add vegetables. Stir fry for about 2-3 minutes and add the Udon Noodles.
Now you can add the sauce at any stage but I just find when adding it at the same time as the noodles it doesn’t burn in the wok so much and it makes cleaning up much easier. Adding earlier does bring out a bit more flavour though.
Stir fry until the noodles are hot and mixed with the meat and vegetables.
Probably serves two, but I usually eat it all. Enjoy!
As much as I like travelling light, I believe out on any trail, no matter how close you are to home, anything can happen. The weather can change in an instant. You could get injured or lost. I have learned the hard way what could possibly happen in the wilderness and I am still learning. I always try to head into the outdoors prepared, but I also don’t want to drag the everything and the kitchen sink along with me.
This is my basic pack that I would take out into the Port Hills for a long day. A run on the Harry Ell Track probably wouldn’t need this much gear, but if I’m exploring or doing long distances this is what I normally take. Now, trails in the Port Hills do take you into another world but they are relatively close to the city, water supplies, other people etc… So this is definitely not a pack I would take up Mt Oxford or into the Mingha-Deception. The further away from civilisation, the more I would take to cover anything that could happen.
It’s also really important to check the weather before you head out. I do feel that you should be prepared for anything even if the forecast says it will be fine and sunny. The elements should never be under estimated no matter what season it is.
LIST:
– Bag (Salomon S-Lab Advanced Skin 5)
– Water bottle (Yes that is a spongebob bottle, I lost my Salomon one on Sugarloaf and my Ultimate Direction bottle is somewhere on the Maungatapu Track…)
– Gloves (mine are Kathmandu, they are fingerless but become mittens which are attached)
– Beanie (I have a million beanies)
– Thir (so versatile I use this as a headband, beanie, neckwarmer. On Tour Aotearoa I also soaked it in cold water and had it around my neck to keep me cool in the North Island heat)
– Socks (not sure why, but you never know!)
– Headband (incase I need my Thir for something big else. Mine is Icebreaker which also covers my ears and sits nicely under my beanie)
– Poncho
– Survival Blanket (never had to use either thankfully but they are always in the kit)
– Sweet Cheeks Super Balm (for any cuts and bruises I get)
– Tissues (I’ve had a few bleeding noses!)
– Aspirin
– GoPro (photos)
– Powerbank (Just incase)
– Whistle (I have had to use this once)
– Head Lamp (Just a basic Energizer one – I really need to upgrade this.)
– Extra thermal (I use Icebreaker, Macpac, Torpedo7 or Thermatech brands)
– Waterproof Jacket (mine is a Marmot Precip)
Not pictured –
– Mobile Phone (always!)
– Sunglasses (always! I have really sensitive eyes!)
– Strapping (the dog ran away with it)
– Food (I also take a few oat bars and some sugary lollies. Depending how long the day is going to be I will pack more or less food.)
I do usually take a First Aid Kit on longer trips. I found that even if I fell I was never using plasters until I got home and cleaned all the blood and dirt off first!
– Shoes (current trail shoes are New Balance 610v4 or Adidas Kanadia T7’s)
What do you think? Too much or too little?
Comment below what you take on your runs!!
I have always loved inspirational and motivational quotes. I’m not really sure when I started my #mondaymotivation #quotestoliveby but I find Monday’s are one of the hardest days of the week. I guess it’s that snap back to reality after the freedom and adventures of the weekend. Work, life, responsibilities…
Generally I like to find quotes that tie in with how I’m feeling, or how I want to feel. Quotes help me get in a right frame of mind and make me think about the things I am doing. What I’ve done. Where I’m going. Sometimes I see a quote and it turns on light bulb moments. In any case I like quotes. I especially like them on Monday’s and I thought I would share my favourites I’ve posted so far along with the accompanying photos I used!
“Your wings already exist. All you have to do is FLY.” – Unknown
“Either I will find a way, or I will make one.” – Philip Sidney
“Put your feet in the right place and your mind will follow.” – (saw it in a Runner’s World article)
“Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time.” – Unknown
“The longing you seek is not behind you. It is in front of you.” – Maz Kanata
“And when it was over
Nothing defined us
Other than the moments
That made us feel free.” – R.M Drake
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“The middle of nowhere.”
“I thought this was it?”
