Mt Pleasant to Scarborough on the Christchurch 360
The section I decided to walk was that between
Mt Pleasant and Scarborough, along the Christchurch Coastal Pathway. This pathway is mostly on footpaths but is is actually quite nice as you have water right next to you for the whole length of the trip. I parked my car at the Mt Pleasant Yacht Club car park and set out for points East.....
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| Car-park next to the Mt Pleasant Yacht Club |
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| Ferrymead end of the Estuary |
There are a series of information panels along the pathway with historical information and notes about future developments envisioned for the estuary such as bird watching hides.
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| Information panel along Coastal Pathway |
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| View out to South Brighton from Mt Pleasant shoreline |
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| The new Christchurch Coastal Pathway at Mt Pleasant |
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| Mt Pleasant farmers market |
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| Mt Pleasant farmers market advertisement... |
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| The McCormicks Bay Causeway |
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| The fore mentioned McCormicks Bay |
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| Approaching Redcliffs on the causeway |
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| Christchurch 360 symbol near Redcliffs |
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| Turn off down Beachville Road, Redcliffs |
Not all parts of the Coastal Pathway are completed, the section between McCormicks Bay and Clifton Terrace is still under construction
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| The Coastal Pathway...a work in progress.... |
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| The estuary, Clifton Terrace and Southshore Spit |
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| More of the Coastal Pathway at Redcliffs |
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| Jon with Clifton Terrace in the background |
I spotted a few birds along this area, shags, herons and seagulls mostly, also some shoals of fish swimming around just off shore.
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| Nankeen Heron? |
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| The infamous Shag |
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| The estuary and Southshore Spit |
The trail goes back out onto the main road for a couple of hundred meters, taking you through the shops at Redcliffs....
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| Trail goes through down town Redcliffs |
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| Older gravel section of the Coastal Pathway |
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| One of the Coastal Pathway Signs |
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| Estuary mouth from Moncks Bay |
I noticed a sign along here which said that this next section of the Coastal Pathway is due for construction in November 2016...watch this space.
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| Unformed part of the Coastal Pathway |
As you round Clifton Terrace you pass Shag Rock, which was a rock pillar just off the coast. Now it is just a pile of ruble, it was destroyed in the 2010/11 earthquakes. We in Christchurch have cheekily taken to calling it "Shagged Rock", its gallows humor really as it is actually quite sad....
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| Is it Shag rock, or.... |
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| ...."Shagged" rock |
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| Pre earthquake Shag Rock |
There is a massive earthwork in progress at Clifton Terrace, the council and NZTA are building a berm to catch rocks falling down onto the road. It is impressive, they are cutting the cliffs back and totally covering them with reinforced wire netting to hold it all together.
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| Massive earthworks to stabilise Clifton Terrace |
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| Foundations of destroyed Clifton Terrace House |
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| Clifton Terrace: cliff side wire netting to hold rock in place |
You can see why there have been various schemes over the years to build a bridge from Sumner to Southshore, the mouth of the Estuary is only about 40 meters wide at low tide. Unfortunately it is about the same depth so $$$$$$$$$$.... it is unlikely to be built in my lifetime.
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| Entrance of the Estuary between Shag Rock and Southshore |
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| Sumner Beach |
The new Surf Club at Sumner looks flash, I really like the shape and use of wooden cladding.
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| Brand new Sumner Surf Clubrooms |
Turn onto the Esplanade just past the surf club and walk down to Cave Rock...
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| The Esplanade in Sumner |
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| WW1 Memorial "Gallipoli" on Sumner Esplanade |
The council are repairing the signal station on Cave Rock at the moment, but you can still go up on top for a bit of a look around. There is a nice view of Pegasus Bay from up there. i note some idjiot is in hospital after trying to jump from Cave rock onto the containers....don't be that guy!
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| Cave Rock, Sumner |
Once past Cave Rock you walk along the seawall right down to Sumner Heads and the end of this section of Trail.
