2009. McCormacks Bay and Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

2009. Mount Pleasant Yacht Club near Ferrymead Bridge, Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Port Hills backdrop, Christchurch. Ferrymead Bridge was damaged by the 22.02.11 earthquake


2009. Mount Pleasant Yacht Club, Avon-Heathcote Estuary near Ferrymead Bridge. Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley backdrop, Port Hills, Christchurch. Ferrymead Bridge was damaged by the 22.02.11 earthquake


2009. Cobb Cottage near Mount Pleasant Yacht Club, Main Road, Christchurch. Cobb Cottage was damaged by the 22.02.11 earthquake

As I wanted to walk McCormacks Bay shore, I parked my car at Mount Pleasant Yacht Club near Ferrymead Bridge. I looked at nearby Cobb Cottage on Main Road, reputed to have belonged to Nelson's cabin boy, HMS Victory.

As Avon-Heathcote Estuary was low tide, I hopped onto mudflats to coolpix white faced herons and South Island pied oystercatchers pecking mud for prey.


2009. White Faced Heron on mudflats, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch


2009. Coffee Truck, Main Road by Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

I crossed Main Road to McCormacks Bay Road, and walked through McCORMACKS BAY RESERVE, with Mount Pleasant housing rising steeply up Port Hills on my right.

McCormacks Bay & Mount Pleasant housing was damaged by the 22.02.11 earthquake. All roads described & sewage system were badly quake damaged too.


2009. McCormacks Bay view of Mount Pleasant, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. McCormacks Bay Drain, McCormack Bay Road, Christchurch

As it was low tide, I walked McCormacks Bay mud amongst millions of mudflat snails Amphibola crenata. I examined some, which closed their operculums when picked up. Native plantings beside the shore path obscured McCormacks Bay Road traffic noise, but noisy causeway traffic was annoying.


2009. Low Tide McCormacks Bay. Balmoral Hill backdrop, Christchurch


2009. Duckboard Bridge, Low Tide McCormacks Bay. Balmoral Hill backdrop, Christchurch

While I walked McCormacks Bay shore path, I saw mallard ducks, paradise shelducks, gulls and white faced herons. The shore had a mat of russet, grey-green glassworts and smelly, decaying sea-lettuce Ulva lactuca.

I passed several wooden benches and concrete drain pipes, and crossed a duckboard bridge over a ditch. On a wooden bench with a warm north-facing view, a plaque stated:

"In proud memory of my son
STEVEN CLIVE TAYLOR
1959-1980

Killed in Fiordland while attempting an alpine rescue
The ultimate sacrifice
Once, for us, the sun used to shine. Jack W. Taylor"


2009. Northwards view of low tide McCormacks Bay, Christchurch

Near the end of McCormacks Bay shore I crossed a wooden footbridge over a creek, and crossed two rugby paddocks in McCormacks Bay Reserve, where Australian magpies pecked boot-studded mud.

I passed a petanque pitch, and looked at an estuary culvert pipe which went under the causeway. I'd dawdled beside McCormacks Bay for an hour, enjoying birdwatching.


2009. Westwards view of low tide McCormacks Bay & Causeway. Mount Pleasant backdrop


2009. Redcliffs, Beachville Road carpark view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch. The carpark was badly cracked by the 22.02.11 earthquake


2009. Redcliffs Beach for Windsurfers & Non Powered Craft, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

I crossed Main Road by the cutting, and walked downriver along Beachville Road by Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Near REDCLIFFS PARK, I looked at grey gulls standing at a carpark by Redcliffs pebbly beach, wooden pier and boat ramp. (The carpark was badly cracked by the 22.02.11 earthquake).

A red and black CCC sign stated:

HEALTH WARNING
TREATED SEWAGE & STORMWATER
ARE DISCHARGED INTO THIS ESTUARY...


2009. Sewage Pollution Sign, Redcliffs Beach, Christchurch. "Stormwater" euphemism for arsenic, cadmium & other heavy metal pollution from Christchurch industries, past & present

I wondered why Christchurch City Councillors allowed that? Two male joggers and an estuarine kayaker passed me while I read another sign:

RESERVED AREA FOR WINDSURFERS
AND NON POWERED CRAFT ONLY


2009. Safe Boating Sign, Redcliffs Beach, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch

Another sign on the pier stated:

AVON-HEATHCOTE ESTUARY / UHUTAI
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE BOATING...