“Nah.” You shook your head. “This is just the edge.” – Lucy Christopher
“Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you’re young enough, old enough, strong enough and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don’t let worn out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself.” – John Bingham
“The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn’t matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.” – Barbara Healy
“It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey. Not in the destination.” – John Bingham
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder
Monday morning banter at work usually begins with “So what did you do in the weekend?”
Given that our run around the Tongariro Northern Circuit is right around the corner – most weekends my brother’s and I can be found exploring trails and giving our legs plenty of training for some of the steep climbs we are expecting in September. Last weekend I was out sick with a chest infection but on Saturday I was feeling slightly better and I was desperate for some fresh air, so we decided to head to The Sign of the Packhorse – a trail we had never done before. Now most Monday mornings I recap the weekend and most people know what I am talking about. Sign of the Packhorse however was met with a chorus of, “Where the hell is that?”
The Sign of the Packhorse sits on the saddle between Mt Bradley and the Remarkable Dykes on Banks Peninsula. It is actually a nine bunk serviced hut and you can stay the night there – you just need to book online.
Now for a swift copy and paste of it’s history from the very helpful DOC website :
“This hut was planned as part of a series of rest houses built by Harry Ell for a proposed summit route from Christchurch to Akaroa. Only four houses were ever built, all in local stone, including the grand ‘Sign of the Takahe’. The Sign of the Packhorse, Sign of the Bellbird (1914) and Sign of the Kiwi (1917) were designed by Samuel Hurst Seager, one of the earliest architects to move away from historical styles and seek designs and plans with New Zealand character.
Being built of stone Seager was able to blend the houses into and harmonise them with the surrounding landscape.”
There are a few ways to get there; including a long hike from Mt Herbert, another access track comes up from the Kaituna Valley or you can take the Packhorse Track from Gebbies Pass which is what we opted for. It’s about a 20 minute drive from the Christchurch CBD over Dyer’s Pass and through Governor’s Bay to get onto Gebbies Pass Road. We had left late in the afternoon thinking that it was only an hours hike to the Hut, but from Gebbies Pass it is actually closer to 1:45.
My bad.
Not to be deterred on a lovely sunny day we thought we would head up the track anyway and see how far we could make it.
Starting from Gebbies Pass through paddocks of grazing sheep, my initial thoughts were that it would be similar to the open tussock track of Mt Herbert, but the Packhorse Track winds its way through forest trail for most of the uphill. A couple of very small creeks cross the trail and it was particularly muddy for us, so we were careful to watch our steps!
The forest trail opens up just beneath the Remarkable Dykes and some beautiful open single track all the way up to the Hut!
The Packhorse is truly a grand sight sitting beneath Mt Bradley. We had estimated about 2 hours for us to hike to the top, (we are very slow hikers because we talk so much!) but we managed 1:30 so we decided to have a rest and some food before heading down. We sat just outside the Hut (which was absolutely packed with people) before getting some photos of the amazing scenery!
We decided to run all the way down back to the car park. My absolute favourite kind of trail running and it was a great run across the single track and back into the forest.
In no time we were back through the sheep paddock and heading into the last section of forest. This is a great downhill when you are starting the track, not so much fun heading back up on the return though. The brothers took off ahead of me after we climbed over the last stile and made it back in 55 minutes. I was only one minute behind them, so that’s not too bad for these old injured legs!
It was great exploring this track and making it up to the Hut. It is about 6km to the Packhorse Hut and another 6km back to Gebbies Pass – so 12km all up. There is about 360m of vertical to climb, but as always the views around Banks Peninsula are worth it. The road to Tongariro continues! Onwards!
So Junk Free June is almost over and I honestly thought I would be suffering a whole hell of a lot at this point. I pictured myself in a dark corner in fetal position rocking backwards and forwards, sweating and salivating thinking about all the junk food I had given up. I also dreamt about spaceships the other day, so it’s not like my visions are completely grounded in reality.
Surprisingly Junk Free June has gone pretty well. I am genuinely surprised with how I managed throughout the whole month. I think in large part because I got to choose what things I gave up, and I absolutely understood my reasons for giving them up. Reasons being that these things are really not good for me.
To recap:
1: Anything in the Confectionery and Sweets aisle
2: KFC
3: Adding salt to every damn thing.
