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Mt Vernon Farm Park walks

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The walking tracks in Mt Vernon are managed by the Port Hills Park Trust Board. Find more information about Mt Vernon Park trust(external link).

Valley Track

A sheltered walk that will take you up towards Summit Road and can be turned into a loop by incorporating the Rapaki Track.

Start: End of Hillsborough Terrace, Hillsborough.

Finish: Rapaki track.

Distance: 3.5km.

Time: 45 minutes one way.

Toilets: Located at Vernon Terrace/Centaurus Road corner.

Dogs: Must be under effective control at all times. During lambing season dogs must be on a leash.

Description:

This narrow track starts at the main car park off Hillsborough Terrace and sets off through an area of native trees in the lower valley. The track emerges out into open grassland and follows the valley floor up to a small shelter. From here, it winds up the valley where you can create a circuit with either Rapaki or Marette Taylor Tracks.

Marette Taylor Track

An alternative to the Valley Track.

Start: Junction with Dry Ridge Track.

Finish: Junction with Valley Track.

Time: 20 minutes one way.

Description:

Marette Taylor is a narrow gradually climbing track that runs along the hillside above the Valley Track in Mt Vernon Park. Combine with the Valley track to create a good circuit or use it as an alternative route to access the Rapaki Track. Start by following Dry Ridge Track from the car park at the end of Hillsborough Terrace then instead of climbing to the ridge, follow the track that continues sidling the slopes up the valley.

Rogers Track

A useful, quick way of connecting to Rapaki Track.

Start: End of Hillsborough Terrace, Hillsborough.

Finish: Rapaki Track.

Time: 20 minutes one way.

Description:

Rogers Track provides a link from the car park at the end of Hillsborough Terrace up to Rapaki Track. From the car park, follow the Valley Track for 200m until you come to a sign post to Rogers Track. From here, the track zig zags up the hill until it connects with Rapaki Track.

Dry Ridge Track

Dry Ridge Track, Mt Vernon; photographer S Mankelow.

A short walk up the western side of the valley, Dry Ridge Track is often used to connect with other tracks to create a circuit.

Start: End of Hillsborough Terrace, Hillsborough.

Finish: Intersection with the Gorge Track.

Time: 25 minutes one way.

Description:

From the car park, take the right fork up through the trees and past the cave. The track zig zags steeply up through bluffs on the west side of the Valley an onto a spur. Continue up the spur for a short distance to a panel table.

A return trip can be made via the Mt Vernon Farm Track or you can continue a little further to join the Gorge Track. You can also access the Marette Taylor Track –an alternative route to Rapaki Track – which begins on your left after 5 minutes along the Dry Ridge Track.

Farm Track

A shared use track providing a direct route up to the Summit Road for mountain bikers and walkers. There are great views out over the city and Canterbury Plains.

Start: End of Hillsborough Terrace, Hillsborough.

Finish: Lamar carpark, Summit Road.

Distance: 2.5km.

Time: 45 minutes one way.

Description:

Parking is provided at the car park at the end of Hillsborough Terrace. From here, follow Dry Ridge Track up and over the crest of the spur until you reach an intersection with a 4WD track. Continue up the easy-to-follow 4WD track which eventually comes out onto the Summit Road beside Lamar car park.

You can return the same way or join the Mt Vernon Shared Use Track to connect with either the Rapaki Track to the east or Huntsbury Track to the west.

Gorge Track

Connect with the Farm Track, Dry Bush Track or Dry Ridge Track to make an interesting loop with a variety of terrain and vegetation.

Start: End of Albert Terrace or car park at Hillsborough Terrace via Dry Ridge Track.

Finish: Farm Track.

Time: 35 minutes one way.

Description:

At the start of the track there is a small footbridge before the gorge and a diversion heads up hill at this point to traverse above the cliffs through the pine forest. It then drops down to meet the old track and follows the stream to come out onto open farmland. Beyond this point it meets a track intersection where you can continue along the Dry Bush Track or take a left turn up to the Farm Track.

Dry Bush Track

A lesser used route from Hillsborough Terrace up to the Summit Road, perfect for a quiet afternoon in the hills.

Start: End of Hillsborough Terrace, Hillsborough.

Finish: Lamar car park, Summit Road.

Time: 1 hour one way.

Description:

You can join this narrow sheep track either by following Farm Track up to the track intersection, or by following the Gorge Track until it meets up. After around 30 minutes you come to a small shelter. From here the track continues up the valley to Dry Bush before heading up the eastern flank towards Lamar car park. Be aware that Dry Bush Track can be indistinct in places.

Mt Vernon Shared Use Track

This is a good connecting route from the Mt Vernon car park to the Rapaki Track – or make a loop with the Crater Rim Walkway.

Start: Mt Vernon car park, Summit Road.

Finish: Rapaki Track car park, Summit Road.

Distance: 2.4km.

Time: 45 minutes one way.

Dogs: Must be kept on a leash.

Description:

Primarily a MTB track, this route is also shared with walkers. It begins with a short rocky section then levels out as it skirts Mt Vernon just above the Summit Road. The track descends to meet the Summit Road again at the Rapaki car park.

From here you can pick up the Rapaki Track to take you down to St Martins or return to your starting point via the Crater Rim Walkway.

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