Bird to BirdBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Corey Woodward
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Very hilly
Native bushOpen tussock/grasslandsOpen ridges/topsVolcanic
Beginner - Intermediate
2:00 (Slow)
1:30 (Moderate)
1:00 (Fast)
-10.0%
+10.3%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
An out and back trail from the Sign of the Kiwi to the Sign of the Bellbird on the Banks Peninsula. Park at the Sign of the Kiwi car park and then head off on the trail that starts by the monument to the left of the Cafe. The general idea on this run is to keep left when there are trail options, except when these send you down into Governor's Bay.
700m in, head right on the slightly less used trail.
1.5k cross over the Summit Road, take Crater Rim Walkway on the left.
The Crater Rim Walkway comes out at Worsleys Track/Road, cross that onto mown lawn and head through the small gate beside road.
Head along the road for 20m or so then cross over the stile into Hoon Hay Scenic Reserve and head up the hill.
At the top, cross the next stile and then take the right hand trail (Trig V), don't go left... that's Faulkners Track (not today's adventure).
Things get a bit rocky and more technical here, good views though so take your time.
3.5k you'll rejoin the Crater Rim Walkway, head left.
4.3k head left onto Ellas Track, this is more technical and has one slipped area that has been made passable by steps cut into the slope. This takes you around the harbour side of Mt Ada, good views but mind your step, the track is very narrow.
5.0k the trail rejoins the Crater Rim Walkway again, don't take it, continue to head left on Ellas Track, very rocky on this section so watch those ankles!
5.3k You emerge onto a mown grass area, head right up the hill to the Sign of the Bellbird (across the road).
Head back using the Crater Rim Walkway (at around 6.2k head straight through the cross road in the trail).
Easy from there.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Part of the Crater Rim Trail taking in native bush, volcanic ridge lines, and exposed tops.
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 20%
Moderate Single Track: 70%
Easy Single Track: 10%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each

The Guv'nor & His Birds
Length: 16.00km

The Crater Rim
Length: 27.90km

Takahe Half
Length: 21.10km

Christchurch 360 Trail - Sugarloaf Hills Section
Length: 18.20km

The Governator
Length: 9.85km

Governator 2 - Judgement Day
Length: 7.70km
Photos:
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Access
Start and finish at the car park at the Sign of the Kiwi, top of Dyers Pass.
Easiest parking is the car park just below the Sign of the Kiwi, if full there is the option of parking on the side of the Summit Road just past the Sign of the Kiwi
10 km
18 minutes
Yes
No
-
Staying Safe
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
Generally good.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map.
Water fountain at the Sign of the Kiwi Cafe, near the toilets. No water available on trail, carry your own.
Very muddy after rain. Very exposed to Southerly winds, weather can change very quickly. Be prepared.
Slippery mud in some places, narrow rutted trails, and some technical rock sections along Ellas Track.
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Post run indulgence
Sign of the Kiwi Cafe
Start/Finish location
Great coffee. Sell Ice cream, perfect for post-run in summer -
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Godley Head loop
Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour
Halswell and Kennedys
Summit Walkway
The Bowenvale Elevator
The Gorsetrack Strikes Back
Rapaki Sugarloaf Return
Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki
Port Hills Nearly Half Marathon
Horse Longitudes
Horse Latitudes
Sumner Half Heads
Whigs' Flying Fifty (WFF)
VKV challenge
Banks Peninsula Ultra Beer Run
Bottle Lake Blue Loop
Gebbies to Packhorse Romp
Hagley Figure of 8
Bowenvale / Huntsbury Loop
Avon City Loops
Avon - Source to Surf
Okuti to Hilltop Amble
Gondola Gallop
Orton Bradley Loop
The ATH (Around The Harbour)
Lava - H.ELL Loop
Travis Wetland Loop
Punk Rock Assault On Windsor Castle
The Guv'nor & His Birds
The Crater Rim
Lava Lite
Takahe Half
North New Brighton Spit
Mt Pleasant Trig
God's Con - Rehab Road
Gang of Four
Dog Sniffing Rhythms - Harbour Crusin'
Trinity - Harbour Bruisin'
Gates Of The East
Hunting Out A Gorge-ous Loop
Lyttelton Dress Circle
A Diamond in the Rough
Port Hills Spur Challenge!
Up Hill Down Valley
The Coffee Run
Pour Some Sugarloaf On Me
Never Trust A Crocodile
Lyttelton Semi-Circle
Hagley Perimeter
Holliss Stairway to Heaven
Diamond, Herbert & Fitzgerald
Barnett Bunker Buster
The Pipeline of Pain
Mt Vernon Farm Track
Vicki Vale
Heathcote River Run - Opawa to Hoon Hay
Christchurch 360 Trail - Sugarloaf Hills Section
Little Learner Loop (Halswell Quarry)
Port Hills Protocol
Bodybag
O'Farrells For Shore
The Governator
Heathcote Meander
Spitting Distance
Montgomery Loop
Canterbury Agricultural Park Loop
2 Sugars, 2 Vernons & a Half Shot
Quail Island Looping
The Chairlift Choice
Tussock Hill Ridge
Mt Pleasant Elevator
McLeans Meander
Girdle the Groynes
Governator 2 - Judgement Day
Christchurch 360 Trail - Godley Cliffs Section
Westmorland Wetland Time Trial
Loopy in Siberia
The North Faces
Westmorland Hill Reps
360 Trail - Dunes Wetlands Section
Rocking Gibraltar
Dune Bugging
Hey Sisters!
Living Springs Loop
Springing Around Longhurst
Lady Isaac Loop
The Missing Link
Beer Bum Bluffs
Brooklands for the Birds.
Surf's Up!!!
Styx Pick Me Up
Orton Odyssey
Shoeing the Horse
Tauhinu-Korokio TKO
Double Top
Beginner's Adventure Park Loop
Boulder Dash
Clan of the Cave Runner
Taiora Track
Landfill Lark
Morgans Baa Baa Loop
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Horsing Around
Port Hills 8-Attack
Pinecone Pirate - Waitākiri/Bottle Lake Forest Park
Frogger
Takahe to Taylors