2009. Orton Bradley Park and Mt Herbert Walkway

2009. Turnoff Sign, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay

Early one nor'wester Saturday morning, I drove overs Dyers Pass, Port Hills, to Governors Bay, Teddington and Charteris Bay, as I wanted to climb the saddle between Mt Herbert (919m) and Mt Bradley (855m), via Orton Bradley Park and Mt Herbert Walkway.


2009. Orton Bradley Park Gate, Charteris Bay


2009. Orton Bradley Park Gate Information Board


2009. Orton Bradley Park Camp Site Information Board

Orton Bradley Park rose from Charteris Bay and went up Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley saddle valley. After paying my entrance fee into the honesty box, I parked my car in the picnic / camping ground.


2009. Start of Valley Track & Mt Herbert Walk, Orton Bradley Park Camp Site


2009. Orton Bradley Park Valley Track Start

I'd walk through Orton Bradley Park (about 1 hour) then walk up steeper Mt Herbert Walkway (about 3 hours) to Mt Herbert Shelter on top of the saddle between Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley. I'd climbed the summits on previous walks.

My trek up to Mt Herbert Shelter took me 4.5 hours, as I did a half hour detour through Mt Herbert summit gorse. My downhill return to Orton Bradley Park should've taken 3 hours, but I descended in 4 hours, as I detoured twice: (1) Lost in gorse. (2) Alternative track to Big Rock top, Orton Bradley Park.


2009. Flax Mill Site Information, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Purple Foxglove, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Water Pump, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Sheep Below Birches, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park

At the end of Orton Bradley Park picnic area, I read an information board, and started along Valley Track following a stream on my left through exotic and native trees. By direction signs, I went through a gate and walked over poplar kapok on the path.

I passed a sign giving the history of an old flax mill, and passed a water pump under cool trees beside the stream, and sheep grazing below birches.

I passed through groves of shady kanukas, Kunzea ericoides, their white blossoms dusting hill slopes like fresh snow. I passed several exotic numbered trees, crossed a stile, and read a loading caution sign on a kanuka by a wooden road bridge.


2009. Footbridge by Road, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Orton Bradley Park Farmer & Sheep Dogs by Valley Track

I walked below gums and macrocarpas, where a male jogger passed me going downhill. A farmer on his quad bike and 6 sheep dogs went downhill on the farm road too. Thereafter I had tracks to myself until I reached Mt Herbert Walkway saddle top.


2009. Valley Track Stile, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Log Footbridge Over Stream near Ropes Course, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Valley Track to Mt Herbert, Orton Bradley Park

Below gums I crossed another stile by a stream and a log bridge (loading limit 3 persons) and passed two more direction signs showing walks to a Waterfall and Tablelands and MT HERBERT 3 HRS 50 MINS. I passed ORTON BRADLEY ROPES COURSE in gums on the far side of the stream.

Through trees I had glimpses of Big Rock, with Mt Herbert slopes left and Mt Bradley slopes right. Beyond the gums I passed through more white flowering kanuka, and saw an Australian magpie strutting a hillside sheep paddock.


2009. Paddock by Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Flowering Kanukas, Kunzea ericoides, Valley Track below Mt Bradley (855m)


2009. Valley Track Bush, Orton Bradley Park below Mt Herbert (919m)


2009. Kanuka Grove, Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Valley Track, Orton Bradley Park view of Mt Herbert (919m)


2009. Valley Track Sign Board, Orton Bradley Park

Orton Bradley Park poles with red tops marked the way. Below Big Rock on my left, I had fine views of Mt Herbert, the saddle and Mt Bradley ahead.

In grassland at another log bridge (load limit 5 persons) I passed more direction signs to a Waterfall and Mt Herbert. Looking back, I saw distant Sugarloaf, Port Hills.


2009. Valley Track Stile & Farm Road below Mt Bradley, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Valley Track view of Mt Herbert (919m)


2009. Valley Track view of Port Hills

Breaking out of kanuka and kowhai, Sophora tetraptera, or Sophora microphilla, I passed a foxglove patch and crossing another stile I joined the farm road ascending grassland. I would see many purple and white foxgloves on Mt Herbert slopes.

