Nelson Lakes NP: Honeydew Walk: 12 November 2022

 On the Honeydew Walk at Lake Rotoiti

The other short walk I did while on my recent tramping trip to Nelson Lakes NP was the Honeydew Walk.  It is a great little walk and it branches off the main Lakehead Track running along the lake side. 

Lake Rotoiti from the start of the track at Kerr Bay

The first part of the track is along the side of Lake Rotoiti before you climb up onto a an old glacial terrace and do a loop through the beech forest. It was a little windy in the forest but otherwise it was a perfect day to be out and walking. 

DOC signs at start of Lakehead Track

At the start of the track at Kerr Bay

Lake Angelus can be accessed along the Lakehead Track

I had contemplated walking the longer St Arnaud Range Track but as that took another five hours and involved climbing steeply up a series of switchbacks for many kilometers I decided to go with the slightly easier option. 

On the Honeydew Track:

The Honeydew Walk is a short side track off the main Lakehead Track...it is about one kilometer long and takes 25 to 30 minutes to make your way around. 

DOC map of the track network from Kerr Bay

Setting out from Kerr Bay to walk the Honeydew Track

The track skirts Lake Rotoiti to start...

On the Lakehead Track at Lake Rotoiti

The eastern terminus of the Honeydew Track starts about a kilometer from Kerr Bay and it climbs up onto old glacial terraces before sidling around and back down to the main track about 300 meters from the carpark. 

Map: Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Just to clarify things a bit...on the map above I is the Honeydew Walk, II is the St Arnaud Range Track and III is the Lakehead Track. The eastern end of the Honeydew Track comes off the Lakehead Track while the western end attaches to the end of the St Arnaud Range Track. 

Western Terminus of the Honeydew Walk

You can walk the track in either direction it is really up to you to choose. Clock wise from the eastern end is probably best...

Eastern terminus of the Honeydew Walk

Climbing onto the Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Honeydew Walk: the life cycle of a beech forest....

     

The Honeydew Walk travels through a magnificent area of beech forest and is a part of the Lake Rotoiti Recovery Project. The Project aims to restore a vast swathe of forest in Nelson Lakes NP back to a pre human condition. To this end they have an extensive trapping program for introduced pests and they also undertake planting to restore the forest cover. 

Information about the Inland Island project

Initially the project only covered about 100 hectares but it has since grown to cover over 5000 hectares of forest, tussock grasslands and mountain tops. It has created a virtual 'Inland Island' where birds, insects and small animals are able to thrive. 

Walking along the first terrace on the Honeydew Walk

On the Honeydew Track at Lake Rotoiti

The Honeydew Walk is an all weather track with just the one bridged stream crossing. The track is dirt and covered with leaves but it is well drained and elevated so it is usually quite dry. Although it is not wheelchair friendly it is not far off...it is wide, well maintained and easy to walk along. 

Only bridge along the all weather Honeydew Walk

Not much water in the stream...Honeydew Walk

After the initial climb up onto an old glacial terrace you find yourself sidling along a mostly flat track with a variety of beech species and podocarp trees. You can see quite a way out into the open forest and it is a very pleasant place to go for a stroll. 

There are several information panels along the Honeydew Walk

Honeydew Walk: the fauna of Nelson Lakes NP

You turn along the track and head west towards the St Arnaud Range Track. The track weaves in and amongst the trees and it was awesome walking along in the dappled sunlight coming in through the forest canopy. 

Good quality track along the Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Goblin Forest along the Honeydew Walk

Fallen tree debris cleared from the Honeydew Walk

After about 15 minutes walking you come to an area of jumbled glacial erratic's...huge boulders and rock slabs deposited here when some ancient glacier came to a halt and dumped the heaviest debris. The whole of Nelson Lakes NP was formed by and shaped as a result of glaciers evidence of which can still be spotted.

Honeydew Walk: tree growing on a erratic boulder...

