Summit Road Society

The Summit Road Society (Inc.), formed in 1948, aims to further the vision of Harry Ell, by working to enhance, preserve and protect the nature, beauty and open character of the hills of Banks Peninsula for people to enjoy.

Summit Road Society Reserves

The Summit Road Society currently owns three reserves on the Christchurch Port Hills – Ohinetahi Bush Reserve, Omahu Bush & Gibraltar Rock, and Linda Woods Reserve (formally known as Tussock Hill).

The Summit Road Society-owned reserves are privately owned reserves for the public to enjoy.

There is a huge amount of information on their website

Walking & Running
The Port Hills have dozens of well kept tracks that traverse or climb from the plains to the summit – something to suit all fitness levels. The Crater Rim Walkway is a series of tracks that follow the Summit Road from Ahuriri to Godley Head and each section can be walked or run separately. For the keen hill climber, there are tracks that climb from Halswell, Worsley Spur, Cashmere, Bowenvale, Huntsbury, Mt Vernon, Sumner and Evans Pass that are well worth the effort with the rewards of spectacular views every step of the way.

Mountain Biking
For mountain bikers there are several excellent tracks that can be linked to form interesting circuits. The Bowenvale Traverse Track is popular, and offers outstanding single-track riding, traversing below the Summit Road before an exciting descent to the Bowenvale Ave carpark. There are some great single-track rides from Evans Pass to Godley Head offering world-class views and riding experiences. They can be linked into a circuit. Rapaki Track and Huntsbury Track are well-graded farm roads, and can be linked to make a fine circuit. The farm road up Worsley Spur has some spectacular ruts and wallows, which suits the keen. For an easier slope, but no less steep, Kennedys Bush Track is well graded and popular with many mountain bikers.

Volunteer

The Summit Road Society has a proud history of voluntary work on Christchurch’s Port Hills. In its early years, members, some of whom were ex-mountaineers wanting a challenge on our local hills, repaired fences and stiles, rediscovered and cleared overgrown tracks, developed planting skills and learnt how to deal with plant and animal pests. These skills have been passed on to our current teams of volunteers.

There are three groups, and new volunteers are always welcome.