Rod Donald Hut: from Port Levy Saddle: 21 November 2015

The newest tramping hut in New Zealand: Rod Donald Hut

The weather in the mountains was rubbish over the weekend so I decided to go for a short day tramp on Banks Peninsula. On Saturday I visited the brand new Rod Donald Hut about an hour away from Port Levy Saddle.

Rod Donald Hut overlooking Western Valley, Banks Peninsula

Day trip to Rod Donald Hut, Banks Peninsula

This hut only opened in October and is the next step in a long term plan to develop a series of multi day tramps on Banks Peninsula. Here is a Christchurch Press article which discusses the new hut and the Rod Donald Trust who own the hut. Rod Donald was a Green Party MP with long standing ties to Banks Peninsula. The hut and surrounding bush will bear his name and are a fitting tribute to his environmental work over many, many years.

Te Ara Pataka: Port Levy Saddle to Rod Donald Hut

You can now walk the Te Ara Pataka track over 2-3 days from Gebbies Pass to Hilltop Tavern with a night spent in Packhorse Hut and another in the new Rod Donald Hut. This breaks it down into a 3 hour+5 hour+5 hour tramp. It is on the paper road along the crest of the ridges...this is the route proposed by Harry Ell back in the 1920's. All this land is privately owned farmland with a few scenic bush reserves between the various farms.

The massive car park at Port Levy Saddle

The Port Levy Saddle is accessible from Western Valley road just past Little River township, it is a steep, narrow gravel road but still usable by a two wheel drive vehicles. The saddle provides access to the Summit Walkway: turn north west for Mt Herbert and south east for Hilltop Tavern.

Start of Te Ara Pataka- NW to Mt Herbert

Wide angle view of my direction of travel on Te Ara Pataka

Start of the Summit Walkway- SE- my direction of travel

As you can see the weather was not fantastic even on Banks Peninsula, thankfully it improved as the day progressed. It wouldn't really matter though, it is only one hour to Rod Donald Hut from the car park so even if it is raining it is not too dangerous a proposition.

Me and the beast in the cold wind on Port Levy Saddle

Port Levy from Te Ara Pātaka near Port Levy Saddle

Start of Te Ara Pātaka at Port Levy Saddle

View back to the Port Levy Saddle car park

The Te Ara Pataka walkway starts out following an old farm track but then branches off with poles marking the route. You should follow the marked track as the rest of this area is private farmland and it would be good to be able to maintain the access the farmer has given across their land. 

Te Ara Pataka: old 4 W/D track on way to Waipuna Saddle

Te Ara Pataka: doesn't that weather look nice...

The views kept disappearing into the low laying cloud, travel on Banks Peninsula has the same challenges of tops travel in the higher Southern Alps. You need to carry warm clothing and wet weather gear with you as it gets cold and wet very quickly up here.

On the positive side the views are awesome!

Limited view of Western Valley from Te Ara Pataka

Te Ara Pātaka Walkway meandering across the ridges

Hmmm....must get a bit windy over Waipuna Pass if the extreme lean on this tree is anything to go by...

Waipuna Saddle: I wonder which way the prevailing wind blows...?

Summit Walkway heading towards Hilltop Tavern etc.

The signs on the walkway and the turn off too the hut are really good as you can see from the next three photos. The hut track is clearly marked from both the Mt Herbert side and the Hilltop Tavern side. 

Rod Donald Hut Track, the turn off to the hut...

My cell phone worked here so if you haven't already booked a bunk for the night do it from the saddle. Obviously, you are so well organised this will not be necessary...!

...another sign for Rod Donald Hut...

...and yet another sign for Rod Donald Hut!...

You descend a surprising distance from Waipuna Saddle, probably 200 meters at least, but the track is well marked and not too steep.

Glimpse of the Rod Donald Hut from the access track

Rod Donald Track: yes, it is an old sheep track...

