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The Port Hills in Christchurch, crater rim to Summit Road

Short answer

The Port Hills in Christchurch are the worn rim of the old Lyttelton volcano between the city and its port, topped by Coopers Knob and crossed by Harry Ell's Summit Road with its lookouts and rest houses.

Good to know

  • Sugarloaf tower site: 493.78 m23
  • Coopers Knob: 20 minutes from Summit Road25
  • The 2024 fire covered 650 hectares6

Browse 23 stops

The gondola and the Port Hills, pin by pin

Tap a route first, then a pin or stop, for its note and Google Maps.

Map of the Port Hills with Sugarloaf, the Kiwi and Takahe rest houses, Coopers Knob, Cass Peak, Victoria Park, the Adventure Park, Godley Head and Evans Pass

  1. The transmission tower on its top stands at an elevation of 493.78 m, near Dyers Pass.

    Google Maps

  2. The Sign of the Kiwi, a rest house from Harry Ell's Summit Road plan; the Crater Rim walk to the Sign of the Bellbird starts here, 4km.

    Google Maps

  3. The Sign of the Takahe, a stone building Harry Ell planned in 1918.

    Google Maps

  4. Ōmāwete, the highest point of the Port Hills, 20 minutes one way from the Summit Road.

    Google Maps

  5. Ōrongomai, where Ngāti Wheke tradition says Ngāi Tahu heard Ngāti Mamoe.

    Google Maps

  6. Christchurch's original downhill riding area with 71 trails, plus the Harry Ell Walkway, 4km.

    Google Maps

  7. A 1.8 kilometre chairlift built to carry riders and bikes; entry to the park is free.

    Google Maps

  8. The coastal end of the hills, with 120-metre cliffs and wartime gun emplacements.

    Google Maps

  9. The Summit Road over Evans Pass, finished in 1857, ended the Bridle Path's days as the only way over.

    Google Maps

© OpenStreetMap contributors · map data

The Port Hills in Christchurch are the green wall between the city and its port, the worn rim of an ancient volcano. Here are their names, their high points, the road along the top and the lookouts worth stopping at.

Editorial team, christchurchgondola.top · Updated November 8, 2026 · 7 mins to read

Main facts

  • What they areThe rim of the old Lyttelton volcano, crossed by the Bridle Path.1
  • Highest pointCoopers Knob, Ōmāwete, tops the Port Hills.2,3
  • Along the topHarry Ell's Summit Road and its rest houses.4
  • SunsetStop along the Summit Road or near the top of Rāpaki.5
  • Recent firesThe 2024 fire covered 650 hectares.6

Where the hills are and what made them

So where are the Port Hills in Christchurch? They are the ridge that rises straight out of the city's southern suburbs and drops on its far side into Lyttelton Harbour, with the port tucked against the water. The gondola climbs their northern face, and the Bridle Path crosses them on what the operator's guide calls the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano.1

That word, rim, is the key to the landscape. ChristchurchNZ describes scrambling on Coopers Knob as climbing on top of what was once a large volcano.7 The harbor below sits inside that old rim, and the hills you walk on are what remains of its wall, worn down into crags, tors and grassy saddles.

The volcano gives the hills their shape, steep on the harbor side and long and ridged on the city side, with spurs and gullies running down into suburbs such as Heathcote, Cashmere and Sumner. From the city you see them as a single wall; on top you find a maze of peaks, saddles and reserves, threaded together by tracks and a road along the crest.

Lookouts compared

Where to stop on the Port Hills

LookoutHow you get thereKnown for
Summit Road carparkDriveLyttelton Harbour view
Coopers Knob20 minutes on footHighest point
Castle RockSummit Road bendRock outcrop
Sign of the KiwiSummit RoadSunset stop
Godley Head7km walk120-metre cliffs
Gondola summitGondolaHarbor and city

From ChristchurchNZ and the operator's guide; Coopers Knob is 20 minutes one way, the Godley Head walk 7km.24,25,2,18,5,26,20,27

Names on the ridge, as Ngāti Wheke tell them

Long before the English names, these hills carried names from Māori tradition, and the hapū of Rāpaki, Ngāti Wheke, publish their own account of them. In it the cone-shaped hill that dominates Rāpaki is Te Poho o Tamatea, and their pepeha names it as the mauka, with Whakaraupō as the moana.13,14

The account tells of the explorer Tamatea stopping in the hills above Rāpaki when a southerly storm struck, and calling on his atua for fire; Pākeha later named that same hill Rāpaki Rock.15,16 Peaks at the head of the harbor recall contests between Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mamoe. Ōrongomai, Cass Peak, marks where Ngāi Tahu heard their rivals, and Ōmāwete, Coopers Knob, is described as a rare recognition of the defeated side.17,3

Other names on the ridge come from the same world. Te Tihi o Kahukura, Castle Rock, is the outcrop on a tight bend of the Summit Road above Ferrymead; tihi means summit, and Kahukura is an atua whose stories include taking the form of a rainbow.18,19 Use these names on the hill and you will find them on signs and maps alongside the English ones.