Looking back, I saw Witch Hill, Port Hills. I passed another Waterfall sign and a stile and a FOREST & BIRD sign on a fence.


2009. Valley Track Signs & Dipslope below Mt Herbert


2009. Valley Track view of Mt Bradley (855m)


2009. Valley Track view of Port Hills from Coronation Hill to The Tors


2009. Valley Track Sheep view of Mt Bradley


2009. Valley Track Stream view of Mt Bradley


2009. Valley Track Duckboard Bridge view of Mt Herbert

Following red topped poles, I passed more direction signs: CARPARK VIA TABLELANDS; MT HERBERT... with Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley ahead. The higher I climbed the more Port Hills were revealed behind: a view from Marleys Hill to The Tors appeared, with Quail Island, Rapaki and Cass Bay below.

A brown rabbit bounced over the track into cover on a Mt Bradley slope. I'd see several rabbits on my way up Mt Herbert, the gorse giving good cover. Three fantails fluttered into roadside bush.


2009. Valley Track Thistle view of Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to The Tors


2009. Valley Track view of Side Valley going up Mt Herbert


2009. Orton Bradley Park Southern Boundary Sign


2009. Fence Line, Orton Bradley Park left, Private Landowners right & Gorse

With the bushy stream on my left and ORTON BRADLEY SOUTHERN BOUNDARY sign on a fence, near a MT HERBERT RTN 5 HRS sign, I crossed a stile into boob high grass, which I slashed with my macrocarpa walking stick to expose a DOC sign:

MT HERBERT WALKWAY

MT HERBERT SHELTER -> 2 hrs 30 mins
PRIVATE PROPERTY PLEASE KEEP TO MARKED TRACK


2009. DOC Sign, Mt Herbert Walkway, Orton Bradley Park Southern Boundary


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bush near Orton Bradley Park


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Bush, Orton Bradley Park & Port Hills

I'd find the latter impossible due to gorse infestation and badly marked tracks. Fixed to the top of the DOC sign was a PRIVATE LANDOWNERS sign. The contrast between Orton Bradley Park and Private Landowners' properties either side of the fence was startling: Orton Bradley Park - clean grassland, no gorse pollution. Private landowners - native bush with gorse pollution.


2009. Stream by Mt Herbert Walkway below Mt Herbert Dipslope


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse view of Side Valley & Gorge going up Mt Herbert Dipslope

The next DOC sign I'd see 3.5 hours later would be on the windy saddle between Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley summits. Between the top and bottom signs on Mt Herbert Walkway, I'd see massive gorse infestation, and a mishmash of DOC marker poles with yellow tops, some with orange, plastic triangles on top too.

Some markers were fence standards with yellow plastic cylinders on top. Some older wooden poles were gnawed by animals. Some poles were loose in the soil, pointing at weird angles to the sky, some fallen. One fallen pole I re-erected against a rock, adding to weird angled poles.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Thistle & Gorse by Bushy Valley. Port Hills beyond

During my 3.5 hour trek up Mt Herbert Walkway, I guesstimated that during 1/3 of that time I passed through ugly gorse infestation which started beyond Orton Bradley Park boundary in Private Landowners' land and continued up to Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley summits, with some native bush and grasslands between. What a mess!

I thought PM John Key and his Climate Change Issues Minister, Nick Smith at Copenhagen Global Climate Conference could trade NZ gorse credits with other countries instead of carbon credits for pine trees, as NZ's gorse infestation biomass could suck up as much carbon as an equal pine forest biomass.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Impenetrable Gorse Infesting Grassland on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse going up Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle

During December 1996, for a week I drove around NZ South Island with SA octogenarian friend Gillie, and besides clean, green NZ, from Blenheim in the north to Wanaka in the south, from Greymouth in the west to Christchurch in the east, we saw massive gorse and broom infestations. Thirteen years later, there was no sign infestations had ceased.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Grass, Thistle & Gorse on a Mt Herbert Slope. Charteris Bay & Port Hills backdrop


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorge going up Mt Herbert Dipslope


