Takahe to TaylorsBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Stefanie Parks
Urban fringe
Point to Point (one way)
Very hilly
Native bushOpen farmlandsOpen ridges/topsVolcanic
Beginner - Intermediate
3:30 (Slow)
3:00 (Moderate)
2:30 (Fast)
-9.5%
+7.9%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
It's best to do this run with a buddy so you can arrange a car shuttle, or get a kind person to collect you at the end as the buses don't go as far down as Taylors Mistake carpark.
Start at The Sign of the Takahe, head up the road for a short section before joining the Harry Ell track toward The Sign of the Kiwi. At the summit road junction, follow Cedrics Track up to Sugarloaf carpark, cross the carpark and follow the Crater Rim Walkway (deviating around the front of Mt Vernon) all the way to Mount Pleasant.
From here, use the Mt Pleasant shared use tracks and head to Evans Pass. Hop onto the road for a few short meters before dropping down onto the Scarborough Bluffs Track.
At around 18km the track will fork, take the right-hand fork toward Taylors Mistake and keep going until you reach the road. Diagonally opposite you, there will be a small connector track which has a lot of steps taking you down to Taylors Beach.
Enjoy this final descent before finishing in the Taylors Mistake carpark. A post-run cold water dip is optional!
Trail Community
Features of interest
Much of the route travels along the Crater Rim Walkway (part of the Christchurch 360 trail) which offers spectacular, panoramic views. The run also passes through historic gun emplacements and goes past Christchurch's gondola station.
Make Up of Run
Moderate Single Track: 10%
Easy Single Track: 88%
Sealed Road: 2%
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

Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki
Length: 13.00km

Whigs' Flying Fifty (WFF)
Length: 50.30km

VKV challenge
Length: 10.00km

Gondola Gallop
Length: 11.30km

The ATH (Around The Harbour)
Length: 61.40km

The Crater Rim
Length: 27.90km

Trinity - Harbour Bruisin'
Length: 20.10km

Pour Some Sugarloaf On Me
Length: 8.30km

Christchurch 360 Trail - Sugarloaf Hills Section
Length: 18.20km

The North Faces
Length: 24.80km
Photos:
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Access
Start at The Sign of the Takahe.
There is safe roadside parking available around the Takahe or bus route 1 (blue line) will also take you there. Public toilets available at the start.
7 km
20 minutes
No
No
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Staying Safe
Easy.
Patchy.
Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.
Water top-ups available at The Sign of The Kiwi, the Gondola and Taylors Mistake.
There is often a cold wind along the Crater Rim Track so a warm layer is a good idea in all seasons.
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Post run indulgence
Scarborough Fare
Just over the hill in Sumner
https://www.scarboroughfare.info/
Coffee Culture
Marriner St, Sumner
https://coffeeculture.co.nz/stores/sumner/
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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)
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