Height

How far above the sea the hills reach

  • Godley Head cliffs120
  • Bridle Path crest333
  • Rāpaki Track climb333m
  • Sugarloaf tower site493.78

Godley Head cliffs 120-metre (ChristchurchNZ); Bridle Path 333 m and the Sugarloaf tower at 493.78 m (operator guide); Rāpaki Track 333m of climbing (ChristchurchNZ).20,21,22,23

How high the hills rise

How high are the Port Hills in Christchurch? Higher than they look from the plains. ChristchurchNZ names Coopers Knob as the highest point of the range.2 The Sugarloaf transmission tower stands at an elevation of 493.78 m, near Dyers Pass, on a peak that ChristchurchNZ describes as nearly 500 metres high.23,34

Lower crossings give a sense of the climb from sea level. The Bridle Path rises from the port to a height of 333 m before dropping into Heathcote Valley.21 On the city side, the Rāpaki Track gains 333m over 3.6kms, a steady haul that cyclists share with walkers.22 The lattice tower on Sugarloaf is itself 121 m high, and it makes a handy marker when you are trying to place the ridge from below.35

Across the harbor the land climbs higher still. Mount Herbert, Te Ahu Pātiki, reaches 919 metres and is the highest peak on Banks Peninsula, though it belongs to the peninsula rather than to the Port Hills themselves.36 Standing on the crest you can compare the two skylines and see how the old volcanoes stack up behind each other.

Plan your visit

Which part of the Port Hills suits you?

Pick the spot by what you hope to get from the hills on the day.

  • If I want the harbor view without a hike

    Summit Road carpark

    A contender for the best view of Lyttelton Harbour.24

  • If I want to stand on the top

    Coopers Knob

    The highest point, 20 minutes one way.2,25

  • If I want sea cliffs

    Godley Head

    Cliffs of 120 metres and wartime gun sites.20

  • If I want a sunset

    Summit Road or Rāpaki

    Both are suggested sunset stops.5

  • If I want history

    The Summit Road rest houses

    Harry Ell's buildings line the ridge.4

  • If I want an easy ride up

    The gondola

    Around 10 minutes in a cabin.28

Ways up

How to get onto the ridge

No climbing

Gondola

From Heathcote Valley

  • RideAround 10 minutes28
  • CabinsUp to four people28
  • IncludesHistory ride
See this way up

On foot

Rāpaki Track

Walk up from Hillsborough

  • Length7km return29
  • Time2 hours return29
  • PramsOff-road prams OK30
See this way up

Lift and trails

Adventure Park lift

Chairlift in Cashmere

  • Lift1.8 kilometres31
  • EntryFree32
  • Height ruleOver 1m33
See this way up

Harry Ell and the Summit Road

The road along the top is the work of one persistent man. The operator's guide tells how Harry Ell imagined a highway with walking tracks and rest houses running along the summit of the Port Hills.64 Development ran through the depression years of the 1920s and 1930s, and by his death in 1934 he had laid the foundations of the Summit Road and its rest houses.65,4

The rest houses still stand along the ridge. ChristchurchNZ dates the stone Sign of the Takahe to 1918, a building Harry Ell planned.11 Further along, the Sign of the Kiwi marks the start of a 4km Crater Rim section that ends at the Sign of the Bellbird.46 Together they turn a drive along the Summit Road into a string of stops.