The trust who own the land are using the gorse as a natural nursery for native trees, eventually the natives will push the gorse out and this will be dense luxuriant native bush. 

Gorse as a nursery plant for natives near Rod Donald Hut

First part of the hut you get to is the wood shed, there are some good tips for chopping wood, necessary now that most of us never light a fire in our home. Will the ability to light a fire become a "lost art", judging by some of the ham fisted attempts I've seen in other DOC huts it is already an arcane one. There is a good supply of wood in the shed, and the stove is an old pot belly.

Welcome to the Rod Donald woodshed!

After about an hour you arrive at the hut. All I can say is WOW, it is a totally awesome hut and a fitting tribute to Rod Donald. It is an old farm building that has been gutted and converted into a hut and the volunteers involved have done a fantastic job re-animating it. I'm sure it will become a must visit location both for Christchurch trampers and those from further afield. 

Great job people!



Rod Donald Hut (2015)

Jon at Rod Donald Hut: the porch



Fancy composting toilet, Rod Donald Hut

Both Packhorse and Rod Donald are now on the DOC hut booking system, this is an excellent idea as it will ensure you have a place to sleep at the end of your tramp. It is a very reasonable $15 per night and all the funds go towards the upkeep of the huts and the Summit Walkway. I envision that this will become the first overnight stay for many new trampers over the years to come.



Upstairs bunk room (8 Beds), Rod Donald Hut



Map of Te Ara Pātaka (Summit Walkway)



View from the veranda at Rod Donald Hut



Rod Donald Hut, nice new sign on door



Interior of the Rod Donald Hut

The kitchen and general areas of the hut have been well thought out, they are colourful, have plenty of space and great views of Little River and Western Valley from every window. There are two more bunks on this level.



Interior of Rod Donald Hut

Me inside the Rod Donald Hut

Little River and Western Valley from Rod Donald Hut

The Rod Donald Trust have started extensive planting on the slopes surrounding the hut, this is going to be a stunning area of native bush in about 20-25 years with a range of three story species endemic to the Peninsula.

Another view of the outside of Rod Donald Hut

Western Valley road heading towards saddle

After chatting with the four Czech tourists in the hut and eating my lunch I headed back to the car for the trip home. You have to climb back up to the walkway from the hut but I found the climb surprisingly easy, the camber and state of the track made for good walking. 

Bush and gorse along track from Rod Donald Hut

Given the bend in these trees it makes you wonder at the ability of nature to survive in even the most extreme conditions.

Waipuna Saddle: must be windy up here...!

Te Ara Pātaka,the track to Rod Donald Hut goes through the yellow gorse

Below, you can see the track heading off into the distance following the fence line, three hours will see you at Montgomery's Bush, another two at the Hilltop Tavern over looking Akaroa Harbour. The track to the hut can be seen branching off to the right into the gorse,  half way across the saddle.

Summit Walkway heading south east to Hilltop Tavern

Crossing ridge, view of car park in distance

Me near the farm gates at Port Levy Saddle

As you can see some 'red neck' has been taking pot shots at the DOC sign. It looked like they were trying to make a "bullet face", they just weren't very good shots...

Bullet riddled sign near Port Levy Saddle...

The track follows the contours of the ridge line shown in the photo below in a long sweeping left hand direction. It goes up over the bush covered crest on the left of shot and then drops down to Waipuna Saddle. 

Te Ara Pātaka Track follows ridge line out to left of photo

View out to Port Levy from the saddle

You can clearly see the hut as you come back down Western Valley Road, it is at the apex of the zig-zag driveway pictured below. My understanding is that the driveway will be removed once the bush regenerates on this spur, leaving it cut off from road access. The driveway has a locked gate at the bottom just after leaving the access road.

The trust have started to plant on the slopes around and below the hut, eventually it will all be native bush.