 As little as 8 000 years ago there was a huge glacier coming down the Travers Valley carving out Lake Rotoiti on its way west. The other major influence is erosion by both wind, rain action and by the gradual erosive force of the big rivers you find in the park.

The apex of the Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Old glacial debris on the honeydew Track

The apex of the Honeydew Walk is near the old glacial spoil...from here it starts to drop down to a junction with the St Arnaud Range Track before descending further to the main Lakehead Track.

Information about Wasp infestation in Nelson Lakes NP

 The walk through here is elevated over the forest so you can see way off into the forest towards old swamps and silted up kettle lakes. 

Honeydew Track heading for the St Arnaud Range Track

View off the Honeydew Track into the forest

You eventually arrive at the St Arnaud Range Track/ Loop Track coming down off the surrounding peaks. I last travelled up the St Arnaud Range Track way back in 2016 when I did a day walk up to Parachute Rocks nearly 1100 meters above you. 

Honeydew Walk and St Arnaud Range Track junction

The rest of the walk is on the St Arnaud Range Track...

I headed down the St Arnaud Range Track on my way back to the main trail on the route out to Kerr Bay. It was quiet in the forest...I saw about a dozen people the whole time I was walking around the Honeydew Walk even though it is close to the carpark. 

Honeydew/St Arnaud Range Track heading to St Arnaud

I saw and heard a great many birds in this forest including Silver Eye, Fantail, Kaka, Bellbird and Tui. A Kaka flew close by me at one point and sat in a nearby tree noisily protesting at my presence. Kaka numbers are growing right around the country and Nelson Lakes now has a strong population of these forest Parrots. 

DOC 2000 pest trap on the Honeydew Walk

I didn't see any Weka or Pukeko on this trip which is unusual as I often see a few around the Kerr Bay Campsite and on the flats around Lakehead Hut. There may not be any in the area at the moment. 

Information panel about the vision of a restored forest

The end of the Honeydew Walk is a gentle descent down to the main track running along the side of the lake....an easy end to an easy track.

Descending down the Honeydew/St Arnaud Range Track

Near the St Arnaud Range Track and Lakehead Track junction

From the end of the St Arnaud Range Track you turn right and head along the Lakehead Track back to the car park at Kerr Bay. From the track junction you are only 300 meters away from the end of your tramp...

...Western terminus of the Honeydew Track...Lakehead Track

Back onto the main Lakehead Track, Lake Rotoiti

Kerr Bay is just 300 meters away...Lakehead Track

Back on the flat ground next to Lake Rotoiti

There are several excellent views along and up Lake Rotoiti to the Travers Valley which sits at the head of the lake. This is one of my favorite tramping destinations in New Zealand with a number of excellent huts heading up to Travers Pass. This is the path of both the Te Araroa Trail and the Travers -Sabine Circuit. 

View along Lake Rotoiti to the Travers Valley

Mt Robert (1421) from the Lakehead Track

Nearly at the Kerr Bay carpark at Lake Rotoiti

Back at the Kerr Bay entrance to the track

End of the walk at the Kerr Bay Jetty

The Honeydew Walk is a real gem....it travels through some really nice beech forest and would make an ideal intermediate track if you only had an hour or so in St Arnaud. I can thoroughly recommend the walk to you as I really enjoyed the experience. 

Access: Honeydew Walk starts and finishes off the Lakehead Track near St Arnaud. Follow Kerr Bay Road or Lake Road off SH63 (Main Road)  and down to the jetty at Kerr Bay. Numerous tracks start from this location and branch off the main Lakehead Hut Track. There is a track sign about 700 meters from the carpark at the start of Honeydew Track/St Arnaud Range Tracks. 

Track Times: It takes 30-40 minutes (1.5 kilometers) to cover the full circuit of the Honeydew Walk. 

Miscellaneous: High quality track, with multiple interpretation boards along the route. All weather track but potentially muddy after rain.

YouTube: Honeydew Walk

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