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Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki, Canterbury

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Sign Of The Takahe - RapakiBeginner - Intermediate

Submitted by Mark Rigby

Info Info
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Trail Information

13.00km

480m

480m

 

Canterbury

Christchurch

Urban fringe

Loop

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Open farmlands
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Volcanic

Beginner - Intermediate

1:50 (Slow)
1:20 (Moderate)
1:00 (Fast)

-10.5%

+10.3%

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Description

Run starts at the Sign of the Takahe. From here head 200m up Dyers Pass Rd and cross over to the left hand side and you will come across the start of Harry Ell Track. Follow this track for approx 3.2km. At the end of the track you come to Summit Rd. Turn right and run down 100m to the Sign of the Kiwi.

Here you need to look left and you will see a sign showing Sugarloaf Reserve. Enter the track here, you are now on part of the Crater Rim Track. Follow the Crater Rim (signposted) track for around 3km (total 6.3km) always staying above the Summit Rd on the right hand side. Once here there is a short sharp climb to the top of Mt Vernon ( follow the orange top markers) giving you great 360 degree views of Banks Peninsula, Christchurch and the Southern Alps.

From the top work your way down the other side towards Rapaki Track (this is a 4 wheel drive track which you can see from the top). At the bottom you will come across a shared mountain bike/ walking track, here turn left and work your way around this track until you reach the point where you climbed Mt Vernon. From here cross the road and follow the track that runs on the lower side of the Summit Rd, keeping the road on your left hand side.

Follow this track for a few kms until you come to a pine plantation (about 10.6km). Take the track to the right and cross the small cattle stop and as soon as you enter the pine forest look to the right and work your way down and you will come across a small silver gate. Go through this and then the next one (they are about 10 metres apart) and this is the start of Latters Spur Track. Follow this track for around 1km to a car park area and Latters Spur Track continues on the right hand side of this car park (about 11.5km) for another km or so. After this you will come out onto a footpath which runs next to the road into Victoria park. Follow this path down to the Sign of the Takahe and the loop is finished.


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Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 15%

Moderate Single Track: 45%

Easy Single Track: 40%


Route Data

Reviews:

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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

Rapaki Sugarloaf Return

Length: 15.00km

VKV challenge

VKV challenge

Length: 10.00km

Gondola Gallop

Gondola Gallop

Length: 11.30km

Lava - H.ELL Loop

Lava - H.ELL Loop

Length: 10.30km

Port Hills Spur Challenge!

Port Hills Spur Challenge!

Length: 18.50km

Pour Some Sugarloaf On Me

Pour Some Sugarloaf On Me

Length: 8.30km

Vicki Vale

Vicki Vale

Length: 9.25km

The North Faces

The North Faces

Length: 24.80km


Photos:

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Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Sign of the Takahe.
    Cnr Dyers Pass and Hackthorne Rds.

    Bus Stop at the Sign of the Takahe.

    7 km

    16 minutes

    Yes

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Moderate.

    Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .

    At the top of Harry Ell track where you come onto the tar seal road turn right and run down 100m to the Sign of the Kiwi. Look left opposite the Sign of the Kiwi building and enter the track on the left hand side of the road (Sugarloaf Reserve).

    After 10.5km you come to an area where the track has a left and right option. Take the right hand side and cross the small cattle stop and enter the pine forest and after 50m look to the right and work your way down until you see a silver gate. Go to this gate and go through it and the next one which you will also see. This is the start of Latters Spur track.

    Perfect throughout.

    Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Cellphone.

    Water available from fountains at the Sign of the Takahe and 2.5km up Harry Ell Track and at the Sign of the Kiwi.

    Exposed to strong winds along the tops and when blowing southerly cold winds and sometimes snow in the winter.

    Some of the track is shared with mountain bikers.

  • Post run indulgence

    The Cup
    Cnr Dyers Pass and Hackthorne rds
    http://www.thecup.co.nz
    best café views over chch and looking out to the southern alps. Coffee is good as well as having a wide selection of food options including breakfast.

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See other runs nearby:

Godley Head loop
Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour
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The Gorsetrack Strikes Back
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