Lankeys Creek LoopBeginner

Description

Leaving the Murray Creek carpark in Blacks Point, the first 2.7km is run along SH7 heading east, towards Christchurch. SH7 is not particularly busy, but it has small shoulders, so caution needs to be used. There is one corner to be particularly careful of - Crushington Corner which has armco along the side you'll be running on. I would recommend running on the outside of the armco in this section. It will be slower and more awkward, but will ensure you're not run over by any cars or trucks that come around the corner unsighted.
The beginning of Lankeys Creek track proper starts just after the Lankey Creek carpark, with its memorial commemorating Jack Lovelock, who was born in Crushington. Cross Lankeys Creek and pass through the gate and onto the track. The track initially runs through farmland for a short distance before entering the bush. The gradient is very gentle initially before crossing the 3rd bridge on the track where it begins to climb more steeply. The track then begins to climb very steeply, with multiple sections of steps until a track junction is reached after ~4.1km. The main track heads off to the left, but a detour a few hundred metres to the right leads you to the Bolitho Mine, with its very spectacular mine entrance.
Returning to the main track, the track climbs a bit more across some bluffs with some more steps for a few more hundred metres before reaching the tram track which signals a much flatter gradient. The track follows this tram track which gives some excellent views of the Inangahua River to just before the Energetic Gold Mine. The track is mostly flat in this section, but there are a few climbs where the track deviates from the tram track before re-joining it.
After ~6.2km the end of the tram track section is reached, and you have a short sharp climb before a very steep and slippery descent to the Energetic Mine. This steep descent is 90% steps and can be very slippery in wet conditions. Upon reaching Energetic Mine, the track heads off to the left and follows another wide tram track before a junction with the Murray Creek track is reached after ~6.8km. Turn left, across the swing bridge and descend back to the Murray Creek carpark.

Features of interest

mine workings, tramways, fossils

Make Up of Run

Moderate Single Track: 15%

Easy Single Track: 55%

Sealed Road: 30%

Route Data