Take the high path

Press, 5 March 1988, Page 22

Take the high path

One man had a dream that was left unfinished. If Harry Ell had had his way, there would have been a continuous road along the crest of Banks Penin-, sula and the Port Hills, with rest houses along the way.

He did not quite complete this vision, and it is the “gaps” on the Banks Peninsula hillcrest that form today’s summit walkway. We must thank Harryj Ell for the legal accessways and the protected, reserves along the summit walk, which were a crucial part of this idea, an idea he argued, cajoled and badgered local councils with from the turn of the century until death in 1934.

Perhaps, though, we should be grateful that the grand road scheme did not quite happen. The summit walk is a magnificent tramp, overlooking the very heart of Banks Peninsula, and has the potential to be one of New Zealand’s finest walkways. So far, the walkway has not been completely realised. Packhorse Hut (one of the original rest houses) sits in a sort of limbo, because there are no formal walkways connecting it with Gebbies Pass, the Kaituna Valley or Mount Herbert.

The] present difficulty of access from the Kaituna Valley would be greatly I helped by a land survey that could “peg out” the existing legal and public right of way. A newly-comple|ed section of walkway now extends from Mount Herbert to the Port Levy — Little River Road, and it is to

be hoped that it will stimulate formalising a walkway along the rest of the hilltops to Pettigrews Road, a route which is| so far unmarked. ! [ This article will! briefly describe the summit j route from Diamond Harbour to Pettigrews Road, but there is a much fuller account on the booklet "Banks Peninsula Reserves,” written by Andy Dennis and published by the old Lands and Survey Department. It is available from the Department of Conservation office or the Outdoor Recreation Information Centre (price $10). Diamond Harbour to Mount Herbert This is an existing and strenuous walkway, climbing 920 m i to the summit, the high point [ of Banks Peninsula. [One of the attractions of this: walkway I is that it can be reached by ferry from Lyttelton. There is a shelter just down from the,other side, of the peak. < The main walkway continues down past the shelter and ijnto

Orton Bradley Park. An un-[ marked route can also be: followed along rolling tussock slopes onto Mount Bradley. ' Mount Herbert to Port Levy, —■ i Littlejßiver Road This is a brand new track, and a pleasant 350 m descent. The[ track keeps to the broad spur as. it ' passes the Mount Herbert Scenic Reserye, long considered one of the best bush tracts left on j the Peninsula, then past an unmarked junction to Monument track (which is a local rockclimbing crag) and down to the saddle. Incidentally, the Port Levy Little River Road is a gutsy trip for any car. :The road is narrow and winding, and climbs to the eventual hilltop crest of 650 m and fine views. Passing bays are few and far [between. Port Levy — Little River Road to Pettigrews Road This is an unmarked route, following farm tracks approximately along the crest of the range, with occasional fence

stiles to reassure you that you are on the[ right track. The route on a fine,day [is obvious anyway, but in the mist and murk this area could get very confusing. The battened, wind-blasted trees give a fair indication of the sort of weather conditions that can prevail up here.

The walking is easy and rolling. The [three hillside reserves of Mount Fitzgerald, Mount Sinclair anjd Whatarangi Totara have surprising alpine plants — like mountain! holly and Spaniard — as well as the usual characteristic Peninsula forest remnants.

The wood l"graveyards,” particularly [on the eastern side of Mount Sinclair, are striking, somehow, beautiful and ugly at the same time, with intricate patterns etched into the stumps. At Pettigrews Road, it is about a two ! to three kilometre backtrack toj the Hilltop saddle and tavern. There is a regular Road Services bus between Akaroa and Christchurch, and it would be quite feasible to do a week-end tramp along the summit to Diamond Harbour, then catch the ferry and Lyttelton bus back to, 1 Christchurch. There is ope catch —] you have to carry all your: water. Map: Banks Peninsula NZMS 28L