Last Updated: 20th Mar 2024
Bowenvale / Huntsbury Loop
Submitted by James Stewart
Last Updated: 20th Mar 2024
Grunt Factor: 14 ?
Gnarl Factor: 16 ?
11.2km
500m
500m
440m
Last Updated: 20th Mar 2024
Submitted by James Stewart
Last Updated: 20th Mar 2024
Grunt Factor: 14 ?
Gnarl Factor: 16 ?
11.2km
500m
500m
440m
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Open farmlands
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Sealed Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +10.1%
Average Downhill Gradient: -9.6%
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2:00
Slow
1:30
Moderate
1:00
Fast
- Start anywhere along Centaurus Road or Bowenvale Ave.
- Head up Bowenvale Ave and onto the track that takes you up the valley.
- Continue on the trail marked 'summit road'. This heads right up the guys of the valley before switching back on itself after 3.5kms.
- You'll have stunning views across the City for the next 300m before switching back again for a 1000m grind up to the summit road.
- Take a minute to enjoy the views of Lyttelton Harbour, upload a selfie to the Wildthings Facebook page and jump on the Crater Rim train heading east
- You've now got 1500m of sweet single trail ahead of you. A mixture of tussock and two big groves of native bush.
- This will drop you out at the top of the Huntsbury Track/Bowenvale Reserve.
- Mt Vernon will be to your East - tack an ascent/loop on if you're feeling gutsy.
- Take the 4WD Huntsbury Track down through Bowenvale Reserve. 1500m of fast gravel gravel tracks. Watch out for cattle stops.
- You then get thrown onto Huntsbury Ave for 1300m of tarmac.
- Hang a left at the Community Centre for a walking track down to Centaurus Road (if you hit Millhill Lane you've gone too far)
- From there track west along Centaurus for a km and you'll be back on Bowenvale.
Volcanic valleys. Stunning views over Lyttelton harbour, Christchurch City, Pegasus Bay and the Southern Alps.
6 km
13 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Perfect throughout.
Lightweight fleece top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries
None.
Can get windy up on the tops of the Port Hills.
You'll be sheltered from any Southerly in the valley so check the forecast before you head off.
MTB riders on Huntsbury Farm Track
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Bowenvale / Huntsbury Loop
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Nice loop with an interesting climb up through Bowenvale - always stunning! Then a wee bit of time on the crater rim before heading back down Huntsbury and the secret walkway that I never knew about. Quite a bit of pavement on the descent but still a cool loop.
August 18, 2021
Nice enough loop but the weather today was appalling, rain all the way up and then snow flurries and wind gusts along the top! Brr!
August 8, 2021
Always a solid grunt up Bowenvale and rewarded with nice fast single track and the descent down Huntsbury. My knees objected to running down the tar seal so might try it in reverse next time. I had never been down Huntsbury Walkway... love discovering news places!!
February 14, 2021
These overlap with this trail 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 activity for each.
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