An older road crosses the eastern end, over Evans Pass; it was finished in 1857, and before it the steep Bridle Path was the settlers' sole route across.10 Today the ridge is reached by car, by the gondola from Heathcote Valley, by the chairlift at the Adventure Park or on foot from the city.66 On the western side, the Christchurch Adventure Park lets anyone in free of charge, its chairlift runs 1.8 kilometres up the slope, and a rider must be over 1m tall to use it.32,31,33

Through time

The Port Hills from first sighting to recent fires

  1. 1770

    Peninsula sighted

    Cook sighted Banks Peninsula on 16 February 1770.8

  2. 1850

    Bridle Path built

    A track for leading horses over the hills.9

  3. 1857

    Evans Pass road

    The Summit Road over Evans Pass was completed.10

  4. 1918

    Sign of the Takahe

    Harry Ell planned the stone rest house.11

  5. 2017

    First big fire

    A wildfire began on Marleys Hill on 13 February 2017.12

  6. 2024

    Valentine's Day fire

    It covered 650 hectares.6

Lookouts along the ridge

Every Port Hills lookout has its own angle. ChristchurchNZ suggests the Summit Road carpark as a contender for the best view of Lyttelton Harbour.24 For height, the Coopers Knob walk begins from Summit Road a little north of the Gibraltar Rock carpark, a climb of 20 minutes one way with some easy scrambling on top.25,7

At the coastal end, Godley Head has gun emplacements and ocean views from 120-metre-high cliffs.20 Its track looks out over Pegasus Bay and the Kaikōura Ranges.67 The walk from Taylors Mistake is 7km, a 3-hour round trip.26

Climbers see the hills differently. Cattlestop Crag, above Heathcote Valley, has more than 100 routes, and you reach it by parking on Summit Road near the gondola building.68,69 Gibraltar Rock has 14 routes overlooking the Canterbury Plains.70 Even if you never rope up, these crags are good places to watch the light change over the plains.

Video

The Port Hills, Lyttelton and the gondola

Glen And Mado on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.

Nearby, the distinctive cone-shaped hill which dominates Rāpaki is Te Poho o Tamatea
Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga)13

Hill checklist

Before you head up the Port Hills

Weather3

  • Pack a warm layer or windbreaker for the top56
  • Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes57
  • Check whether the gondola is running in bad weather58

On the ridge3

  • Follow trail markers and red poles where paths split59
  • Carry water and sunscreen; there is little shade60
  • Take all rubbish with you61

Safety3

  • Respect fire season: the hills burned in 2017 and 202462,6
  • In a medical emergency call 11163
  • Head down before dark after a sunset stop5

Sunset, wind and changeable weather

For a Port Hills sunset, ChristchurchNZ points to stops along the Summit Road, the area near the top of Rāpaki and the viewpoint by the Sign of the Kiwi.5 Seeing the city lights come on below you is a fine end to a day, but plan the way down before dark: the tracks are unlit and steep in places.

The ridge is exposed. ChristchurchNZ warns that the top of the Rāpaki Track can be windy and suggests packing a warm layer or a windbreaker.56 It also warns that a winter's day here can run through every season, and recommends layers and sturdy, waterproof shoes.57 Treat a calm morning in the city as no guarantee of calm on the crest. For a family outing, ChristchurchNZ rates the Rāpaki Track, 7km and 2 hours return, as fine for off-road prams.29,30

The gondola feels the same weather. When conditions turn, Metro notes, it can stop early or stay shut for the day, and bus 8 then skips the stop at its base.58 On a doubtful day, check the operator's hours before you leave, and keep a plan for the city in reserve.

Fires and what grows back

The hills have burned twice in recent years. A wildfire that began on 13 February 2017 on Marleys Hill reached the boundary of the Christchurch Adventure Park by the next evening.12 In 2024 the Valentine's Day fire covered 650 hectares with a perimeter of 24km.6 At its height more than 130 firefighters, 15 helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft worked the blaze.71

Most of that land was private. Of the 650ha burned, 28ha was council reserve.72 The council says it applied lessons from the 2017 fire, including declaring a state of emergency promptly.62 Fire and Emergency staff say they are planting less flammable species across the Port Hills together with the council and local iwi.73

Replanting is a long project. The Te Tapuwae o Rakau Trust aims to replant over 10 million native trees on the Port Hills.74 At the gondola, the operator reports more than 100 native trees planted with the trust and the Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award.75 Native bush grows slowly, and the work being done now will shape how these hills look for decades.

FAQ

Quick answers to quick questions.

Where are the Port Hills?
Between the city and Lyttelton.

They form the ridge from the city's southern suburbs to Lyttelton Harbour; the Bridle Path follows the rim of the old Lyttelton volcano.1

What is the highest point of the Port Hills?
Coopers Knob.

ChristchurchNZ names Coopers Knob, Ōmāwete, as the highest point; the walk from the Summit Road takes 20 minutes one way.2,25

Are the Port Hills a volcano?
They are its eroded rim.

