THE PORT HILLS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21706, 13 February 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PORT HILLS

MANY INTERESTING TRAMPS

Many people seem to think that in order to have *a holiday they must go and live away from home. All that they want is a change from their ordinary life and they think they can get this only by living in a different place. We who live in Christchurch, however, are very fortunate in having many things-to do quite close at hand, so that even if we are not going away we ought to be able thoroughly, to enjoy our holidays. To mention only three things we have the beaches, the parks and the hills. The person who could not spend many happy days bathing, sunbathing, walking, picnicking, playing on the hills and in the parks and looking at the beautiful flowers in the gardens, should, I think, be the bills between, the city and the port were regarded merely as a nuisance. They prevented easy travelling and traffic between the two places, on after the roads and tunnel been, built, the hills became less of a nuisance, until people began to be glad of them* They were a change from the flatness of the city; they were a splendid place for a walk or a oicnici The different ways in which the Port Phis have been thought of by the people of Christchurch may be seen V the names that have been given at different times to the same hill. The high peak at the back of the town of Lyttelton which seemed to block all access to the plains was first called the Hill of Difficulty. Later, when men had made a way round it by road and through it by the Lyttelton Tunnel, it came to be called Mount Pleasant. . There are so many interesting things to be seen on the Port Hills that even a life-time of school holidays would - hardly be long enough to see them all. If you go for, a few tramps during the autumn yoU wil probably enjoy them so much that you will want to dd more next holiday time. Tramping is one of the healthiest 'as well as most enjoyable sports. You can get just as sun-tanned on the hills as on the beach, and you will get much fitter. The most popular starting-place for walks on the Port Hills is the tram-terminus at the Sienof Hie Takahe on Cashmere Hills, xne return tramfare from the Square to this point more than .600 feet high on the hills is only 9d (Ison Sundays). That is a small outlay for a good day’s tramp. Two miles easy walking on a above the motor iU road c .^ nn ®! the Hamper to the .Signof the Kiwi on Dyer s Pass. From here in both directions along the hills runs the Summit road. This road itself is a very interesting walk, but from it. *here. are many peaks to be clunbed patches of bush to be vl sited. Skirting the hillsides, now on the side near the plains now overlooking the bays of Lyttelton Harbour, the Summit road ■ winds up and down and in and out. fronv the Godley Head Lighthouse to GebblPir^Srln“T&el mtpn between Dyer’s Pass and Gebbres Pass— about nine miles. The roaa climfcs übhill from the first pass (1080 feet), to near Casa Peak where it is 1600 feet high, then H iS practically level lor s mile or two before It descends ■to the low. pass at the Head Of the Harbour— Gebbie s Pass

(By B . W. Collins)

(360 feet). At the sides of the road are several scenic reserves of native bush—mere remnants ol what used to be, and deserving of careful protection. The Coronation Hill Reserve lies on the low cone behind the Sign of the Kiwi teahouse. On the slopes Of Hoon Hay Hill overlooking Governor’s Bay is the Hoon Hay Park. Further on (24 miles from Dyer’s Pass is Kennedy’s Bush and the “Sign of the nedy’s Bush and the Sign of the Bellbird, then the Cass Peak Reley leading down to the plains. At 5J miles is Morten’s Bush, and, at the side of the road nearby, Rhodes Soring, which is a welcome sight to thirsty trampers. On the saddle about a mile further on, below Cooper’s Knobs is the Ahuriri Bush.

From all the peaks on the range of hills above the road splendid views are to be- had. Each one is different, though it has much in common with ; the others. After Coronation Hill (a very easy climb on a foot-track almost to the top) comes Marley's Hill (1646 feet) with an excellent view of Christchurch and the plains and (if you are lucky enough to have a clear day) the mountaihs. On the opposite side of the road is Hoon Hay Hill (1606 feet) from which one looks down into Governor’s Bay and across the Harbour to Charteris Bay and Diamond Harbour, with Mount Herbert towering over them. Further along Jhe road are Cass Peak (1780 feet) add Cooper’s Knobs (1880 feet), the latter being the highest peak on the Port Hills, and also a splendid rock climb. From a rocky conical hill on the spur beldw Cooper’s Knobs, known as the Dog's Head, a good view of Tai Tapu and Lake Ellesmere is obtained, with “Otahuna,” Sir Heaton Rhodes’s beautiful estate, in the valley just below. On the other side of Dyer’s,Pass the Summit road leads past the Sugarloaf (1630 feet). Witch Hill (1215 feet), the Tors (1487 feet), Castle Rock (1270 feet) and Mount Pleasant (1637 feet) to Evan’s Pass, and then on to the Lighthouse. This part of the road is probably more familiar, but it is just as investing as the other. There are peaks to be climbed and bush-fllled gullies to be visited—the latter especially on the harbour side of the hills. The monuments on Witch Hill and near the Rapaki Saddle are worth a visit, and there. is an interesting historical relic in a stone nedr the foot of the Bridle Path above HeathCote,

Only a very few things have been mentioned in this article, hut enoulgh, I hope, to whet some anpetites; and after all it is great fun to find out things for ourselves without having them pointed out to us by others. You will get many surprises and many rewards for your exertions in tramping on the hills. If you are. interested in natural history and collect plants or insects, so much the better.

NOTICES Questions about cycle rides or tramps in Canterbury should be addressed to Mr B. W. Collins, care of ‘The Press Junior” at “The Press” office. Headers .of "The Pr?ss Junior” and Shipmates and Sunbeams are asked to walk up the stairs whan they; visit “The Press” office,