Knowing that I couldn’t go cold turkey with chocolate – I allowed myself to still include chocolate that was over 70% Cocoa. And to be honest I haven’t really been craving it much. I’m definitely a chocolate bar (or three) a day kind of girl, so this part of the challenge has really surprised me because I thought this is where I would fall over. I actually went and bought some Lindt 90% Dark Chocolate and my God that was something completely different for my sugar loving taste buds. But one square and I had got my hit. I guess you could say kind of like cigarette patches…
I love chocolate and I will always love chocolate, but my three bars a day were more habit and laziness than anything else.
The temptation of KFC has been much harder to avoid. Every Thursday and Friday night I shop at Westfield and because I am not an overly wealthy person – a $5 meal at KFC is a nice cheap, greasy protein hit. The first week I discovered there were actually other food outlets in the food court! I ended up with a nice hot Chicken Laksa. Last week my bank account told me I had to avoid Westfield. Why the hell do I shop there two days in a row anyway? But it’s the smell of KFC that always lures you in. They even built a new store just down the road from me, so driving home past the restaurant I was sooooo tempted. But I’ve managed to stay clean.
Adding salt to every damn thing is mostly habit and partly because I love salt. I would add salt to things that I had cooked in salt. Salt, salt, salt, salt, salt.
This was actually really hard as I found myself craving the saltiest Ready Salted chips I could find. The first couple of weeks I did have more than my fair share of salty potato chips. I hadn’t anticipated this, and it could well be that I need a bit of salt in my everyday diet. I definitely cut it back for the second part of the month – to be honest it helped that I was sick and not able to eat anything. I was still grabbing the salt shaker out of habit, but again I managed to keep off the salt for the month of June. Flavouring wise, it left my food very uninteresting. But it really is a matter of getting creative with herbs and spices.
I loved getting involved in the Charity workouts at BodyFix Gym. I even won a prize of my favourite Em’s Cranberry Craze Bar and a gym towel!! As I mentioned I got sick in the last part of the month so was unable to get to another workout, but I really feel that once you make those small nutritional changes, it makes you feel better about working out and then you feel better eating healthier foods and it becomes a cycle. A lot of my vices are purely because I am too lazy or time poor to cook. I did manage to cook a delicious vegetable soup while I was sick which was so important to help me better. Also I didn’t over think or dwell on the fact I had given up these things. With food in particular for me, the more I think about it, the more I want it and can’t live without it. It really was only hard when I put myself in the situations that cause me to reach for the salt or grab that KFC Wicked Lunch. Once I figured out other alternatives I was fine.
Will I continue the success of Junk Free June? Yep I think I’ll just see how long I can go. I once gave up coke and fizzy drink for over two years just by simply deciding it wasn’t for me anymore. Perhaps once in a blue moon could be ok – I mean YOLO right? Besides, the Lindt 90% Dark Cocoa has grown on me. The power of the Dark Side is strong.
I raised a grand total of $5 for Cancer Research, but I was really glad to be in a group that has so far raised $253.00. I highly recommend the blogs and recipes on the Junk Free June website. You can check it all out at junkfreejune.org
Thanks for all the questions! I will try get a proper write up done as soon as I can! 1. How is the body feeling? Did you get sore?
The body held up really well. I didn’t deal too well with the heat and humidity in the North Island which took a lot out of me energy wise. I was Hangry a lot though. I wasn’t really sore at all except for a few days after coming off the Maungatapu Track. The body is back to normal apart from a couple of injuries after falling off my bike a couple of weeks ago. Not Tour related at all.
2. How long did it take?
27 days, 12 hours and 26 minutes
3. What did you average per day?
Roughly around a 100km, but a couple of times there were days I did 70km then the next day I’d do 130km etc. It worked out in the end. I was quite leisurely about it all. It really just depended on the terrain and my options for sleeping. I spent about 5-6 hours in the saddle on average. I would start around 8/9am, break for second breakfast, elevensies, lunch, afternoon tea etc. Scenic detours and chill/photo time. I was normally done riding by 6/7pm except for Ninety Mile Beach, Kohukohu, Maungatapu and the last night into Bluff.
4. Did you do it on your own?
Yep. Mostly. I’d meet other riders along the way some doing the Tour – others just Cycle Touring NZ but I never really stuck with anyone. The North Island was very lonely for me. I met quite a few riders in the South Island and we were pretty much together most of the way down. Met some lovely people and great characters though!
