Te Ara Pātaka/Summit Walkway

Distance: 4 km The Kaituna Valley Packhorse Hut Track is a well signposted track that passes through a farm, following vehicle tracks up a native bush-filled valley. The track ambles through pasture and then forest, crossing the valley stream several times. In the summer you can use stepping stones to cross, but be prepared to get wet feet if the stream is up after rain. The track eventually climbs steeply onto a big spur. It then follows the open spur for some distance before reaching a farm track through the Parkinsons Bush Reserve. This leads to the saddle and the historic stone Packhorse Hut, well situated for the views. Packhorse Hut makes a great place for a sheltered lunch stop if completing this walk in a day or an exciting nights’ stay for families or those travelling the Te Ara Pātaka track.

Distance: 6.5 km With a 300m climb up to Mount Bradley to start this section, this is the most exposed part of the track. It also brings wonderful views back down to Packhorse Hut and the Kaituna Valley. After the last zig-zag the track heads east, skirting below the mountain's rocky massif through gorse, bush and regenerating scrub – you will have to pick over some rocky patches. The track emerges at a fence line on the pass between Mount Bradley and Mount Herbert. Cross at the stile and carry straight on near the fence. You will soon join a farm track; stay on the main track when a side track branches off to Orton Bradley Park. The Mount Herbert Shelter is a short distance along and has a toilet and water. From the shelter, return to the farm track. Turn right after about 400 m, up a smaller track that leads through gorse to the Mount Herbert/Te Ahu Patiki summit. If you miss this turnoff, there is another opportunity to reach the summit when the track from Te Waipapa/DiamondHarbour joins.

Distance: 5.7 km From the summit of Mount Herbert, head south-east along the plateau through tussock grassland to reach the summit of ‘Little Mount Herbert’. Take great care in misty weather to follow the orange markers along the 1 km plateau between the two summits. You may encounter cattle grazing along the way. Give them space as you walk. From ‘Little Mount Herbert’, carry on south-east down a steep tussock slope, to pick up the marked farm track. This is punctuated by pine forest and old stands of remnant tōtara. It then drops to the Port Levy saddle car park on Western Valley Road. Port Levy saddle is at the top of Western Valley Road. This steep, narrow gravel road connects Little River to Port Levy. It's not suitable for campervans or towing vehicles, and can be difficult for 2WD vehicles after heavy rain There is a parking area here providing easy access to Rod Donald Hut or Mount Herbert.

Distance: 2.5 km Cross Western Valley Road and follow the marked track to Waipuna Saddle. There is a beautiful old growth tōtara forest at Waipuna Saddle. This is on private land, but the landowner permits you to visit it. Respect this very special place. Rod Donald Hut is down a side track and takes about 25 min to walk to from the Waipuna Saddle.

Distance: 14.3 km The track crosses private farmland – respect this and keep to the track. From Rod Donald Hut, climb back up the access track to reach Waipuna Saddle. Then head east following the marked farm track through the tōtara graveyard, pasture and several DOC reserves. Some sections of reserve track are steep and rocky, so take care and enjoy the beautiful forest including a giant tōtara, thought to be up to 2,000 years old. The track emerges from the reserve onto Summit Road. Keep children close and take extreme care to look and listen for vehicles as you cross the road.

Packhorse Hut Rod Donald Hut

Te Ara Pātaka is best accessed by car. It's best to leave a car at each end of the track. From Christchurch, take SH75 to Kaituna Valley Road. It's around a 50-minute drive from Christchurch to Gebbies Pass, or 1 hour 15 minutes to Hilltop as the roads are steep and windy. If parking at Hilltop, leave vehicles at the furthest end of the car park from the tavern itself. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way to the Hilltop end, or this location to find your way to the Kaituna Valley end.

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .

No dogs.