Last Updated: 27th Mar 2024
Takahe to Taylors
Submitted by Stefanie Parks
Last Updated: 27th Mar 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 27 ?
Gnarl Factor: 20 ?
21.0km
910m
1095m
525m
Last Updated: 27th Mar 2024
Submitted by Stefanie Parks
Last Updated: 27th Mar 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 27 ?
Gnarl Factor: 20 ?
21.0km
910m
1095m
525m
Urban fringe
Point to Point (one way)
Very hilly
Native bush
Open farmlands
Open ridges/tops
Volcanic
Sealed Road
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +7.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -9.5%
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3:30
Slow
3:00
Moderate
2:30
Fast
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!
This trail includes the peaks Mount Pleasant and Te Moenga-o-Wheke / The Tors.
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.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
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
Unknown
No
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.
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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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Takahe to Taylors
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This was my first long trail run. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The last leg from Scarborough Bluffs was quite tough with lots of ups and downs. My watch was a bit slow on the GPS and was a bit hard to follow directions on it as there are quite a few trail changes that required knowing where to hop on and off the summit road. I had to back track a few times and think I missed a section of trail somewhere along the summit road, but met back up with trail further ahead.
January 11, 2023
Great bang for buck on this one, especially on a perfect spring day. I reckon this is a must-do for runners visiting Christchurch, along with the Godley Head Loop. Nice to finish at Taylor’s Mistake although I was a bit slow making my way back to Sumner afterwards.
October 22, 2022
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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