2009. Redcliffs Park, with Redcliffs backdrop, Port Hills, Christchurch. Tons of rock fell from Redcliffs during the 22.02.11 earthquake, causing housing damage

Down Beachville Road, I wondered why some posh houses hogged the shoreline, and why The Queens Chain ruling didn't apply, as properties obscured the shore. Some houses had nasty KEEP OUT PRIVATE PROPERTY signs. No wonder Maori got excited about traditional fishing rights.


2009. Avon-Heathcote Estuary Sea Wall, with Moncks Bay, Clifton Hill & Scarborough backdrop, Christchurch. Sea Wall was damaged by the 22.02.11 earthquake

I walked downriver along the sea wall by Avon-Heathcote Estuary, and watched a pied cormorant quickly floating by on the incoming tide. Several women walkers passed me while I snapped gulls perching on the sea wall. (Damaged by the 22.02.11. earthquake). A Caspian tern fished by repeatedly flying up and diving into the water.


2009. Black Backed Gull, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Sea Wall, Beachville Road, Christchurch



2009. Beachville Reserve Carpark, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, with Southshore Spit, Shag Rock, Clifton Hill & Scarborough backdrop, Christchurch

I stopped at Beachville Reserve and looked at Shag Rock across the water by Avon-Heathcote Estuary mouth. (Shag Rock was shattered and crumbled by 04.09.10 and 22.02.11 earthquakes).

At a dairy on Beachville Road / Main Road corner I bought a $2 rum and raisin icecream cone, then wandered back to enjoy views of Southshore Spit, Moncks Bay, Shag Rock, houses on Clifton Hill and beyond to Scarborough.


2009. Redcliffs School, Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch - site of an ancient Maori settlement. Redcliffs School was temp closed after the 22.02.11 earthquake due to rockfalls. After the 13.06.11 quake, Redcliffs School temp relocated to Sumner School


2009. Redcliffs, Main Road, Christchurch. Tons of rock fell from Redcliffs during the 22.02.11 earthquake, changing the cliff face & damaging houses

I returned to my car along Main Road, past housing, BP garage, St Andrews Anglican Church, Redcliffs School and Moa-Bone Point Cave. I stopped to snap rock layers above Redcliffs housing: sand baked into red tuff by larva, interspersed by volcanic basalt.

A pine perched on top of a cliff above Moa-Bone Point Cave, closed with a fence cordon. CCC allowing buildings on clifftops to weigh down rocks above Moa-Bone Point Cave was crazy.

The 2010 & 2011 earthquakes showed up stupid Council, surveyors, architects, engineers, builders & home buyers, as many cliff top houses were quake damaged, and Redcliffs bottom houses were quake damaged by falling rocks.


2009. Moa-Bone Point Cave, Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch. Clifftop house was damaged by the 22.02.11 quake & demolished


2009. Moa-Bone Point Cave, Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch. See SA Iceplants & Cotyledons on cliff. Clifftop house was damaged by the 22.02.11 quake & demolished


2009. Causeway between McCormacks Bay left & Avon-Heathcote Estuary right, Christchurch. Causeway was damaged by the 22.02.11 earthquake

Back at the cutting, I stopped to coolpix the causeway, then walked along the causeway. I would've liked to walk estuary mud to see the ecosystem, but incoming tide stopped that, with deep water rapidly rising by the causeway.

On the causeway concrete bridge culvert, I stopped for a while to watch water flood into McCormacks Bay. On the other side of the bridge a pied cormorant perched on a pole, while I snapped signs on the bridge fence.


2009. Causeway Bridge Culvert, McCormacks Bay. Mount Pleasant backdrop, Christchurch


2009. High Tide flooding McCormacks Bay, seen from Causeway Bridge Culvert. Mount Pleasant backdrop, Christchurch

At the end of the causeway, I watched a white faced heron and ducks by another estuary culvert pipe. Tarsealed walks were hard on my feet and knees. I preferred unsealed paths.

Walk time: 2.5 hours.