The Rod Donald Hut from Western Valley Road

Just a short trip but a tantalising taste of the Te Ara Pataka or the Summit Walkway. I have already booked a spot in the two huts for the nights of 1-2 April 2016, I will be walking the track starting from Hilltop and walking back towards Gebbies Pass, this allows me to use public transport to get to the start of the track. Kathryn and the kids will pick me up from Gebbies Pass on the Sunday.

I look forward to the experience....!

Access: On the Akaroa-Christchurch Highway, past Little River take gravel Western Valley Road to the car park at Port Levy Saddle

Track Times: 1 hour to Rod Donald Hut, 1.5 hours return

Hut Details: Rod Donald Hut: serviced, 10 bunks, wood burner, water tank, wood shed, toilets

Miscellaneous: On DOC Hut booking system, must be booked for overnight visit, this track is very exposed to the weather, care needed in strong wind, rain, cloudy conditions

The wildly over priced Little River Cafe

P.S: I stopped at Little River to get a cold drink and while there checked out the food in the cafe attached to the store. They wanted $14.00 for a steak and cheese pie, $16.50 with salad on the side! A basic ham sandwich on white bread was $10.00! That is just atrocious...obviously priced for the massive numbers of tourists who pass by on the way to Akaroa.

Orton Bradley to Mt Herbert: 8 February 2015

   Tramping on Mt Herbert

I'm preparing for my 5 day tramp around the St James Walkway, due to start in just over a week, so went out for a "conditioning" trip over the weekend. My original plan was to walk to the summit of Mt Herbert (919 a.s.l) along the Monument Track. This is a steep track from the high point of the Purau - Port Levy road, thus completing my goal to climb the mountain from all three possible sides.

A 2016 photo of the Purau Saddle car park: no bogans!

Unfortunately when I arrived at the car park at 7 am there were a couple of dodgy looking "car enthusiasts" (bogans/boy racers/petrol heads, etc. take your pick of names...) sitting there. After waiting for 20 minutes with no sign of them leaving I decided that I wouldn't take the gamble that my car would be broken into, instead I would change my plans.

So off I trotted to Orton Bradley Estate and climbed the mountain from there.

 

Entrance to Orton Bradley Estate

Orton Bradley Estate sign at entrance

Orton Bradley Estate to Mt Herbert

I started off from the familiar car park at Orton Bradley Estate, it was busy with several large groups of people camping for the long weekend. You are able to camp at the park from the 23rd December right through to Waitangi day, something to add to the "to do" list. 

Nice amenities for people staying: nice flat camp sites, water supply, a new ablution block and a central cooking/relaxation shelter.

Car park at track start, Orton Bradley Estate

Orton Bradley Estate track network and Mt Herbert

The summit of Mt Herbert is 5-6 hours return from the start of the track at the end of the public access road in the Estate

Waitangi weekend camping at Orton Bradley Estate

Start of track at Orton Bradley Estate

Orton Bradley Estate: Track through exotic plantation

There is an awesome looking outdoor adventure course in this stand of gum trees, you are able to access all of the low equipment but the aerial walkway is closed for random users. Go have a look if you are ever at the park, follow the track to the first large bridge, cross and you can see the equipment.

Orton Bradley Estate: Mature gum trees near outdoor adventure course

There are some nice bits of bush along the course of the valley, the track sidles back and forth through them.

Orton Bradley Estate, bush remnant on valley floor

Eventually you come to a stile and a farm track making its way up the valley, follow this till you reach the edge of the park and the start of the DOC estate.

Start of farm track up Orton Bradley Estate valley

View towards head of Orton Bradley Estate, Mt Herbert

At the end of the track you enter DOC land, the track is much less distinct from this point but is marked with the standard DOC orange markers as well as old markers set up by the defunct Walkways Commission.

Crossing into DOC reserve from Orton Bradley

Below are a couple of photos of the small bush areas you encounter along this mid section of the track. It is interposed with large grassy clearings and volcanic rock outcrops.

Mt Herbert Walkway: typical area of bush...

