Christchurch 360 Trail: Southern Pegasus Walkway, Waimairi to Spencer Park

Adventures on the Christchurch 360 Trail...

I've mentioned on this blog before that I do a bit of walking for general fitness. One of the places I like to go is along the Southern Pegasus Track, from Waimairi Beach to Spencer Park. A circuit along this track with a  return via the beach is approx.13 kilometers in total or 3-4 hours walking time.

View north along the coast at Waimairi Beach

Map: Route from Waimairi to Spencer Park

As well as being one of my favorite fitness walks it is also a part of the wider Christchurch 360 Trail network...

On the Southern Pegasus Track/Christchurch 360 Trail:

The South Pegasus Track is a dual use MTB/walking track from North Beach all the way to Spencer Park. A lot of it is along the sand hills backing the local beaches but slightly less than half the journey is through Bottle Lake Plantation on the North Eastern outskirts of Christchurch.

Christchurch 360 trail map: The complete route encircling Christchurch

Over the summer I tend to alternate a walk day and a tramping trip every other weekend. If I'm not up in the mountains I will be walking along the beach or traipsing along the Port Hills.

Parts of this route are also sections of the Christchurch 360 Trail which circles the city from Brighton to MacLean's Island then all the way to Sumner via the Summit Walkway.

Christchurch 360 Trail: spot where I park the car, Waimairi Beach

Waimairi Beach entrance to the South Pegasus Walkway/Christchurch 360 Trail

You can see from the photos below that the track is exposed to the sun, make sure you have a hat, sunscreen and water as you will get burnt to a crisp if you do not. Later parts of the track are in forest but by then it will be too late.....!

South Pegasus walkway- view north near Waimairi

South Pegasus walkway- view south towards Port Hills

The track is hard packed gravel or sand, the biggest hill (mound really) you will need to climb is about 10 meters high so it makes for fast and straight forward travel. Walking or running shoes are best, boots are total over kill for a track of this kind.

Sandy patch - South Pegasus walkway

Pegasus Bay, view North from the Christchurch 360 Trail

Pegasus Bay, view south from the Christchurch 360 Trail

You can walk all the way on the gravel track but I prefer to head 100 meters inland and use the old forestry road which parallels the track. It is a lot quieter (no dodging speeding MTB riders) as well as being better protected from the wind & sun.

Turn left to access secondary track on the Christchurch 360 Trail

South Pegasus Walkway heading north....

Christchurch 360 Trail: Head right at this track junction

There are plenty of signs and maps to help you navigate, but keep your wits about you. It is a bit of a rabbit warren so people can and have got lost here before. If you get lost, head East and eventually you will strike the Pegasus Track and beach. 

Map: Bottle Lake Forest Park

The old forestry road is very nice to walk along it is a lot softer hence easier on the feet and allows you to walk a circuit if the tide is too high to return along the beach. The old forestry road was built for 4 W/D and is dry most of the time...soggy after any big rain event. 

Secondary track heading North on the Christchurch 360 Trail

Below are some photos of the Burwood landfill, destination for a lot of the rubble left over from the Christchurch earthquakes. For the first 2 years after the quakes almost all of the spoil and ruins from the Central City were trucked out here and dumped. 

Later the rubble was used to extend the wharves over at Lyttleton or crushed for use as road fill. This pile of debris is about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) long, a half a  kilometer wide and about 100 meters (300 feet) high. It really shows you how much destruction the earthquakes caused. It is a modern day barrow! 

Eventually it is planned to plant pine forest on the hills and incorporate them into some new MTB tracks.

Burwood Landfill from the walking track

Burwood Landfill and flax's- big, long hill

The swirl design on the post below is the marker for the Christchurch 360 trail, which over its 135 kilometers encircles the city. One of my side projects is to walk/bike the whole Christchurch 360 trail, I am about 60% complete at this time. 

I will be doing a post about this sometime in the near future.

Christchurch 360 Trail marker at Bottle Lake Forest

Looking South West towards Burwood Forest HQ track

I normally just keep walking straight North towards Spencer Park but as I was following the course of the 360 Trail I turned right at the end of the landfill and followed the trail markers to the main South Pegasus Walkway track. This section is mostly forested and reaches for 3 kilometers to the start of the reserve at Spencer Park.