2009. Shag by McCormacks Bay Causeway Bridge Culvert, Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch


2009. Signs at McCormacks Bay Causeway Bridge Culvert, Avon- Heathcote Estuary. Southshore Spit & Balmoral Hill backdrop, Christchurch

Coda: As much of Christchurch's sewage system was destroyed by the 2010-2011 earthquakes, Avon River & Heathcote River were used as open sewers, while sucker trucks unclogged drains & sewage pipes & workmen did repairs. It would take years to clean badly polluted Avon-Heathcote Estuary.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Moa-Bone Point Cave (Christchurch City Libraries)

2009. Heathcote Quarry Park to Morgans Valley, Port Hills

I wanted to walk from Heathcote Quarry Park to Morgans Valley, so I parked my car on Bridle Path Road near Heathcote Valley Riding School, and climbed steep wooden steps in Heathcote Quarry Park, which zigzagged up the track to Heathcote Quarry Site.


2009. Heathcote Quarry view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps


2009. Morgans Valley Track by Heathcote Quarry, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Morgans Valley Track view of Morgans Valley. Mount Cavendish backdrop, Port Hills

A hailstorm the previous day had muddied Heathcote Quarry Park tracks, making them slippery. At Heathcote Quarry I sat on the wooden Ferrymead bench, and snapped Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD and snowy Southern Alps beyond. At the end of Heathcote Quarry, a wooden sign stated:

MORGANS VALLEY TRACK TO
BRIDLE PATH 40 MINS


2009. Morgans Valley Track view of Bluffs below Saint Andrews Hill, Port Hills. Rocky bluffs above Morgans Valley were rockfall hazards during the 2010-2011 quakes



2009. Morgans Valley Track view across Heathcote Valley, towards Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley, Port Hills

Beside Morgans Valley Track, which went roughly parallel to Bridle Path Road, Heathcote Valley bluffs loomed on my left, while houses sloped down to Bridle Path Road on my right. I walked beside a pine shelterbelt which protected Aromaunga Flowers nursery greenhouses. By a muddy patch, I passed through a wooden gate, which had a NO BIKES sign attached.


2009. Morgans Valley Track view over Lower Heathcote Valley & Christchurch towards Southern Alps


2009. Morgans Valley Track view over Lower Heathcote Valley, Heathcote Estuary & Christchurch CBD, towards Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps

Above Morgans Valley Track, I saw bluffs above higher Major Hornbrook Road Track and its wooden staircase climbing a bluff towards Kenton Track and housing on Mount Pleasant. I zigzagged up muddy Morgans Valley Track, and snapped Heathcote Valley and snowy Alps above the pines.


2009. Morgans Valley Track view of Mount Pleasant Bluffs & Gullies, Port Hills. Rocky bluffs above Morgans Valley were rockfall hazards during the 2010-2011 quakes


2009. Morgans Valley Track view of Morgans Valley, Mount Cavendish & Castle Rock, Port Hills

I looked up at Mount Pleasant's broken rocks, gullies, bluffs and caves looming above Morgans Valley. Mount Cavendish, with its Gondola stations above and below, loomed at the head of Morgans Valley. On my right, Castle Rock loomed above Heathcote Valley.


2009. Morgans Valley view of Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD, Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps


2009. Morgans Valley, Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Morgans Valley view of Castle Rock, Port Hills, Christchurch

Two pylons, one on top of Mount Pleasant and one below in Morgans Valley, stitched electric cables towards Heathcote Valley. I stood below the cables and watched southerly gusts sway heavy cables, pushing them a bit, before gravity pulled them back. Cold southerly gusts pushed me too, so I didn't continue towards Bridle Path beyond Morgans Valley, but watched three joggers on a higher track below valley bluffs.


2009. Morgans Valley View of Mount Cavendish, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. Morgans Valley view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Christchurch CBD, Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps

Below Mount Pleasant Vodafone transmitter, I descended into Morgans Valley, the steep farm track so muddy I slipped on my knees. I watched three adult walkers and their two dogs pass through a paddock gate below, and join new roads in Morgans Valley.

I passed a round water trough, went through two farm gates, passed new houses, and crossed a new road to a new park, where a man threw a rugby ball to his son, while their Labrador greeted me.