Dense bush on the Mt Herbert Walkway

You soon start to climb, the track sidles back and forth across the face of the hills, gradually gaining height as you go. It is not overly strenuous but can be hot and exposed on a nice day.Bring lots of water as there is no place to replenish till you reach the shelter! 

Mt Herbert Walkway: start of the climb to Mt Herbert shelter

First view of Port Hills from Mt Herbert Walkway

Mt Herbert Walkway: view from the 300 metre mark

Mt Herbert: above bush line, view towards Lyttleton

I just noticed I'm on a bit of a lean in this shot????? Here I am half way to Mt Herbert Shelter, a quick stop for a photo, snack and drink. It was still cloudy enough that I did not need to have my hat on.

Woohhh...! Jon on a lean on Mt Herbert Walkway

Stunning views from here head of Orton Bradley Estate

There is another track down the opposite side of the valley, this was going to be my egress point until I noticed the fresh three story high rock fall laying on the track...alright then, I wont go that way!

The track leads to the Tablelands which is a large flat plateau on the 300 metre contour, it is part of Orton Bradley Estate. There is a track up to the plateau near the start of the Mt Herbert track, it can be followed all the way to the summit if you like.

Orton Bradley Estate: track to the Tablelands

On the old farm track aka Mt Herbert Walkway

A zig-zag track covers the last 150 meters of altitude gain to the shelter, easy walking even with the high grass along it.

Mt Herbert Walkway: view of zig zag section... nearly at shelter

Mt Herbert Walkway: view down valley, Quail Island 

Mt Herbert Walkway: over grown track conditions

There is a connecting track at the top of the zig-zag section which leads around the back of Mt Bradley to Packhorse Hut. It is about 1.5 hours from this point to the hut. A round trip from Diamond Harbor to Gebbies Pass can be made using the hut as an overnight location, it would be a 8-9 hour trip in total. 

Mt Herbert Walkway: side track to Packhorse Hut

Mt Herbert Walkway: at the Packhorse track junction

Lyttleton Harbour from Mt Herbert Walkway



Distant view of Southern Alps, Mt Bradley from Mt Herbert Walkway

Mt Bradley from near Mt Herbert shelter

First view of Mt Herbert shelter

DOC track sign at Mt Herbert shelter

Birdlings Flat from Mt Herbert Shelter

The track to Packhorse Hut skirts the front of Mt Bradley before passing behind the rocky outcrop in the middle of the photo.

NB: 2016 Update: The track is now part of the Te Ara Pataka Walkway and has been cleaned up to make it suitable for novice trampers and MTB'ers. There are still some exposed spots but it is much easier to navigate and less overgrown. 

South towards Mt Bradley from Mt Herbert Shelter

View of harbour from near Mt Herbert shelter

I momentarily stopped at the shelter to use the toilet before continuing along the track towards the summit of Mt Herbert. Here is a view of the interior of the shelter, basic, but it does the job.

Interior Mt Herbert shelter

Interior Mt Herbert shelter

There is a track from Kaituna Saddle to Mt Herbert, access is from the gravel road between Little River and Port Levy. There is parking area on the saddle, the track takes between 2-4 hours to reach the summit of Mt Herbert. This is part of the new multi day walkway DOC is going to build from Gebbies Pass to Hilltop following the old "paper" road of the original Summit Road Society.

Kaituna Saddle, upper Kaituna Valley from Te Ara Pataka

Great views possible from inside the toilet at the shelter all of Kaituna Valley and South Canterbury. If you get outdoors often you grow to appreciate a fine "dunny view", allowing you to soothe both mind and body at the same time....

Mt Herbert: Awesome dunny views!

Kaituna Saddle, Kaituna Bush, Akaroa Range in distance

The track to the summit is about 10 minutes uphill from the shelter, you need to keep a good lookout for the DOC sign as the track is a bit overgrown and indistinct.

Diamond Harbour - Mt Herbert shelter track

Track to summit of Mt Herbert

Below are a series of photos taken from the top of the mountain, you have an almost 360 degree view from the summit.

