Port Hills

Okay, so I'm standing here in the Port Hills, and wow, what a view! These hills are pretty significant, not just for the scenery but also geologically. They're actually the eroded remains of the Lyttelton volcano, which erupted millions of years ago. It’s one of two volcanoes that formed Banks Peninsula about 12 million years ago.

You can really see how they divide Christchurch from Lyttelton Harbour. They stretch from Godley Head, run along the northern side of the harbour, and then head south, finally ending near Gebbies Pass. There are quite a few summits here, ranging from 300 to 500 meters high.

Historically, these hills were a real challenge. Māori first settled here in the 14th century, but when European settlers arrived much later, in the 19th century, getting between the harbour and Christchurch was incredibly difficult because of how steep and rugged these hills are. For about 17 years, from 1850 to 1867, most settlers actually used the Bridle Path, which sounds like it was quite the trek, to get themselves and their belongings across. Now, thankfully, there’s a road tunnel and a rail tunnel connecting the port and the city, plus three road routes over the passes – Evans, Dyers, and Gebbies – all linked by the Summit Road.

Speaking of passes, Dyers Pass is quite prominent, almost directly south of central Christchurch at about 330 meters. Evans Pass is closer to the eastern end, around 200 meters. Between those two passes, you’ve got some notable peaks like Sugarloaf, which has that TV transmission tower, Mount Cavendish, and Tauhinukorokio, or Mount Pleasant, which is the highest in this northern section at 499 meters. Further west, the hills actually get even higher, reaching 573 meters at Coopers Knob.

It's clear these hills are super important for recreation. There are tons of public parks and reserves, with tracks for mountain biking and walking. I even saw the gondola lift up to Mount Cavendish, which opened in 1992, making it easy to get to the top. There's also the Christchurch Adventure Park on Worsleys Hill, which opened in 2016 for mountain biking. It's a fantastic spot for locals and visitors alike. Just be aware, these hills have seen some serious bushfires in recent years, like in 2017 and another big one just this past February, so it's a good reminder to be careful.