2009. Morgans Valley Park with Castle Rock backdrop, Port Hills, Christchurch

I returned to my car down Morgans Valley Road and Bridle Path Road, where walkers and cyclists enjoyed Queens Birthday too. The loop walk took me 1 hour 10 minutes.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

2009. Heathcote Quarry Park to John Britten Reserve, Port Hills

2009. Hammerton Lane view of Heathcote Valley, Castle Rock & Horotane Valley, Christchurch


2009. Hammerton Lane view of Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley, Christchurch


2009. Hammerton Lane view of Lower Heathcote Valley & Ferrymead, Christchurch

I parked my car in Bridle Path Road, Heathcote Valley, and started up steep wooden steps towards HEATHCOTE QUARRY PARK. Wooden signs stated:

HEATHCOTE QUARRY PARK
OLD QUARRY SITE 10 MINS
MAJOR HORNBROOK ROAD 30 MINS

SCOTT VALLEY TRACK TO BRIDLE PATH
STARTS AT OLD QUARRY SITE 10 MINS


2009. Bridle Path Road entrance to Heathcote Quarry Park, Christchurch

The guesstimator of those times must've been an Olympic athlete, as I'd never achieved any Port Hills walks in times stated on direction signs. Native plantings disguised houses and smallholdings beside the steep, uphill zigzagging track. I climbed a series of wooden steps, with sheep in a young olive grove on my right. Where steps were small, I ascended two at a time.


2009. Heahcote Quarry Park view of Heathcote Valley & Horotane Valley, Christchurch


2009. Smallholding Olives & Sheep, Heathcote Quarry Park. Heathcote Valley & Horotane Valley backdrop, Christchurch


2009. Heathcote Quarry Park Track, Heathcote Valley, Christchurch


2009. Smallholding Sheep & Olives. Lower Heathcote Valley, Ferrymead, Woolston backdrop, Christchurch

At the MAJOR HORNBROOK ROAD TRACK / OLD QUARRY SITE junction I turned right down the muddy track to the Old Quarry Site. Ten days of rain and gloomy mist had mired tracks. At the Old Quarry I sat on a wooden FERRYMEAD bench and admired Ferrymead in Heathcote Valley below, and beyond to Christchurch hazy CBD, and snowy Southern Alps.


2009. Heathcote Quarry view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Ferrymead & Southern Alps. Heathcote Estuary right, Christchurch

By the Old Quarry I turned back at a sign which stated:

MORGANS VALLEY TRACK TO
BRIDLE PATH 40 MINS

I rejoined MAJOR HORNBROOK ROAD TRACK, as I wanted to climb Heathcote Valley bluffs sandwiched between Saint Andrews Hill housing on top, with Bridle Path Road housing below. I zigzagged up Major Hornbrook Road Track which was dangerously muddy. I passed lots of NZ broom and some exotic gorse beside the track.


2009. Major Hornbrook Road Track view of Heathcote Valley & Horotane Valley, Christchurch


2009. Major Hornbrook Road Track view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley & Avoca Valley, Christchurch

I stopped at a rickety wooden picnic bench, anchored by rocks, and took my first sip of Schweppes Sparkling Duet, while admiring grand views over Heathcote Valley, Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch CBD, and the Alps.


2009. Major Hornbrook Road Track view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Ferrymead & Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch


2009. Major Hornbrook Road Track view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Ferrymead & Woolston, Christchurch

I continued climbing Major Hornbrook Road Track below bluffs up the valley. Water trickled down the track, while I left my jandal prints amongst boot prints and dog paw prints in the mud.


2009. Major Hornbrook Road Track: Steps view of Lower Heathcote Valley, misty Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps

I climbed 60 wooden steps up the side of a bluff, and came upon another junction with Major Hornbrook Road Track going up more wooden steps to the left. On my right, I passed through a small gate to Kenton Track, a wooden sign stating:

KENTON TRACK TO
SUMMIT ROAD 40 MINS


2009. Kenton Track view of Lower Heathcote Valley, misty Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps

Above the bluffs, Kenton Track was drier than Major Hornbrook Road Track below. I sidled below housing boundary fences on Mount Pleasant. In paddocks, iron fence standards with orange plastic caps marked the way up, with magnificent views towards John Britten Reserve on top, and Castle Rock, The Tors, Heathcote Valley and Avoca Valley on my right.


