Last Updated: 8th Mar 2024

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Trinity - Harbour Bruisin'

Christchurch, Canterbury

Submitted by Matt Doherty

Last Updated: 8th Mar 2024

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 42

Gnarl Factor: 70

20.1km

1350m

1350m

483m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Urban fringe

Loop

Very hilly

Dog Friendly

Native bush

Open tussock/grasslands

Open ridges/tops

Run Makeup

5%
10%
25%
50%
10%

Sealed Road

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Untracked / Route only

Average Uphill Gradient: +15.5%

Average Downhill Gradient: -14.5%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

5:00

Slow

3:00

Moderate

2:15

Fast

From the start point at the bottom of the steps head through the pedistrian gate straight across the field to the farm gate. Settle in for a progressivly steep climb which you will need your hands for in a couple of spots. Through the gate and head up the brow of the hill in front of you to the fence. Jump the fence, turn right & follow the fence line until you hit a gate in 100m or so (ignore the track closed sign as you are not going there)

Turn left and follow this fence line up as crosses another track then up again until you cross the Summit Rd. Follow the same line up (without a fence to follow now) until you hit the next track (Greenwoods MTB) - turn left and follow the gradual descent along a straight section. When you come to a 90 degree left hander go off the track & straight ahead through the gate in front of you, turn right and follow the fenceline up to a copse of trees you can see up the hill. At the trees turn right when you hit the CRW then jump the stile at the saddle.

Turn left over the stile and follow the single track as it heads over to the brow & into Urumau reserve, now enjoy the best rocky downhill on the eastern end of the hills. Head down this twisting track until you reach a saddle before a pine plantation. Here pick up the MTB track then walking to your right and head down towards the township. If you pop out in the right spot you will be on Reserve Tce. Fom here turn right on Reserve Tce. Left on College Rd for 100m then right onto Brenchleys. 1st hill done (If you didn't come out on Reserve Tce head on down & across, then pick up Oxford St, head uphill & at the end turn right then left onto Brenchleys).

From the end of Brenchleys Rd head up the trail into the bush and climb to the CRW. At the CRW turn left and climb up to the gun emplacements. Follow your nose here and don't take the trail to the right. Jump the fence at the far side and follow this sweet technical section of the CRW round to the saddle before the gondola, pick up the Major Hornbrook trail here and follow it back down to Lyttleton. Turn right at the end of the trail and follow Ross Tce around the hill then pick up Selwyn Pde on your right, then uphill on Selwyn Rd again on your right then next left Tricehurst Tce which is signposted for the Bridal Path. 2nd hill done.

Head up the Bridal path to the top, turn right and follow the path past the gondola and down to the saddle. Pick up the Mount Pleasant track here (gravel single track) and climb up to the trig point on the next hill and down the other side to meet a farm 4wd track. Turn right here & into the gun emplacements, once past the emplacements turn left and pick up the CRW again. You should recognise the next few hundred meters as you did this earlier from the other direction. Follow the CRW over a couple of stiles then on a quad trashing descent to Evans Pass. Right on Evans Pass for 100m then pick up Captain Thomas multi-use track on your left for a quick descent back to the start while keeping an eye out for bikes.

Grunty three-hill trail named Trinity after the song by Die Die Die who are arguably the best band in NZ.
Andrew, from the band is also a runner & an EVERDAY HERO 2017. He is for the 2nd consecutive year running the Auckland marathon raising funds for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

As detailed in Start point description above

14 km

25 minutes

Yes

No

Moderate.

Generally good.

Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Map.

Lyttleton town centre

This is the dark side of the hill so gets wet & muddy in the off season. The climb up from Brenchleys can be a stream at times.

Trail Legend

Greg O’Brien

Greg O’Brien

has completed Trinity - Harbour Bruisin' once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

I started this run at the top of the Bridle Path for my own convenience. It was a nice, flattish run all the way along the tops and then on to Evans Pass. Note you do need to cross the horse paddocks at the bottom of Captain Thomas. It’s an unusual “pathway” back up to meet Greenwoods track from here. Very steep, no trail, just clambering through a paddock really! A fun change from normal trails though! Next time I would follow this route beginning at the specified starting point, to get the big hills done early and enjoy the cruise back down. This run offers variety and a bit of adventure!

Katie Ridley

May 10, 2022

Brilliantly put together route, excellent on both the grunty and gnarly fronts. Classic start, calves were really burning! And loved the Chalmers track that I hadn’t seen before. Captain Thomas is a great way to finish.

Simon Dunlop

April 30, 2022

What a joy! This trail is a tour de force of Lyttelton’s hills. Gnarly 20k - it makes you work for the vert. It’s an inspired route that links together a bunch of better and lesser known tracks. So much variety. 5/5 will run this again!

Matt Halverson

October 9, 2021

I've done this half a dozen times in the past couple of months as part of the wildthings goat trail challenge. Love the variety! Some flowy runnable stuff, some off track, some technical sections, some steep ups and downs.
Have found running it in reverse faster and more 'runnable' but that leaves you to come down the monster which I had several slides on today!
Classic Matt Doherty loop, very enjoyable and challenging!

Sam Mowat

September 17, 2021

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