Heading into the forest portion of the track, South Pegasus Walkway

Typical conditions along the forest section, South Pegasus Walkway

Beach access point, South Pegasus Walkway

Track junction to secondary road- go right for the Christchurch 360 Trail

After a kilometer I jinxed back onto the secondary road and followed this all of the way to Spencer Park. This is a nice option of a sunny Winters day as it is more open and therefore a bit warmer. in the Summer it is often better to stay on the main track for the shade the pine trees provide. 

Christchurch 360 Trail: secondary forest track 100m inland

Flowers growing alongside Christchurch 360 Trail

Closeup of the flowers, Bottle Lake Plantation

This area of the forest is often busy with runners, walkers, bike riders and horse folk from the local suburbs. That said you will often walk for long periods and not see another sole so it can be quite tranquil at times...

Jon Moake half way to Spencer Park

Jon Moake half way to Spencer Park on the Christchurch 360 Trail

Old Forestry Road- Bottle Lake Plantation

Track Junction en route to Spencer Park

Bottle Lake Forest was once a test forest for the NZFS or New Zealand Forestry Service and they trained perspective NZFS Rangers here in the 1960's and 1970's. The role of the NZFS was folded into DOC when it was set up in 1987 and the Forestry School closed down. The forest is now managed by Matariki which is the forestry subsidiary of Ngai Tahu Holdings the local Iwi. 

A mixture of adolescent pine forest...north of Waimairi Beach

...and scrub areas on way to Spencer Park

Start of Spencer Park Reserve along distant tree line

You eventually arrive at the access road which runs along the back of the beach at Spencer Park. There are a number of parking areas here so if you wanted to start this section from Spencer Park there are many good spots for you to stop at. 

Christchurch 360 Trail: car parking lay by- Spencer Park

I usually stop for a 5 minute break somewhere along this point as it is about an hour from the start of the track. On the day I actually had some lunch so stopped for a bite out of the sun under the forest canopy.

My lunch spot near Spencer Park

The quality of service station food is sometimes surprising, the BP Connects in particular have a great selection of bakery goods.  This sandwich was panko crusted chicken schnitzel with herb mayo slaw and it was delicious. Much better than the week old manky mince pies we remember from our youth.

Lunch of champions; crisps, sandwich and water on the Christchurch 360 Trail

After 25 minutes I headed off to walk the last 1.5 km's to the main Spencer Park beach access point. 

Back on the Christchurch 360 Trail: a  marker en route to the car park

The trail takes you right through the middle of the Spencer Park surf lifesaving complex and then continues down to a carpark about 40 meters north of the surf club. 

Christchurch 360 Trail: Spencer Park Surf lifesaving buildings

Link track to main Spencer Park beach access, Christchurch 360 Trail

Track end: Main Spencer Beach car park

This is the main access point for the beach at Spencer Park which sits at the end of Heyders Road. If continuing on to the next 360 Trail section you start by heading down this road in the direction of Spencer Park. 

Spencer Park- beach access car park view towards the park

Christchurch 360 Trail: Spencer Park sign

Me at the main Spencer Park beach car park

The main beach access point at Spencer Park is not the end of this section as it continues down towards the Spencer Park Campground before joining the next section of the track along the back of the Brooklands Lagoon. 

View down Heyders Road from the carpark at Spencer Park Beach

Christchurch 360 information kiosk on Heyders Road (2022)

View out over the southern end of Brooklands Lagoon (2022)

Once opposite the entrance to Spencer Holiday Park you turn right into the road leading to the Christchurch Adrenaline Park. the next section of the Christchurch 360 trail starts here and goes out to the old suburb of Brooklands. 

Entrance to the Adrenaline Forest at Spencer Park (2022)

From here I usually turn around and head back the way i have just walked. Once I make it to the beach access point at Spencer Park I usually go onto the beach and walk back to Waimairi along the shoreline. 

Main Spencer Park beach access on Heyders Road

Obviously, this is reliant on tides and weather conditions, when you have a high tide the surf will come right up to the sand hills as the land has tilted down as a result of the earthquakes. Alternately, return the way you have come or follow the Pegasus Track back towards the City.

