Te Ara Pataka/Summit Walkway from Pettigrews Road, Banks Peninsula

Leaders: Ann and Pauline
Photos and report: Annette
Distance: 9.7km return
Elevation gain: starting at 428m and highest point 811m
Time: approx 3 hours 45 mins including refreshment stops

The plan for our seventeen walkers to reach the top of Mt Sinclair was thwarted by misty rain.  After we left the carpark at Pettigrews Road there were lovely scenes from the Summit Walkway but as we trekked higher it got colder and wetter and our views of the surrounding landscape were taken away! So after lunch in the vicinity of Mt Sinclair we returned via the same route, happy to have spent a few hours in the great outdoors.

 

Our GPS-tracked route (click to enlarge)

 

View of Pigeon Bay from Pettigrews Road carpark

 

Pigeon Bay from early on the track

 

Pigeon Bay from the Summit Walkway

 

Remnant Totara tree stumps from logging in the 1800s

 

 

Morning tea

 

 

Bush section of the Summit Walkway

 

Entering the band of misty rain hanging around the hilltops

 

 

 

 

Sheltered lunch spot in regenerating bush, rain relented while we ate!

 

 

Beautiful lichen at our lunch spot (click to enlarge)

 

Lake Forsyth from the walkway on the return journey

 

Pigeon Bay once again

 

Glimpses of Akaroa Harbour

 

Spring lambs (now big) and their mother near Pettigrews Road

Click here for a video of our route, best viewed in large.