The ups and downs of a holiday walk

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34038, 30 December 1975, Page 11

The ups and downs of a holiday walk

Most Christchurch people know in general the story of Harry George Ell and the Summit Road. Harry Ell’s original concept was a Port HillsAkaroa summit road, a scenic drive along the hill tops for coach or car from Godley Head all the way to Akaroa—a distance of some 55 miles. Harry Ell foresaw a need for walking tracks leading off the Summit Road to give access to, and through, the attractive areas of native bush which then existed, and still exist, in shaded places off the summits of the hills, and set aside as scenic reserves from the turn of the century. Today, Harry Ell’s work is carried on by the Summit Road Scenic Society, whose secretary and publicity officer is Mr Ell’s grandson, J. W. Jameson. The society pursues the concept of the Port HillsAkaroa summit road, its scenic reserves and walking tracks as a potential regional park. This article lists the various walking tracks which have been marked and signposted by the Christchurch City Council reserves department, assis-

ted by the Summit Road Scenic Society. These can provide a pleasant day or half-day trip this holiday period. Transport Board buses run at intervals to the < Sign of the Takahe, the starting point for many hills walkers. Parking is available near the Takahe, and at Victoria Park. Refreshment points and toilets are shown on the smaller map. Victoria Park-Mitchells Track About two hours duration, there and back. Start at Victoria Park, and climb up the hillside track at the back of Victoria Park through the pine plantation to the Summit Road, then south-east along the Summit Road to Mitchells Track. This leads through the Sugar Loaf scenic reserve—one of the success stories of nativebush regeneration — to reach Dyers Pass at the Sign of the Kiwi. The return journey is by clay track which leads along the uphill side of Dyers Pass Road. This well-signposted route covers four miles through plantation, native bush, and tussock country. Walkers look out on Christchurch 1000 ft below. Coronation Hill About half an hour. The start of the track is

directly behind the stone obelisk from which hangs the Sign of the Kiwi. The route circuits Coronation Hill and finishes just above the cattle stop by the Sign of the Kiwi. Coronation Hill-Hill 1339 One hour’s duration. This is simply an elongation of the Coronation Hill walk, taking in a circuit around the south side of Hill 1339 —giving a splendid view of Lyttelton Harbour —and rejoining the Coronation Hill track to its end at the cattle stop. Sign of Kiwi-Sign of Bellbird, taking in Ellas Track About four hours duration, there and back. Start at the Marleys Hill parking area (see signpost). This route follows the general line of the Summit Road until Ellas Track is reached. You can circle back on a loop track on the north-west side of the hill after reaching Kennedvs Bush, to avoid some retracement of your steps. For those with a whole day to spare, a round trip from Victoria Park via Mitchells Track to Coronation Hill and to the Sign of the Bellbird from the track at Marleys Hill car-park is estimated to take five to six hours for the averagespeed, average-age walker. Bruce Campbell