Christchurch 360 Trail: Surf conditions near Spencer Park

View of distant Port Hills from near Spencer Park

This is an interesting circuit with its blend of track, sand hills and beach walking, it is seldom boring as there are always a lot to see as you meander along. Take lots of water (no sources anywhere along the track) and watch for MTB riders. Also, in a slightly less savory fashion, stay away from all the nude sunbathers around Spencer Beach, it is one of the un-official nude beaches around Christchurch.

Yes, you will see them, it is inevitable if you walk this way often enough!

In a later post I will discuss my other common walk on the Port Hills: from the Sign of the Takehe up Dyers Pass running track to the car park at Sugarloaf and return.

Access: This section starts from Parklands on the northern suburbs of Christchurch. Various access points along Waimairi Beach, clearly signposted by Christchurch City Council as either 'Beach Access", or Bottle Lake Plantation

Track Times: It is 13 kilometers or 3-4 hours return to Spencer Park

Miscellaneous: Beach section is tidal, exposed to sun and wind so be prepared

Christchurch 360 Trail: Travis Wetland Section-Waimairi Beach Section-Spencer Park - Spencer Park to Brooklands Section

Lewis Pass Tops Trip: 26 December 2015

Boxing Day on the Lewis Pass Tops

Happy New Year, here's hoping that 2016 finds you all fine and well. 

Tramping over the Christmas break

We mostly stayed around home over the holidays as we had family visiting from the United States.  I managed to get out for a couple of walks but only one day tramp over the Christmas break, I went up to Lewis Pass on Boxing Day and walked up to the Lewis Pass Tops.

Maruia River Valley from the Lewis Pass Tops

 
I was still full of ham and good cheer so was moving slowly but it was an awesome trip regardless.

Lewis Pass Tops route from Lewis Pass car park

The Lewis Pass Tops route

The track from the Lewis Pass/St James car park to the Lewis Tops covers about 400 meters of ascent over a distance of about 5 kilometres and takes 2-3 hours. Initially the track is in beech forest but as it reaches the Alpine zone the bush gives way to tussock and snow grass slopes.

Start of the Lewis Pass Tops Route

I parked the car in the main Lewis Pass car park, this is fine for a day tramp but is not a secure location overnight as it regularly has car break-ins and vandalism. 

View back towards Lewis Pass-St James Car park

Track sign for Lewis Tops Route

Bush track to Lewis Pass tops

There is another car-park with a link track accessing this route: it is about a kilometre west of Lewis Pass but is difficult to use as it it has a steep driveway coming off the highway. It would be a much safer spot to park your car overnight provided you are able to get up the slope. It is a large gravel flat area with a short drive leading to it, approach it from the West Coast side as it is easier to see oncoming traffic.

Track leading to other parking area, Lewis Tops route

You  break out of the bush for a short while after 20 minutes, there are views of the Cannibal Gorge area and the Freyburg Range on the other side of the Lewis Pass highway. Then it was back into thick bush for another half an hour.

First break in the canopy, Lewis Pass Tops route

Freyburg Range from Lewis Tops route

View down to Cannibal gorge, from the Lewis Tops route

Track sign and junction point, go left for Lewis Tops

View towards the Lewis Tops

View towards head of Maruia Valley, Cannibal Gorge bridge

The track is steep, it follows a spur from the highway all the way to the tops so is a bit unrelenting. Be careful on the rocky sections as the rock is very crumbly as well as sharp edged. 

Rocky track section, Lewis Tops route

Typical bush section, Lewis Tops route

There are some good examples of Hall's Totara near the track, the biggest I saw would have been 3-4 meters in diameter at least.

Moderately large Totara tree on the Lewis Pass route

Me on the Lewis Pass Tops track

Start of Alpine transition, Lewis Tops Route

Breaking out of the bush, Lewis Tops route

You break out of the bush after an hour and start the climb up scrubby slopes to point 1568, the high point on the first section of the Tops route. It can be blazingly hot so make sure you have lots of water, sun screen and a good sun hat past this point. 

Climbing up the spur to point 1568, Lewis Pass Tops Route

NOTE: This is a marked route but can be hard to follow in thick cloud, fog or snow conditions. Make sure you take a compass bearing (or GPS way point) at the point where the track enters the bush. You may need it when you are returning from your tramp. 

