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  7. Crater Rim - Bridle Path to Rāpaki Track

Crater Rim - Bridle Path to Rāpaki Track

This section of the Crater Rim Walkway has something for everyone - beautiful views, open tussock land, historic gun emplacements and even a refreshment stop.

Start Bridle Path car park, Summit Road 
Finish Rāpaki Track car park, Summit Road
Distance 3.4 km 
Time 1.5 hours one way
Dogs Must be kept on a leash
Description

Starting from the car park at the top of the Bridle Path, head west towards the Rāpaki Track, climbing uphill on the Lyttelton Harbour side of the crater rim before turning up towards Castle Rock and Tors Reserve. There are great views from here out across Lyttelton Harbour and all the bays.

At this point, either continue around the slopes of Witch Hill Reserve and descend to where the path eventually joins with a MTB track and becomes shared use for a short distance. Exit onto Summit Road at the temporary road closure gate (closed to all non-essential vehicles and safe to walk/ride bikes).

Finish at the car park approximately 50m further on or continue down into St Martins via the Rāpaki Track.

Get ready for this track using Plan My Walk(external link) (external link)by the NZ Mountain Safety Council. You can find track alerts, weather forecasts, trip reviews and a packing list, so you are set for your adventure. 

Te Ahi a Tamatea—Giant's Causeway

Ko Te Ahi a Tamatea he tūtohu whenua e hāngai ana ki te mahi a Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, i tū mai ia ki te tihi o te mauka, ā, i tuku atu ia i te karakia ki tētahi tohunga nō Te Ika a Māui, ki a Ngatoroirangi kia tuku mai ai ia he ahi mōna hei whakamahana i tōna tira kua mau i te āwhā.

Te Ahi a Tamatea (The Fire of Tamatea) is the Māori name for the Giant’s Causeway. The name refers to when the famous explorer Tamatea-Pōkai-Whenua stood on the Port Hills and invoked a powerful incantation to a well-known tohunga in the North Island, who sent down hot volcanic ashes and fires to warm his travelling party who had been captured in a storm.