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassy Slope, Broom & Bluffs


2009. Red Flowers & Clover, Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bluffs view of Mt Bradley


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Charteris Bay & Port Hills from Hoon Hay Reserve to Witch Hill


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Thistle view of Gorge below Mt Herbert Dipslope

At the start of Mt Herbert Walkway after I waded through high grass, the track veered left up a side valley towards Mt Herbert dipslope. I walked through overgrown tree nettles, Urtica ferox growing beside the track. I got stung, leaving a wheal which itched for hours, like a bluebottle sting, or burn from a hot iron. I boulder-hopped a stream and passed kowhai, pittosporums, five fingers, ferns, whiteywoods...


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay & Port Hills


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorge below Mt Herbert Dipslope

Mt Herbert Walkway followed the stream up the side valley for a while with high gorse both sides of the track and Mt Herbert bluffs ahead. The walkway became vague with shonky marker poles. By one pole I pushed through overgrown gorse, finding myself on a trackless, grassy slope, polluted by thistles and impenetrable gorse on both sides going down to the main valley above Orton Bradley Park.

I scrambled up the grassy slope to distant marker poles above bluffs, where I had grand western views of Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour, Governors Bay and Port Hills to hazy Southern Alps. I watched an Australian harrier soaring above Mt Bradley slopes, hunting for prey. Small birds scattered, like confetti.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Grassland & Bush below Mt Herbert


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Foxgloves & Bush below Mt Herbert


2009. Tree Nettle, Urtica ferox growing across Mt Herbert Walkway


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway close up view of Tree Nettle, Urtica ferox needles which give a nasty sting. Red Admiral butterfly larvae feed on the leaves.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bush view of Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland & Bush view of Port Hills

Through more steep grassland, DOC marker poles led me to more native bush up the side of Mt Herbert, where again I avoided overgrown tree nettles. I zigzagged upwards, passing gnarly whiteywoods, with glimpses of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Southern Alps through trees. The higher I climbed the more Port Hills were revealed.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Mt Cavendish


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Gorse on Mt Bradley


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Cavendish


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grassland view of a Break in the Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Spur, with gorsy saddle below Mt Bradley Slope


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Mt Pleasant

Above the bush Mt Herbert Walkway sidled through grassland below the saddle towards Mt Bradley again, where the wind writhed grass like a sack of stoats. Westwards, Port Hills were a vast amphitheatre above Quail Island and Lyttelton Harbour with Mt Bradley slopes and Mt Herbert slopes forming a proscenium arch with the sky: Mt Bradley cutting off Gebbies Pass and Mt Herbert cutting off Lyttelton, Mt Pleasant and Godley Head in the wings.

With gorse on a Mt Herbert summit spur behind, and rocks in grassland below, I coolpixed views. As it was hot midday, I scoffed Coke and a cheese roll.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Spur


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit right (919m). Mt Herbert Summit Spur left & Dipslope top left


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Pleasant. Pegasus Bay top right


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Summit Slope gorse view of Mt Bradley slope left, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Mt Vernon


2009. Mt Herbert Summit Slope view of Gorse in Saddle Valley between Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley. Mt Herbert Summit Spur right. Mt Herbert Walkway greening through gorse middle left

The track continued sidling below the Mt Herbert summit ridge, infested with gorse. Rounding the ridge Mt Bradley side, the track zigzagged through gorse up the saddle, towards Mt Herbert summit, the track deeply rutted in places.

As my Nikon memory card was full, I slogged upwards, deleting coolpix, distracting me from the track. By dead gorse I missed the turn up to the saddle top. Fifteen minutes later, while climbing through dead gorse up Mt Herbert summit spur, I realized my mistake.