Also be aware that there are some big falls on both sides of the route, stay on the track!

Mt Travatore 1737m from the Lewis Tops Route

The Spencer Mountains from Lewis Tops Route

The views become more spectacular the higher you climb, you can see a long way even from this modest height. There are right and left marker poles about 50 meters off to the side of the poled route, this is the outer limit of the safety zone on this spur. The arrows on them point to the middle of the track.

Libretto range from the Lewis Tops

Opera Range from the Lewis Tops route

View North to Mt Freyburg 1817m from Lewis Tops

Upper Maruia Valley and Spencer Mountain Range

Jon Moake on the Lewis Pass Tops

You gradually climb a series of false summits, your goal is an unnamed high point call 1568, the route goes over the top of this and continues on to the west for several kilometres.

Point 1568, Lewis Pass Tops

Glacial erratic high on the Lewis Pass Tops

Climbing to point 1568, Lewis Pass Tops

There are some awesome views from the flat area on top of point 1568, you can see as far as the Paparoa's to the West, and the high Spencer Mountains (Glorianna and the Fairie Queene) out to the east. It is also possible to see right down the Lewis Valley as far as Windy Point.

Lewis Pass Tops: view to East, headwaters of Maruia river, Lewis Pass SR

Lewis Pass Tops Route: Mt Technical and the Apprentice, Lewis Pass SR

Route heading West, Lewis Pass Tops

View West towards point 1561, Lewis Pass Tops

I stopped for a rest right on top of 1568, the views on offer sure make up for the effort expended to get to this spot!

Rest spot on point 1568, Lewis Pass Tops

Mt Technical, from the Lewis Pass Tops

View of Victoria Range around Springs Junction

View West, with Victoria, Brunner and Paparoa ranges in distance

Chill wind blowing high on the Lewis Pass Tops

Lewis Tops: the Tarns

Once you reach the top of the spur there is virtually flat travel along the tops for several kilometres. There are a series of tarns along the route, offering excellent camping spots high above the surrounding valleys. I was surprised to see no one in residence as the weather was fine and warm for about 4 days around Christmas.

The first no-name tarn, Lewis Pass tops

I only tramped as far as the first tarn which is situated between point 1568 and 1561. I walked down to the tarn for a look and to refill of my water bottles because it looked so enticing.  It would be an awesome spot for a camp and the water was icy cold even with the sunny weather. 

Close up of the first tarn, Lewis Pass tops

View of the ridge from the first tarn, Lewis Pass Tops

If you go as far as point 1561 you will be able to see a group of about 5-7 tarns of various sizes on a saddle to the South West, this is the spot people usually stop if camping in the area.

View of point 1561 from West of point 1568, Lewis Pass Tops

Once past point 1568 the travel is along a relatively flat track, you can basically walk as far as you like, if you continue past Mt Technical you eventually reach the Brass Monkey Biv and route's to Lake Christabel, Mt Boscawen and Rough Creek. It is possible to follow the tops from here all the way to the Hope River Valley about 20 km's to the South East, as they are all inter connected. 

High alpine meadows on the Freyburg Range from the Lewis Tops Route

Climbing back up to point 1568, Lewis Pass Tops

I stopped for a late lunch just shy of the bush line as the wind had picked up and it was getting quite cold higher along the ridge. There are plenty of little nooks and crannies for you to tuck yourself into out of the wind along the track.

Lunch stop above bushline, Lewis Pass Tops

Me eating lunch on the Lewis Pass Tops

Entry point back into the bush on the Lewis Pass Tops

It took me about 2.5 hours to walk back to the car park from the tops, the steepness of the track makes for slow descent rates. The only people I saw all day were two German hikers who passed me just after I entered the bush line. When talking to them I found they were on their way to camp at the tarns. 

Another great tramping location for you to add to your lists, I will come back some time and camp by one of the tarns.

Access: The track starts directly opposite the Lewis Pass car park on SH 6, the Lewis Pass Highway.

Track details:1.5 hours to the beginning of the Tops, another 30 minutes to the point overlooking the first 'no name' tarn. Another hour to the next set of tarns.

Miscellaneous: High exposed alpine environment, dangerous in snow, rain or windy conditions. There are some big drop off s along here. Stay between the snow poles to left and right of main track.