Sugarloaf Loop Track, Port Hills: March 2022

A classic Port Hills walk...

This was a walk I did back at the beginning of March and just after my trip to the Routeburn Track. 

View from Gilpins Track on Mt Sugarloaf

I recently upgraded my camera equipment from the older point and shoot camera I had to a new Canon M50 Mark II. This is a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses and the ability to add other equipment like microphones, lights and other camera accessories, filters and lens hoods

Canon M50 Mark II mirrorless camera

I have upgraded so that the quality of both my photos and videos are higher. The new camera allows me to make use of a range of specific lenses more suited to different conditions. It is also able to film in 1080 FHD and 4 K so the quality of the films are a lot better...sharper, better focus and color corrected.

Canon M50 Mark II...view of the top controls

A photo taken up the Otira Valley on the M50

A photo taken up the Otira Valley on the M50

Anyway...I took the camera up onto the Port Hills to try out some of its functions and looking for a suitable subject decided to walk the Sugarloaf Loop Track. This is a combination of Cedrics Track and Gilpin's Track.

Walking around Mt Sugarloaf:

The Sugarloaf Loop Track is a circular route around Mt Sugarloaf on the Port Hills. It uses a number of different tracks including Cedrics Track, Gilpin's Track and the Summit Walkway. The best start point is from the carpark just down the northern side of Sugarloaf...from here you can walk either direction as you will eventually end in the same spot. 

The Silver Surfer at the Sugarloaf carpark

I decided to walk downhill first so headed down Cedrics track towards Dyers Pass and the Sign of the Kiwi. This starts on the southern side of the carpark and there is a track sign and marker at the top. From here you just stay on Cedrics Track until you reach the turn off to Gilpin's Track.

View down Cedrics Track from near Sugarloaf

From Cedrics Track you can see down into Hoon Hay Valley and across to the Christchurch Adventure Park. The Adventure Park is a series of MTB and walking tracks down the side of Worseley's Ridge. There are zip lines and a gondola to take you to the top where you can set of down a variety of track grades to the bottom of the valley. 

Christchurch Adventure Park from Cedrics Track

There is also a MTB track on this side of the valley...it runs downhill just below Dyers Pass Road and is one of the tracks I loved to ride in my MTB days. The track starts up near the Sign of the Kiwi and comes out onto dyers Pass Road about half way down Victoria Park. 

The start of the MTB track below Dyers Pass Road

Stile on Cedrics Track enroute to Gilpin's Track

Sign of the Kiwi and Dyers Pass

Gilpin's Track is one of two routes around the southern (or back) side of Mt Sugarloaf the other being Mitchell's Track. It is a meandering track through tussock, bush and forest in the reserve on the Lyttleton side of the hills. The track is well sign posted and marked along its length and it is a lovely walk on a hot summers day.

Junction of Cedrics and Gilpin's Track

Climb at the start of Gilpin's Track

To start the track is quite steep as you climb up a series of switchbacks to gain height. This soon evens out into a much more gradual climb through scrubby bush and grass to the edge of the forest. 

...Gilpin's Track starts with a series of switchbacks...

There is an reserve of thick native bush on the Lyttleton side of Mt Sugarloaf with a number of tracks through it. The lower track is called Michell's Track and goes from Cedrics Track to a carpark on the eastern side of Sugarloaf. The second and higher track is Gilpin's Track and it transverses the bush just below the bluffs on the southern side of Sugarloaf.

Into the bush on Gilpin's Track...back of Sugarloaf

View of Lyttleton from the start of Gilpin's Track

View out to Gebbies Pass from Gilpin's Track

I have used Mitchell's Track many times as it is one of my favored bush walking tracks on the Port Hills. I have only walked along Gilpin's Track a couple of times as it was largely closed from 2010 to 2020 due to potential rock fall hazards. 

The TV antenna on Sugarloaf, Port Hills

Otamahua/Quail Island from Gilpin's Track

Mt Herbert in distance...

Gilpin's Track is a combination of open forest and dense bush so there are some excellent views of Lyttleton Harbor and the northern edge of Banks Peninsula. From the tracks you are able to see from Kaitorete Spit right out to the heads at Adderley and Godley. 

On the southern flank of Sugarloaf, Gilpin's Track

Manuka and Kanuka, Gilpin's Track

Looking out to Diamond Harbor and Adderley Heads

As you can see the Gilpin's Track is steep in places but the majority of it is a very nicely maintained sidle track. There are a couple of seats along the track and several sidetracks to lookout points. A lot of work has been done to mitigate the rock fall problems and while some do occasionally drop it is generally a very safe track to use.