The Bridle Path crosses the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano.1

Who built the Summit Road?
Harry Ell led it.

He laid the foundations for the road and its rest houses by his death in 1934.4

Where is the best place for sunset?
Along the Summit Road.

ChristchurchNZ points to pull-ins along the Summit Road, the upper end of the Rāpaki Track and the lookout beside the Sign of the Kiwi.5

How big was the 2024 Port Hills fire?
650 hectares.

It had a perimeter of 24km; 28ha of the burned land was council reserve.6,72

Is it windy on the Port Hills?
Often, at the top.

ChristchurchNZ advises a warm layer or windbreaker for the top of the Rāpaki Track.56

Sources

  1. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Bridle Path ↩
  2. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · The best lookouts in Christchurch and beyond ↩
  3. Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga) · Marae: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga ↩
  4. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Summit Road ↩
  5. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Christchurch winter walking itinerary ↩
  6. Christchurch City Council (Let's Talk) · Port Hills fire recovery continuing ↩
  7. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · The best lookouts in Christchurch and beyond ↩
  8. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Christchurch, Ōtautahi: a brief history ↩
  9. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Bridle Path ↩
  10. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Bridle Path ↩
  11. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · The best lookouts in Christchurch and beyond ↩
  12. Christchurch Adventure Park · About us ↩
  13. Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga) · Marae: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga ↩
  14. Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga) · Marae: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga ↩
  15. Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga) · Marae: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga ↩
  16. Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga) · Marae: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga ↩
  17. Mahaanui Kurataiao (set up by six Papatipu Rūnanga) · Marae: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga ↩
  18. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Castle Rock, Te Tihi o Kahukura ↩
  19. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Castle Rock, Te Tihi o Kahukura ↩
  20. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Bird's-eye view of Christchurch ↩
  21. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Bridle Path ↩
  22. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Mountain bike trails of Ōtautahi Christchurch ↩
  23. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Sugarloaf, Te Heru o Kahukura ↩
  24. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · The best lookouts in Christchurch and beyond ↩
  25. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · The best lookouts in Christchurch and beyond ↩
  26. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Walking and hiking tracks in Christchurch ↩
  27. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola: tickets and visitor information ↩
  28. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola: tickets and visitor information ↩
  29. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Walking and hiking tracks in Christchurch ↩
  30. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Walking and hiking tracks in Christchurch ↩
  31. Christchurch Adventure Park · About us ↩
  32. Christchurch Adventure Park · FAQ ↩
  33. Christchurch Adventure Park · FAQ ↩
  34. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Bird's-eye view of Christchurch ↩
  35. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Sugarloaf, Te Heru o Kahukura ↩
  36. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Mt Herbert, Te Ahu Pātiki ↩
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  39. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks
  40. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks
  41. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks
  42. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · 11 ways to spend the day in Lyttelton
  43. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Diamond Harbour, Te Waipapa
  44. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Diamond Harbour, Te Waipapa
  45. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Rāpaki
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  50. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Frequently asked questions
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  53. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Information for cruise ship visitors
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  56. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Christchurch winter walking itinerary ↩
  57. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Christchurch winter walking itinerary ↩
  58. Metro (Environment Canterbury) · Route 8 Port to Port timetable ↩
  59. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks ↩
  60. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks ↩
  61. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks ↩
  62. Christchurch City Council (Let's Talk) · Port Hills fire recovery continuing ↩
  63. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Christchurch Gondola walking tracks ↩
  64. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Summit Road ↩
  65. Christchurch Gondola Scan & Learn (Christchurch Attractions) · Summit Road ↩
  66. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Mountain bike trails in Canterbury and beyond ↩
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  68. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Best climbing in Christchurch ↩
  69. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Best climbing in Christchurch ↩
  70. ChristchurchNZ (Christchurch regional tourism agency) · Best climbing in Christchurch ↩
  71. Christchurch City Council (Let's Talk) · Port Hills fire recovery continuing ↩
  72. Christchurch City Council (Let's Talk) · Port Hills fire recovery continuing ↩
  73. Christchurch City Council (Let's Talk) · Port Hills fire recovery continuing ↩
  74. Christchurch Adventure Park · Our sustainability story ↩
  75. Christchurch Attractions (operator of the Christchurch Gondola) · Sustainability ↩

Read next

More to read before you ride

GuideChristchurch Gondola tickets and pricesGuideGondola, tram and punting passesGuideIs the Christchurch Gondola worth itGuideHow to get to the Christchurch Gondola

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