A WALKING TOUR.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20469, 12 February 1932, Page 11

A WALKING TOUR.

TO THE BDITOB OF THS I RESS Sir, —Your correspondent "Snow" this morning is evidently proud of his time from the "Kiwi" (Dyers Pass) to Akaroa, via the "Packhorse" (Kaituna Saddle) and the Purau Track--10 hours 40 minutes; and well lie may bo, for this is very fast travelling indeed. The distance is nearer 50 miles than 40, and the rise to 3000 foet

iimongst ups and downs all day foil;* with less than five miles of flat altogether. This day's walk is altogether beyond anything the lUiilway officials or their followers would tackle, and is only suitable for traineid athletes. Some years ago tho writer was l'ond of a full day on the hills, and has on more than one occasion chosen Akaroa as the objective, in those days the terminus of the tram Was the foot ot Dyers Pass road, and it was from there that we set out via Governor's Buy and tlio summit of Mount Herbert, gaining the ridge between the two Herberts by skirting the high rocks ( of Castle Hill. To beat twelve hours, was very fast going, and only very tew ; of us ever did so. Via Kaituna Saddle would hardly be any shorter, but considerable time i would be saved by using the reeentlytor mud track from there to the gate chat your correspondent mentions near the Kaituna-Port Levy Saddle. From this point to the original Summit road at the Pigeon Bay Saddle is the actual I'llrau Track that the Akaroa settlers formed and used in the "roaring forties" and regularly ill the fifties to briug supplies to the new Lyttelton settlement. But this track in places is now entirely obliterated, and unless one knows it or has an unusually good ■eye for the lie of the country, it is almost impossible to stay on it. and a great number of' people.. have found themselves down in Little Itiver, when they thought tiiev wore approaching Akaroa hai bour t But it is a very beautiful walk, and if one starts out from •tiio Hill Top Hotel (1500 feet) and finishes at Diamond Harbour'; either via Mount Herbert-or past Rhodes Monument and down to Purau, it is just a i>ice 20-inilo day, starting at 8

a.in. and catching the 4.45 p.m. l.yttelLon launch at Diamond Harbour.- - Yours, etc.. SUNSHINE. February llth, 1932. P.S. A Christchurch citizen (since dead at 70 odd years ol' age) once walked from Cathedral square to Akaroa, via Mount Herbert, in less than 12 hours for a wager; this is more than 50 miles.