2009. Gorse & Dead Gorse Patch on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle. Mt Herbert Walkway goes below dead gorse, then goes up saddle top left between live & dead gorse


2009. Mt Herbert Summit Slope Gorse view of Mt Bradley slope left, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Witch Hill


2009. Rutted Mt Herbert Walkway passing gorse to Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle Top


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Sugarloaf to Mt Pleasant with Lyttelton below. Pegasus Bay top right


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Pleasant with Lyttelton below. Hazy Southern Alps & Pegasus Bay behind


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Mt Herbert Gorse on Summit Slope. Mt Herbert Dipslope top left

Backtracking for 15 minutes, I coolpixed vast gorse pollution on the saddle and on Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley summit slopes. At the saddle top a DOC sign stated:

MT HERBERT SHELTER <- 15 min
PACKHORSE HUT -> 1 hr 45 min
ORTON BRADLEY PARK -> 1 hr 45 min


2009. DOC Sign at Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle Junction between Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Mt Cavendish


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Walker, Gorse Polluted Saddle between Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Lake Ellesmere & Mt Bradley Summit Ridge

Crossing the saddle two blokes passed me on their way to Mt Bradley, with views over the saddle to Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific, and spectacular western views down valley to Orton Bradley Park and beyond to Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps. They were the first people I saw since Orton Bradley Park.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Mt Vernon


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Quail Island & Lyttelton Harbour, with Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Pleasant. Hazy Pegasus Bay top right


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Mt Herbert Shelter below Gorse Polluted Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse Polluted Saddle going up to Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors

Towards Mt Herbert summit further up the saddle track, I crossed the fence stile to Mt Herbert Shelter. A DOC sign stated:

MT HERBERT SHELTER

SUMMIT & MT HERBERT WALKWAY
PACKHORSE HUT -> 1 hr 30 min
ORTON BRADLEY PARK -> 2 hrs
PORT LEVY SADDLE <- 2 hrs
DIAMOND HARBOUR <- 3 hrs


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, DOC Sign & Mt Herbert Shelter


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle & Mt Bradley. Lake Ellesmere left & Port Hills right


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Mt Bradley (855m)


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit & Pacific


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit & Pacific


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit & cloudy Pacific


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Longdrop overlooking Kaituna Valley


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Gorse view of Longdrop overlooking Kaituna Valley Head


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Herbert Summit Slope, Kaituna Valley Head & Banks Peninsula


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Mt Herbert Summit Slope going to Port Levy Saddle


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Longdrop view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Coronation Hill & hazy Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & hazy Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Mt Bradley & Port Hills Gibraltar Rock & Coopers Knobs. Canterbury Plains behind


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Mt Bradley Slope, Head of the Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Mt Ada. Canterbury Plains behind


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Mt Bradley Slope, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Marleys Hill. Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps behind


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter zoom view of Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Scott Scenic Reserve. Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps behind


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Bradley. Lake Ellesmere behind left. Head of the Bay & Port Hills behind right


2009. Mt Herbert Shelter Tussock & Gorse view of Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle going towards Mt Bradley Summit Ridge. Lake Ellesmere behind


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Herbert Summit Slope & Dipslope, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Port Hills from Sugarloaf to Mt Pleasant with Lyttelton below


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Herbert Dipslope, Charteris Bay, Quail Island & Lyttelton below Port Hills from Witch Hill to Mt Pleasant. Hazy Southern Alps & Pegasus Bay behind


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Cavendish. Hazy Southern Alps behind

While the buffeting wind changed from nor'wester to south-easter, I coolpixed views around Mt Herbert Shelter and around the nearby longdrop: Mt Herbert summit, down valley to Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Mt Bradley, Lakes Ellesmere, Kaituna Valley, Banks Peninsula.

I had Mt Herbert Shelter to myself. I sat on a bench and finished my lunch - Coke, 2 muesli bars, another cheese roll - while enjoying a south-easter, back massage, vibrating wooden Mt Herbert Shelter. The south-easter chilled the air.