Steps along Gilpin's Track, Port Hills

Thick bush in the reserve behind the Sugarloaf

Here is one of the lookout points along the track...there is a short side track to a prominent point with unobstructed views out to Lyttleton Harbor and along the Port Hills. 

Side track to lookout on Gilpin's Track

From here you can see the saddle you are walking towards between Sugarloaf and a small point just to the east of it. You can also see the carpark which is the end point of the lower Mitchells Track. From the carpark you can continue along the Crater Rim Walkway all the way to Godley Heads if you like. 

View east along the Port Hills from Gilpin's Track

Governor's Bay and Manson's Peninsula, Lyttleton Harbor

Great view of the middle of Lyttleton Harbor

There are a series of bluffs on the southern flank of Sugarloaf and they range from 20-80 meters high. Sitting high above and dominating the top of the hill is the TV antenna which is visible across much of the Canterbury Plains. When you are driving into Christchurch and it comes into view you are roughly 20 odd kilometers from home. 

The bluffs on the southern side of the Sugarloaf

To the east is Nohomutu ridge which runs from the Summit Road right down to the northern bays of Lyttleton Harbor half way between Governors Bay and Rapaki Bay.

Nohomutu Ridge is east of Sugarloaf on the Port Hills

There are a variety of tree species along Gilpin's Track and as I walked I could identify Manuka, Five Finger, Kanuka, Whiteywood, Tawa, Totara and native Fuchsia Trees. At one time all of the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula were covered with similar forest...it was all cut down or burnt to make way for farming. 

Gilpin's Track: Manuka grove along the track...

A bench along Gilpin's Track

Gilpin's Track is well maintained, Port Hills

There is some risk of rock fall along Gilpin's Track

There is a most impressive Totara Tree near the end of Gilpin's Track and it would be at least 25 meters tall and about 1.5-2 meters around the trunk. This is by far the largest tree you will see in the reserve from either of the tracks. 

Totara Tree along Gilpin's Track

Gilpin's Track ends just past the big Totara Tree and you will once again find yourself on Cedrics Track. Cedrics Track runs all the way from the Sign of the Kiwi to the carpark on the eastern side of Sugarloaf where it joins the Crater Rim Walkway. 

At the eastern end of Gilpin's Track

At the marker post you turn left and head up the short climb to the small saddle between Sugarloaf and the small knob to the east of it...

Junction of Gilpin's Track and Cedrics Track

Climbing to the saddle between Sugarloaf and Nohomutu Ridge

The photo below gives you a good idea of the views possible from these tracks...it is not a long walk but very interesting and well worth the effort.

Head of the Bays from Cedrics Track

...Kaitorete Spit is just visible over Gebbies Pass

Once on the saddle you are on the Christchurch side of the Port Hills with excellent views out over Christchurch, Pegasus Bay and the Canterbury Plains. On a clear day you can often see from Kaikoura in the north to Oamaru down in the south and out to the Canterbury Foothills. 

View from Cedrics Track of Victoria Park

Cedrics Track continues around the northern side of Sugarloaf

Hazy conditions over Christchurch from Cedrics Track

Cedrics Track continues along the northern flank of Sugarloaf all the way back to the carpark. 

On the front of Sugarloaf heading for the carpark

Approaching the Sugarloaf carpark on Cedrics Track

Back at the Sugarloaf carpark, Port Hills

The end of the Cedrics Track, Port Hills

The carpark for Sugarloaf has space for about 10 cars and it has great views down towards Victoria Park, out to the Coast and south over the Canterbury Plains. It is a relatively secure place to park your car as it is busy but do be aware it is a common visiting place for "Car Enthusiasts" so don't leave any valuables in clear view. 

Victoria Park and the Bowenvale Valley with Christchurch to rear

Huntsbury Ridge from the Sugarloaf carpark

The total Sugarloaf Loop took me just over an hour and covers roughly three kilometers of distance. If you wanted a longer walk you can combine it with the Harry Ell Walkway from the Sign of the Takahe or you can continue along the Crater Rim Walkway to the Rapaki Track, Bridal Trail or Godley Heads.

Another photo taken on the Canon M50....Mt Rolleston massif

This is a great wee walk and by itself or as a part of a longer trip makes for some interesting terrain. 

Access: Multiple start points but I started and finished at the Sugarloaf carpark on the northern flank of the hill. Take Dyers Pass Road to the Dyers Pass Turn left and continue along the Summit Road to the turn off to Sugarloaf.
Track Times: Cedrics-Gilpin's-Cedric Track Lop is about 3 kilometers or 1-1.5 hours walk.
Miscellaneous: No water or toilets along this track. Some rock fall danger on the Lyttleton side of Sugarloaf. Steep, rocky track in places and can be muddy after heavy rain. 

You Tube: Sugarloaf Loop Track