5. Was it safe? Did anything happen to you?
I was pretty lucky that nothing major happened to me. Most people were incredibly nice and really interested in what we were doing. I was alone a lot though. I felt a lot safer with the SPOT Tracker. The only times I got freaked out were when there were cow’s roaming around on the trails. I am terrified of cows.
6. Favourite place?
Wanaka. Those mountain views will win every time.
7. Was it easier biking in the North Island or the South Island?
Both were really challenging. The North Island had so so many hills, the heat, the headwind. But the South Island had hills and mountain passes and rain and no mobile reception for a good chunk of it. Hey that was hard without Facebook! I would say I enjoyed the South Island more which made it feel easier for me in terms of staying motivated to ride. Definitely much more scenic which helps when you’re tired of hill climbs and gravel roads.
8. Least favourite trail/favourite trail.
Least favourite is definitely the Maungatapu. I wouldn’t mind hiking it, but I probably would never bike it again. Not that I biked it much the first time. I didn’t like the centre of the North Island trail that connected Mangakino to the Timber Trail. It’s a nice trail but I had a bad fall where I flipped my bike and landed hard on my shoulder and hip which made the next few days of riding bloody painful and uncomfortable and I really just wanted to get back to civilisation.
Favourite trail hands down was the West Coast Wilderness Trail.
9. Highlights and Lowlights
Plenty of both. Off the bat – a huge highlight was coming off the ferry in Picton and feeling that cool fresh South Island air. I was home!! And I was closer to the mountains!! Also just meeting people along the way. I’m a pretty shy and quiet person, but I loved talking and meeting people and hearing their stories. It made me realise how important it is to have that human contact and connection. Some really amazing people out there.
Lowlights, where do I start. Ninety Mile Beach was one, just with the heat and my burns and thinking what the hell have I gotten myself into? Another low point for me was the center of the North Island and then after the Timber Trail. I was injured, I was hot, I got lost (well I thought I had) I was alone. I was not a happy camper at all and I just wanted to go home. It really was where I almost chucked it all in. But some kind words from kind strangers set me back on the right path.
10. Tips for others considering doing the Tour Aotearoa.
This is a hard one, because I really don’t feel qualified enough to give people advice. Train Hills. Lots of Hills. Make sure you have enough water! Take cash. Merino everything. Waterproof gear and bags. Clean and Lube the bike often. If you’re considering it, do it. You won’t regret the experience. I have some notes I wrote along the way on what I learned for me specifically on the Tour. I will post that up on the blog at some stage soon. Everyone is different though and probably had different experiences from me.
It’s seriously hard to narrow down my favourite trails in Christchurch to a top three or even a top five. Of course I do have my favourites, but one question I get asked a lot is “I want to run trails. Where in Christchurch do I start?”
Starting is as simple as walking out your door and down the street, but if you want to explore more of the Port Hills, there are certainly some tracks that are local classics. The Port Hills are a great escape from the city and more often than not – will provide spectacular views and a dose of perspective as you look over the Canterbury Plains and the giants of the Southern Alps. This is barely scratching the surface of the network of trails that are on our doorstep but I think these are a great place to start.
Harry Ell Track
Access from Dyers Pass Road or Victoria Park. Walking track. 1-2 hours return walking.
Harry Ell is most definitely a classic Christchurch Walkway and it was my first trail I ever explored and ran in the Port Hills. Named after Harry Ell, a council man who pioneered the development of the Summit Road, this track skirts the hill just above the aforementioned road itself. I usually begin at Sign of the Takahe and head up Dyers Pass Road to the start of the trail on the left hand side but there are also many ways to get to Harry Ell from Victoria Park which has plenty of car parking and access to many other short walking tracks. Harry Ell sidles through bush and pine trees and is clearly marked and signposted all the way to Sign of the Kiwi so no need to worry about getting lost. Some small sections are exposed and on a hot day, it’s very hot. On a windy day very windy. But this track is quite sheltered though I would be very careful of tree fall if the wind is having its way. This track also has a drinking fountain about halfway in and another at the Sign of the Kiwi.
The end of the trail reaches Summit Road where you have plenty of options to explore the Sugarloaf Reserve and the Crater Rim Walkway. The trig and summit of Sugarloaf is another 20-30 minutes via the Crater Rim Walkway and Cedric’s Track, but your hard work climbing is rewarded with stunning views of the city and Lyttleton Harbour. A very popular track, there is always someone up there. You’ll never walk alone.