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Mt Bradley Slope, Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Head of the Bay, Governors Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Scott Scenic Reserve


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Mt Bradley Summit Ridge & Lake Ellesmere


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Dead Gorse view of Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Dead Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Cass Peak to Mt Cavendish with Lyttelton below


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Dead Gorse view of Gorse below Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle. Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills behind


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle & Mt Bradley. Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills behind


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse, Mt Bradley, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Ridge. Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Saddle view of Gorse on Saddle & Mt Bradley. Port Hills backdrop


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse below Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to The Tors beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Ridge. Mt Herbert Dipslope, Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Saddle & Mt Bradley Slopes. Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert & Mt Bradley Slopes. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Mt Cavendish beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Slopes. Mt Herbert Dipslope right. Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Saddle & Mt Herbert Summit Slope (919m)


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Spur. Mt Herbert Dipslope & Port Hills Mt Pleasant beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle, Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills & Southern Alps


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Native Bush Remnant surrounded by Gorse on Mt Herbert / Mt Bradley Saddle


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Saddle view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Summit Ridge


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse on Mt Herbert Saddle Slope. Mt Herbert Dipslope & Port Hills Mt Pleasant beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse above Orton Bradley Park. Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island, Port Hills & Southern Alps beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Gorse above Orton Bradley Park. Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Mt Pleasant beyond


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse view of Mt Bradley Slopes, Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to Mt Vernon


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass & Gorse view of Mt Bradley Slopes, Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Scott Scenic Reserve


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass & Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Cass Peak to The Tors


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass & Gorse view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Mt Ada to The Tors


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway view of Orton Bradley Park, Lyttelton Harbour, Quail Island & Port Hills from Sugarloaf to Mt Pleasant above Lyttelton

I texted Leah from the Shelter, and on my return to Orton Bradley Park I tried to find the track section I'd missed below Mt Herbert bluffs on my way up. All I found were two marker poles going up the bluffs, but no track.

I descended the grassy slope, and became lost in the gorse for about 15 minutes, beating about the bush, trying to find where I'd pushed through overgrown gorse on my way up Mt Herbert Walkway. I wondered why farmers didn't use goats to chomp gorse? Farmer's would save on herbicides, and make money from goat meat.


2009. Gnawed Marker Post & Foxgloves, Mt Herbert Walkway


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Bush view of Lyttelton Harbour & Port Hills from Marleys Hill to Witch Hill


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Grass view of Charteris Bay & Port Hills from Coopers Knobs to Witch Hill


2009. Thistle, Gorse & Grass Slope below Mt Herbert Walkway near Orton Bradley Park


2009. Mt Herbert Walkway Gorse & Broom view of Side Valley going up to Mt Herbert Dipslope


2009. Orton Bradley Park Valley Track view of Valleys going up Mt Herbert (919m)

Back on track, it was a relief to leave Mt Herbert Walkway gorse, long grass and tree nettles. A young couple passed me, going up. Wherever they went, they had hours of walking ahead.

In Orton Bradley Park, I took an alternative track across a log bridge over the stream to Big Rock top, where I coolpixed views over Lyttelton Habour and Port Hills, and the walk I'd done on Mt Herbert Walkway.


2009. Valley Track view of Big Rock, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Log Bridge going from Valley Track to Big Rock, Orton Bradley Park


2009. Orton Bradley Park Sign by flowering kanuka near Big Rock. Mt Herbert backdrop


2009. Orton Bradley Park, near Big Rock view of Quail Island & Port Hills from Hoon Hay Reserve to Mt Cavendish.


2009. Orton Bradley Park Big Rock view of Mt Herbert (919m)


2009. Orton Bradley Park Big Rock view of Mt Herbert (919m) & Saddle going to Mt Bradley (855m)


2009. Orton Bradley Park Big Rock view of Saddle & Mt Bradley (855m)


2009. Orton Bradley Park below Big Rock view of Flowering Kanukas & Port Hills

Returning to my car, I passed Orton Bradley Outdoor Education Centre through gums and macrocarpas, with lots of suspended ropes, ladders and tyres signifying the Ropes Course.


2009. Orton Bradley Park Ropes Course


2009. Orton Bradley Park Ropes Course Sign


2009. Wooden Footbridge, Valley Track near Orton Bradley Park Picnic / Camp site

On my drive back to Burnside, I stopped on Dyers Pass top at Sign of the Kiwi to coolpix distant Mt Herbert across Lyttelton Harbour.


2009. Top of Dyers Pass, Sign of the Kiwi view of Mt Herbert (919m) beyond Lyttelton Harbour.
2010. Sign of the Kiwi closed for a while & the kiwi sign & nearby gatepost lantern were removed.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.