Gondola GallopBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Tony Sharpe
Urban fringe
Point to Point (one way)
Undulating, some big hills
Native bushPlantation/exotic forestOpen farmlandsOpen tussock/grasslandsOpen ridges/topsVolcanic
Beginner - Intermediate
1:45 (Slow)
1:30 (Moderate)
1:00 (Fast)
-12.4%
+13.8%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
Start at Victoria Park playground or the Info Centre and head up the trails to reach the Summit Road at Thompsons Reserve. Cross the road and keep heading up to the trig at the summit of the Sugarloaf, a great view is your reward!
Descend Sugarloaf to the east on a faint trail to join the Crater Rim Track, which you then follow over the lumps and bumps of the Port Hills, including Mt Vernon, all the way to the final dash up the hill to the Gondola Top station.
Superb views on both sides of Lyttelton Harbour and the Christchurch/ North Canterbury region.
Have a feed and a drink at the Gondola and either grab yourself a ticket down the easy way, or else head down the Bridle Path to the Gondola base or Lyttleton where you can connect back to town with a bus or arranged pick up. Another fun option is to retrace your steps back to Victoria Park for a half marathon plus distance .
Trail Community
Features of interest
Enjoy the expansive views along the central section of the Crater Rim Walkway, simply majestic on a clear day.
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 10%
Moderate Single Track: 55%
Easy Single Track: 30%
Sealed Road: 5%
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
Rapaki Sugarloaf Return
Length: 15.00km
Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki
Length: 13.00km
Port Hills Nearly Half Marathon
Length: 18.00km
VKV challenge
Length: 10.00km
Lava - H.ELL Loop
Length: 10.30km
Port Hills Spur Challenge!
Length: 18.50km
Vicki Vale
Length: 9.25km
Christchurch 360 Trail - Sugarloaf Hills Section
Length: 18.20km
The North Faces
Length: 24.80km
Photos:
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Access
Victoria Park Playground, Cashmere.
Carparking available, buses also service Cashmere to the Sign of the Takahe and to the Bridle Path at bottom of Gondola.
8 km
19 minutes
No
No
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Staying Safe
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
Track is pretty well marked, can be greasy after rain so have the right tread on your shoes in that event. Otherwise hard fast trails to put the hammer down on. Good exit options along the way down Huntsbury or Rapaki if the weather really goes dire.
Perfect throughout.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone.
There is a fountain 1km from the start and also at the very beginning, otherwise carry all your water.
Can be exposed in the worst weather, take appropriate clothing for sudden changes, check weather forecasts.
Boy racers when crossing Summit Road!
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Post run indulgence
Christchurch Gondola
Mt Cavendish
http://welcomeaboard.co.nz/gondola/
Great food, coffee, and superb location to finish a good gallop -
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
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)
Bird to Bird
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