2009. Kenton Track view of Saint Andrews Hill, Heathcote Estuary, misty Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps


2009. Kenton Track northern view of Lower Heathcote Valley, Woolston, misty Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps


2009. Kenton Track Stone Wall view of Lower Heathcote Valley & misty Canterbury Plains

At the end of houses by pines, I came across an old concrete water trough and an old stone wall, with wintry views over Christchurch and beyond. I followed the stone wall to an old stile with no fencing, where Kenton Track petered out, becoming stock tracks.

The fence had been moved leftwards, and blocked another stile further left, with Kenton Track going uphill towards John Britten Reserve. Kenton Track needed more development, or walkers would die falling off misty crags.


2009. Kenton Track view of a Mount Pleasant cliff left & Mount Cavendish right, Christchurch


2009. Kenton Track view of Morgans Valley, Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Christchurch


2009. Kenton Track view of Morgans Valley, Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley, Christchurch

By pylons I continued right, as I wanted to see rock-climbers' crags above Heathcote Valley. I walked along the top of a Mount Pleasant cliff, which could easily be reached from Major Hornbrook Road housing development on my left. I passed a Vodafone radio transmitter on my left, fat white discs on a pole, with fencing and a warning sign.

In the distance I saw Britten Crags with rock-climbers, wearing bright gear, climbing and abseiling. As I would have to climb down a gully and up again to reach them, I turned uphill towards John Britten Reserve, crossed a fence, and found Kenton Track again, marked by wooden planks with blue and red tags, the red tags stating: NO BIKES.


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Lower Heathcote valley, misty Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Morgans Valley, Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Mount Cavendish Gondola Station & Castle Rock, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. John Britten Reserve westwards view of Lower Heathcote Valley, misty Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Heathcote Valley, Horotane Valley, Avoca Valley, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Mount Cavendish Gondola Station & Castle Rock, with Horotane Valley behind, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. John Britten Reserve northern view of misty Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps


2009. John Britten Reserve view of southern Crater Rim Peaks, Port Hills, Christchurch


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Heathcote Estuary, misty Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps

It took me 1 hour 50 mins from Bridle Path Road to reach the top of JOHN BRITTEN RESERVE by Summit Road. John Kenton Britten had been an innovative motorbike designer, who died on 05.09.1995.

I lingered at the top, drinking Schweppes, and enjoying views of the Gondola Station on Mount Cavendish (445 m) and Crater Rim peaks southwards, Port Hills valleys, misty Canterbury Plains and cloudy Alps westwards, and Pegasus Bay eastwards. By Summit Road a sign stated:

KENTON TRACK TO
HEATHCOTE QUARRY 30 MINS


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, misty Canterbury Plains & Southern Alps


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit, misty Canterbury Plains, Pegasus Bay & Southern Alps

I descended straight down muddy Kenton Track towards housing development on Mount Pleasant, passed through a small gate by pylons again, crossed a stile near the old stone wall, and crossed a fence by a big rock to rejoin where I'd ascended Heathcote Valley. As I'd already slipped in John Britten Reserve, I used a discarded iron fence standard as a staff, stopping me slipping on my muddy descent.


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Southshore Spit, Pegasus Bay & Southern Alps


2009. John Britten Reserve view of Avon-Heathcote Estuary Mouth, Southshore Spit & Pegasus Bay

Sidling below houses again, I saw someone's powerful telescope in a room aiming at houses in Heathcote Valley below. My descent from John Britten Reserve back to Bridle Pass Road took me about 1 hour. As it was a wintry Thursday afternoon, I had the muddy tracks to myself.

Coda: During the 2010-2011 earthquakes, Christchurch, Heathcote Valley & Castle Rock were quake damaged. Referring to the 22.02.11 quake, Geonet reported: "The highest shaking was recorded at Heathcote Valley Primary School at 220%g..." as Heathcote Valley was above the epicentre 5 kms below. In 1995 I'd observed lessons at Heathcote Valley PS, but gave up the idea of NZ teaching, as I was too deaf.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.