Mt Herbert: view South West from Summit



Mt Herbert: view north from Mt Herbert

Mt Herbert: Port Levy from summit

Mt Herbert: DOC summit sign

Man made or natural destruction? Its hard to know but both the trig and the DOC sign on the summit were blown over. I read somewhere that they had 200kph winds up here in mid 2014 so I'm leaning towards the later...

Mt Herbert: Demolished trig marker

The large rock outcrop in the center-right of the photo below is The Monument. The track I wanted to tramp follows the ridge line, around the front of the crag and then joins up with the Summit walkway.

Monument Rock/Port Levy from Mt Herbert

Looking at the Port Hills from up here makes them pale into almost insignificance even though they are an intimate part of living in Christchurch.

Mt Herbert: Lyttleton Harbour and Pegasus Bay

Jon on the summit of Mt Herbert

This is my firth visit to this spot and it is always spectacular. Look at that awesome view, scenes like these are the reason I go on these tramping adventures, nature just takes your breathe away....and less than 45 minutes from Christchurch.

Head of Lyttleton Harbour, Quail Island from Mt Herbert

Mt Herbert: view towards Mt Bradley

View of all of Lyttleton Harbour, Canterbury from Mt Herbert

Port of Lyttleton from Mt Herbert

The side track to the summit of Mt Herbert is indistinct when walking uphill from the shelter-  keep your eyes peeled for the track sign. The track itself looked like an old overgrown 4 W/D farm track.

Mt Herbert Summit track cut off from Mt Herbert Walkway

Mt Herbert: track sign to summit

Mt Herbert shelter on its saddle

I stopped in the Mt Herbert Shelter for lunch, it is very nice and well maintained; appreciated as there was a cold wind blowing. In a pinch you could sleep in the shelter but it would make for a cold night as the saddle it sits on is very exposed. There is a water tank and toilets to the rear of the shelter.

Mt Herbert seen through Mt Herbert shelter window

Port Hills from inside Mt Herbert shelter

After a 30 minute lunch break I packed my gear and headed back down the walkway to the Orton Bradley Estate. Those beautiful views of Canterbury are right in front of you for the first hour down the track before you enter the bush. 

Mt Herbert Walkway: Heading back to the car park

Here is an exposed section of volcanic ash deposits, right by the track. We sometimes forget that the whole peninsula was once a series of very large volcanoes.

Exposed volcanic ash layers on Mt Herbert Walkway

At one point on the track, just as you enter a piece of bush you are able to see six DOC track markers leading onwards. I think it is a bit of overkill, though there are some big bluffs near the track so I imagine DOC doesn't want dead bodies cluttering up the place.

Mt Herbert Walkway: 6 track markers within 100 metres line of sight

Good shot of the contrasting areas of bush and dryland grass areas in this valley.

Bush remnants Orton Bradley Estate

Below is the only real stream you need to cross on this track, this is the stream from the head of the valley which meanders down through the Orton Bradley Estate. Not a raging torrent obviously!

Stream crossing Orton Bradley Estate

Another awesome trip, though not the trip I planned, it was still a good day. The highlight would have to be the awesome view of Canterbury from the summit, if you are ever down this way put this trip on your "to do" list. Grunting up the hills takes some effort but the track is easy walking otherwise.

Finally back at the Orton Bradley car park

Access: From Teddington follow the Christchurch - Diamond Harbour road to Charteris Bay. Turn right into Orton Bradley Park straight after golf course and find the group picnic area.
Track Times: 2-3 hours to summit of Mt Herbert, 2-2.5 hours to Mt Herbert Shelter, 2-3 hours return to Orton Bradley Estate
Miscellaneous:Steep track, suitable for those with good - moderate fitness. All weather access.  Mt Herbert is very exposed to weather, exercise caution in wet, windy conditions. Shelter for day use only, has toilet and water tank.