Last Updated: 13th Mar 2024

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Port Hills Protocol

Christchurch, Canterbury

Submitted by Mike Steel

Last Updated: 13th Mar 2024

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Notice More info

Grunt Factor: 40

Gnarl Factor: 38

32.0km

1050m

1050m

490m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Urban fringe

Loop

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush

Beach

Coastal

Riverside

Open farmlands

Open tussock/grasslands

Open ridges/tops

Run Makeup

15%
5%
10%
25%
20%
15%
10%

Sealed Road

Gravel Road

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Untracked / Route only

Average Uphill Gradient: +8.4%

Average Downhill Gradient: -8.9%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

6:00

Slow

4:00

Moderate

3:00

Fast

From Protocol head along Centaurus Road then up Major Aitken Drive. At the first hairpin dive off onto the Coronation Reserve trail, cross the bridge and follow up the newish track up through bush. The stairs and slopes get you very quickly up to Vista Place and onto upper Hunstbury Ave.

Follow this up to the end (carpark), pop over the stile on your right and follow faint trails up, passing just a little to the left of the rocky outcrop/cabbage tree on the ridge – the trail descends slightly to a fence that leads to the long grassy flat ‘runway’ and on to upper part of the gravel road. Cross the summit road and climb up Mt Vernon for great views.

Descend east on the Crater Rim track and follow this all the way to the Bridle Track. Drop down to Lyttelton and head west past the tunnel and turn left on the Godley Quay road which leads to a rugby field. Continue on this road to the Naval Point boat club building, just to the right leads to a rocky/sandy beach. Cross this and climb up a short distance onto a wide grassy track which takes you to Corsair Bay (great swimming), then narrows to single track onto Cass Bay (toilets at both these beaches).

The trail continues beyond Cass Bay on round the coast (towards ‘Pony Point’) – follow this until you are as far out to sea as possible, at which point the track climbs steeply on an obvious/new wooden staircase. Don’t go up there - instead drop down to the sea – there’s no track, and it looks bluffed below, but carefully head down (good clumps of grass to hang onto!) tending right towards a ramp that allows you to find land below. Now you’re down with the shellfish, begin the delicate ballet dance/run along the rocky coast that leads to Rapaki beach (with its two little thermal pools).

Continue ‘running’ along the coast which becomes increasingly remote – in places it's a bit slow, but there are faster sections on sandy beach or flatish rocks . At one point the sea comes into a tight cove – it’s possible to keep your feet dry here by climbing along ledges on the right (see pic) and stepping over onto the big rock. The coastal rocky running improves a bit after this, and includes a delightful secluded sandy beach.

Beyond this there is one more obstacle where climbing seems tricky, but if the tide is low enough you might just keep your feet mostly dry by going low and jumping between rocks (if not, it’s not deep!). Continue around the coast – ignore any tracks that head up, eventually passing a couple of batches -- the running improves, and when you round a corner by a derelict wharf you’ll see a grassy trail on your right that leads into Sandy Bay (toilet here) – continue past this on the level road (not the climbing road) and take the single track trail that leads off left to the Governors Bay jetty - it stays very near the water, and pops out on the road just above the jetty.

Run up the road to the Harbour House Cafe (formerly She Universe Cafe) - the high cliffs ahead of you are where you're heading so maybe call in for a coffee and some scones! From the café you need to find Faulkner’s track.To do this, run on Main Rd towards Dyers Pass, turn left at Zephyr Terrace, left again at The Terrace and just after Hyland Brae on your right is a narrow staircase (with concrete block sides). This is the start of Faulkner's track.

Follow Faulkner’s track up which first climbs up steeply past houses, before entering Ohinetahi reserve, and climbing more gently south for a while. The track then begins a sharp ascent, zig-zagging its way up an improbably steep slope between bluffs and briefly entering a prominent bushy gully. However, the cleverly placed track is pretty much runnable all the way (slowly) right up to the crater rim walkway. Here turn left and go up to Trig V for superb views down the harbour- then continue on that track south till it meets the Crater Rim again, and then follow the Crater Rim back – it’s pretty much all downhill to the Sign of the Kiwi (another great café here, also toilets and water) then down the Harry Ell track, past The Cup café, and down the final stretch of Dyers Pass road back to Protocol.

This 32k circuit run starts and finishes at Protocol café/pub in south Colombo Street, and involves no backtracking. It can only be done around LOW TIDE, and even then you may still get wet. It passes four other fine cafes, but also takes in two summits, and a rarely visited/remote part of the Lyttelton harbour coastline, and several sandy beaches (including one with two tiny thermal pools). There’s a pumping climb up arguably the most ‘interesting’ ascent on the Port Hills (Faulkner’s Track). This run has all types of tracks (including no track at all) and all styles of running -- including no running at all! Plenty of things to see along the way (bush, beaches, rocky cliffs, seagulls, oystercatchers, ducks, shellfish).

Plenty of street parking nearby

4 km

9 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

Generally good.

Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

Places to get water along the way include the Rugby Pavillion (water fountain) in Lyttelton; She chocolat in Governors Bay; Sign of the Kiwi.

The rocky coastal section will be more slippery in winter and/or if its been wet. Much better as a summertime run.
Also do this run only at LOW TIDE.

Protocol
2 colombo street
http://www.protocoloncolombo.co.nz/
It's where you finish, so the perfect spot for a beer.

Taste at 20
Colombo Street (same shops at Protocol)
http://www.tasteattwenty.co.nz/
Awesomely good fruit smoothies

Trail Legend

Corey Woodward

Corey Woodward

has completed Port Hills Protocol once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Couple of updates - the cafe at Governor's Bay is now closed (Sept 2022), but the pub is still open! Also, it seems some had trouble getting down to the beach (below pony point) -- it looks bluffed (and it is if you head straight down) but if you tend right (as described) as you descend the scrub (when you get to the wooden stairs that head up) you'll see a big flat-topped rock below on your right and there's a fairly easy way to shimmy your way down onto it.

Mike Steel

September 1, 2022

A great adventure - but would make sure to go at or before low tide next time. Went 1.5 hours after and couldn't get all the way through. As everyone else has said, the bluff at Pony Point looked a bit dangerous so I avoided by running up and along to Rapaki and heading onto the foreshore there. Might try it again with better timing soon!

Laura Richards

January 31, 2022

Neglecting to read the reviews had a plus- so was not expecting such a magnificent adventure!! just wow. Bravo!

Mike McManaway

August 15, 2021

Brilliant run, nothing that I can add except to reaffirm what others have stated:
- The descent at Pony Point isn't one to get wrong, but it's manageable
- Departing Lyttelton 40 mins before low tide kept our feet dry almost all the way around. Note that it took us 2 hours to reach Lyttelton with an overall time of 5 hours (so moderate/slow) - you should adjust your departure from Protocol to reflect this (perhaps 1/1.5 hours prior to low tide if you're fast/moderate, 2.5 if you're slower.
- Water refills are brilliantly dotted along the course at approx. 10km intervals: Lyttelton and Governors Bay should get you through, but Sign of Kiwi great additional option on a hot day.
- Varied terrain kept things interesting and made the time go fast!

Jake Bailey

June 14, 2021

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