The GovernatorIntermediate - Experienced
Submitted by Tony Sharpe
Urban fringe
Combo
Mountainous
Native bushOpen tussock/grasslandsOpen ridges/topsVolcanic
Intermediate - Experienced
2:15 (Slow)
1:45 (Moderate)
1:15 (Fast)
-20.7%
+18.8%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.
The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.
Description
The hills behind Governors Bay hold one of the best kept secrets in Christchurch - a myriad network of interconnecting steep, gnarly tails that provides rewards in spades for anyone seeking a hard workout. This one is NOT for those seeking to hit cruise mode and glide across fast easy trails. This one is for those technical trail junkies who just can't get enough vert.
From the carpark trot up the hill to the stile and hop over to descend Faulkners Track. Keep going downhill until it pops you into a bushy area. Drop a bit more altitude and you'll reach a signposted fork - take the left fork marked North Boundary. This track will provide a juicy little loop back up to near the top of Faulkners and get your uphill legs ready for later. It can be a bit sketchy and overgrown through here at times, but its still pretty straight forward to follow.
Eventually you'll loop back round to familiar territory near the top of Faulkners. Head back down again for a second time but at the fork in the bush this time head right and take a sidling descent down into the houses at the top of Governors Bay. Follow the short bits of road and connecting tracks down through Lighthouse Lane to the main road. Head right on the main road to the Governors Bay Hotel. Pick up the road behind the pub and head up to a connecting trail and gravel road section which takes you out onto which Bay Heights Road, which you cross to find the entrance to the Titoki Track on the bend.
The Titoki Track is awesome, climbing pretty steadily and occasionally steeply up through native forest. At about 320M above sea level the Titoki ceases, hang left onto the South Boundary Track for a short bush undulating sidle and then ride the Watlings Track all the way back up to the Crater Rim. Next you need to head west a few hundred metres along the Crater Rim and take the signposted Bush Road Track all the way down to O'Farrells. Carry on down further- you ain't done with the downhill yet... the short Kanuka Track will loop you down and back up further round O'Farrells. Note the orange markers in the Kanuka section, if you get lost go back to the last marker.
Straight across here pick up the wonderful Bivvy Track which will take you all the way back up yet again to the Crater Rim. Take note that Bivvy Track is less defined but marked with spraypaint on the trees but if you lose the trail just keep heading up, the bush is nice and open and wonderfully technical. At the top return to the car east along the Crater Rim and 360 Trail for a well earned break.
Trail Community
Features of interest
The most BRUTAL 10Km of vert to be found on the Port Hills. If anyone ever tells you Christchurch is flat... send them to this! Native bush, Steep trails, Sumptuous views.
Make Up of Run
Untracked / Route only: 0%
Technical Single Track: 75%
Moderate Single Track: 20%
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

The Guv'nor & His Birds
Length: 16.00km

The Crater Rim
Length: 27.90km

Takahe Half
Length: 21.10km

Christchurch 360 Trail - Sugarloaf Hills Section
Length: 18.20km

Bird to Bird
Length: 9.80km

Port Hills Protocol
Length: 32.00km

O'Farrells For Shore
Length: 11.50km

Governator 2 - Judgement Day
Length: 7.70km
Photos:
Your Trail Wishlist
All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).
Add to wishlist view wishlistWild Explorers
I did it!-
Access
Carpark on Summit Road at Entrance to Hoon Hay Reserve
Room for a few cars, usually not too busy.
12 km
25 minutes
No
No
-
Staying Safe
Moderate.
Take a map or GPS option as there's a myriad of trails and options for alternate routes here.
Perfect throughout.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map.
No taps, streams often dry. So BYO water supply, you'll be wanting a fair amount!
In the wet these trails reach another level of tecnhical. Wear your best grippy soles in here.
Theres a risk you'll get addicted to vert in here and want to add more loops on to the west for e.g. Cass Ridge Track.
-
Post run indulgence
Governors Bay Hotel
Main Road Governors Bay
http://www.governorsbayhotel.co.nz/
Great food and beerShe Universe Cafe
Main Road, Governors Bay
https://sheuniverse.com/
Chocolate, coffee and great foodProtocol Bar
Bottom of Cashmere Hill
http://www.protocoloncolombo.co.nz/
Beer and feed on the town side of the hills -
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
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