Rapaki Track
Access from the end of Rapaki Road. Walking and Mountain Biking. 1.5-2 hours return walking.
I have a love/hate relationship with the Rapaki Track. Somedays I have good runs there. Other days I am slowly plodding and cursing the steep hill climbs and being scared by sheep. The Rapaki Track I believe (but don’t quote me) is named after Rapaki Village which is on the the Lyttleton side of the hill and was an old Maori trail in the days before settlement in Canterbury. From the get go Rapaki is a slog and a climb into the Mt Vernon Farm Park and up to the Summit Road. (Yes. The Summit Road is everywhere) After the first climb the track evens out and views through the Valley are pretty amazing as you edge closer to Mt Vernon and Rapaki Rock. This track is very open exposed to the elements and especially on a hot summers day, carrying water is essential. The Valley is actually a working farm, so sheep do roam around on the track from time to time but they generally keep to themselves. Cow’s usually haunt the upper part of the hill, but there is a fence and they are quite a way from the track. The last uphill section of Rapaki will instill fear on your weary legs when it is first glimpsed but push through and you will probably beat the mountain bikers up. This is a very popular track with walkers, runners and bikers alike, so do be aware a mountain bikers could appear out of nowhere but in general they are very courteous. From the top of Summit Road you can view Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley across the Harbour. The Crater Rim Walkway continues in either direction here – you can head to the top of Mt Vernon or towards the Rapaki Rock and Witch Hill which from a distance is shaped like a dog’s head.
The rock is great for climbing and scrambling and there is actually a stone seat at the top of Witch Hill which is some kind of memorial, and I once saw a note up there that said “You have made it up here alive”. You can also follow the Valley Track back down to Albert Terrace or climb back up to Rapaki via the Rogers Track. Now I have heard rumours of a secret track that leads down the other side to Rapaki Village, but I don’t know if that is true! If you do know anything please let me know! I can keep secrets!!
Bridle Path
Access from Bridle Path Road at the bottom of the Christchurch Gondola or Bridle Path Road on the Lyttleton side. Walking track, but sometimes you will see keen mountain bikers. 1-1.5 hours return.
The Bridle Path is a heartburner and a leg burner on both sides. How the early settlers and their horses walked this I’ll never know. This track was built in 1851 for the settlers who arrived in Lyttleton on the first four ships and apparently they walked this track with their belongings to begin their new lives in Christchurch. There is mural of the early settlers walking the track as you head up on the climb from the Lyttleton side. The ships are memorialised along the track with stone seats. (Great opportunity to rest.) Along with a seat at the top dedicated to Jane Deans and the Pioneer Women’s Memorial shelter. It is great to read the information boards on the track which tell you about the settlement of Canterbury as well as history of the landscape. My favourite side is the climb from the bottom of the Gondola to the Summit Road. It’s about 1.2km long and a nice short and sharp 240 odd metres of vertical gain. You will certainly be working your lungs and your legs. Another very exposed track and a sweltering hot day will leave you wishing for a frozen coke at the top. Once again, stunning views of Lyttleton and the Peninsula and the Heathcote Valley. On clear days you can see all the way across the Estuary and Pegasus Bay and you can even spot the New Brighton Pier. At the top of Summit Road you can continue down into Lyttleton. Climbing from Lyttleton is also very steep but there are great views of the Port and the Harbour. My favourite trails from Summit Road are either heading towards Mt Cavendish and the Gondola or taking the Stan Helms Track down into Lyttleton. You can also head into the Castle Rock Reserve or continue the Crater Rim Walkway towards The Tors which are a grand sight. If you are keen to add more vertical I suggest giving the pipeline a go! It’s a good leg workout!
I always find that I will head to certain tracks for a particular reason whether it’s training, fun, punishment, exploring or just for the simple reason of being outside and up high. There is so much to explore up there and the great thing is most of these tracks link up with the Crater Rim Walkway and the Summit Road so there are plenty of opportunities for adventures. If the Port Hills seem like a wild and scary place, rest assured these tracks showcase the great natural environment that is up there as well as the stunning views of the city, Banks Peninsula, and the Southern Alps.
As beautiful and amazing as the Port Hills are – it is important to stay safe and be prepared for changes in weather and potential rockfall hazards. Check out the Christchurch City Council website for updated track status and notices and any other information.
Running Dreams 