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| View out to Scarborough cliffs...the end in sight! |
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| Closer view of Scarborough and Sumner Heads |
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| On the promenade between Sumner and Scarborough |
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| Pathway on the Sumner seawall, the WW1 memorial clock tower |
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| ...Ice-cream....? |
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| ....Ice-cream....? |
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| ...damn straight ice-cream! |
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| Christchurch 360 Information Panel at Scarborough |
There are a series of Christchurch 360 information panels and maps next to the cafe at Scarborough, not so easy to see unfortunately....
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| Godley Cliffs Section (7-8 hrs) |
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| Estuary-Marshes Section (4-6 hrs) |
This section ends another 100 meters up the road near the Coast Guard Station., from here you can walk back to the start, catch a bus (in Sumner township) or continue along the next section of the Trail.
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| Heading towards Sumner Heads |
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| View of Sumner Bay from the end of this section |
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| End of this section, Godley Head Section starts/finishes here |
I got to the end of the section with the intention of catching a bus back to the start but it was such a nice day I thought, bugger it I'll walk right back.
So I did....
We have spent many happy hours with the kids at the Scarborough Park over the years, it is gorgeous and very well loved.
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| ........park near Scarborough. |
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| Tide filling the Estuary |
Jaffa the Jeep, need I say more.....
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| Jaffa the Jeep.....yep! |
Below is a WW2 machine gun emplacement that was converted into a seat at some time. Back in 1941/42 we were convinced the Japanese would invade New Zealand so a series of fortifications were built right along the coast. This one would have dominated the entrance to the estuary.
I'm glad it is seeing some other sort of use...
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| WW2 machine gun emplacement reconfigured as seat |
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| Gun emplacement information panel |
The tide comes in quick at this end of the estuary, in the 15 minutes I was eating lunch all of the sandbars were covered over by the tide.
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| Incoming tide in the Estuary |
I stopped for a sandwich and drink just past the Moncks Bay Yacht Club, there are seats where you can look out over the estuary. My sandwich was from the bakery in Sumner...yum, very nice, it had my favourite Kiwi dressing made from sweetened condensed milk, I will go there again.
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| Eating my lunch near Redcliffs |
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| Lunch spot over looking Moncks Bay |
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| Southshore from lunch stop |
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| The Estuary from lunch stop |
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| Clifton Terrace from lunch stop |
There are still a lot of empty sections along the coast, some poor people are still fighting their insurance companies 5 years after the 2010/2011 earthquakes.
Bastids!
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| One of the still empty sections in Redcliffs |
One of the sad losses of the earthquakes is Redcliffs Cave, the roof collapsed making it unsafe to enter.
It is totally munted!
Just about every Christchurch kid from 1860-2010 must have visited this cave at one time or another.....
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| The munted Redcliffs Cave |
If you don't fancy the idea of walking all the way to Scarborough and back, then just jump on the Purple Line bus and only walk one way. The bus comes through every 15 minutes and would cost $2.00-$3.50 depending on your age.
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| Your bus transport if you care to use it... |
It takes a long time for the tide to reach the head of the estuary, as you can see in the photo below there were still mudflats at this end.
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| Still not high tide at this end of the estuary |
The Coastal Pathway is a very nice trip...how many times have you driven this way but never actually walked it? I recommend everyone get out there and give it a go, just pick a lovely sunny day like I did.
Christchurch 360 section details: Mt Pleasant to Scarborough
Access: Start at the Mt Pleasant Yacht Club, ends at the Scarborough Surf Club
Track Times: Approximately 7 km's, 1-2 hours one way
Miscellaneous: Purple Bus Line covers this whole section if you want to park at one end and catch the bus back to your car. toilets at both ends of the section. There are shops right along this route.
Christchurch 360 Trail: Taylors Mistake to Scarborough-Coastal Walkway: Mt Pleasant to Scarborough - Mt Pleasant to Travis Wetlands Section
