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Bridle Path (New Zealand)
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Bridle Path (New Zealand)
The Bridle Path is a steep shared-use track that traverses the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano connecting the port of Lyttelton with the city of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It is a popular walking and mountain biking route. The track ascends from the port itself to a height of 333 metres (1,093 ft) before descending again via Heathcote Valley to Christchurch. At the summit, next to the Summit Road, is a stone shelter with covered seats that is a 1940 New Zealand centennial memorial to the Pioneer Women of Canterbury. There are also seven commemorative stone seats placed along the Bridle Path; most of these were built for the 1950 Canterbury centenary celebrations.
Hastily constructed in late 1850, just in time for the first Canterbury Association settlers to use, it was the most direct way to travel from the port to the new settlements on the plains on the northern side of the Port Hills. Although very steep, it was the primary means of traversing the hills until the Sumner Road over Evans Pass was opened to light traffic in 1858. Originally, the road over Evans Pass was intended to be completed by the time the first settlers arrived but the Canterbury Association ran out of money. John Robert Godley had the road work stopped, and only had enough time to cut a rough Bridle Road once obtained further funding. It is referred to as a bridle path because the track was so steep and narrow in places that riders needed to dismount and lead their horses by the bridle. The path was considered unsuitable for a fully loaded cart or dray.
The track is a legal road, so may be used by motor vehicles, such as trail bikes, though this is regarded as a nuisance.[not verified in body] There have been attempts to change the legal status from road to park since the 1970s.
Originally called Bridle Road, the Bridle Path is a legal road between Lyttelton and Ferrymead. It was originally constructed as a way for the first Canterbury Association settlers to traverse the Port Hills that surround Lyttelton and take horses, cattle and sheep from the port to the land they would settle on the Canterbury Plains. The path was too steep to ride horses all the way, so riders had to dismount and lead their horses by the bridle over the steepest parts, hence the name. The lower sections of the historic pathway have become sealed roads bearing the name Bridle Path Road in both Lyttelton and the Heathcote Valley. The steeper part between the ends of the road remains a walking track to this day.
In January 1851, the Lyttelton Times observed:
Today, the Bridle Path walkway commences at the end of Bridle Path Road which runs up the hill from near the Lyttelton portal of the Road Tunnel. The path ascends to the top of the ridge and traverses the crater rim and the Summit Road before descending to near the Heathcote portal of the Road Tunnel in the Gondala carpark. The track is a 2.4 km long walk that ascends to the 333 metres (1,093 ft) high summit takes about an hour to walk in one direction.[better source needed] The number 28 Lyttelton/Rapaki bus can be used to connect between the ends of the walk.
At the summit, where the Bridle Path meets the Summit Road, is the Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial as well as a visitors car park. Both the Crater Rim Walkway and Stan Helms Track meet the Bridle Path at the car park. All these tracks can be wet and slippery in winter and the city council advises walkers to proceed with caution. While dog-walking is allowed, dogs need to be kept on a lead.
Charlotte Godley, in a letter written between 10 February and 3 May 1850, reported there was a pathway over the hills to the Dean's farm that her husband and Captain Thomas rode over when they first visited Lyttelton, on 12 May 1850. She wanted to see the plains too and persuaded another passenger who had already been to the top to show her the way. She reported they found a "very good, though steep, path to the top" and a "very fine" view of both the harbour and the plains. At that time, the road to Sumner was still being constructed but had reached a point where heavy blasting was required to get past some precipitous bluffs. Although a footpath had been formed along the route for the road-builders to use, that was so steep in places that ropes needed to be used to get past the bluffs. Shortly afterwards, John Godley ordered further spending on the road to cease and the workforce was retrenched.
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Bridle Path (New Zealand)
The Bridle Path is a steep shared-use track that traverses the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano connecting the port of Lyttelton with the city of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It is a popular walking and mountain biking route. The track ascends from the port itself to a height of 333 metres (1,093 ft) before descending again via Heathcote Valley to Christchurch. At the summit, next to the Summit Road, is a stone shelter with covered seats that is a 1940 New Zealand centennial memorial to the Pioneer Women of Canterbury. There are also seven commemorative stone seats placed along the Bridle Path; most of these were built for the 1950 Canterbury centenary celebrations.
Hastily constructed in late 1850, just in time for the first Canterbury Association settlers to use, it was the most direct way to travel from the port to the new settlements on the plains on the northern side of the Port Hills. Although very steep, it was the primary means of traversing the hills until the Sumner Road over Evans Pass was opened to light traffic in 1858. Originally, the road over Evans Pass was intended to be completed by the time the first settlers arrived but the Canterbury Association ran out of money. John Robert Godley had the road work stopped, and only had enough time to cut a rough Bridle Road once obtained further funding. It is referred to as a bridle path because the track was so steep and narrow in places that riders needed to dismount and lead their horses by the bridle. The path was considered unsuitable for a fully loaded cart or dray.
The track is a legal road, so may be used by motor vehicles, such as trail bikes, though this is regarded as a nuisance.[not verified in body] There have been attempts to change the legal status from road to park since the 1970s.
Originally called Bridle Road, the Bridle Path is a legal road between Lyttelton and Ferrymead. It was originally constructed as a way for the first Canterbury Association settlers to traverse the Port Hills that surround Lyttelton and take horses, cattle and sheep from the port to the land they would settle on the Canterbury Plains. The path was too steep to ride horses all the way, so riders had to dismount and lead their horses by the bridle over the steepest parts, hence the name. The lower sections of the historic pathway have become sealed roads bearing the name Bridle Path Road in both Lyttelton and the Heathcote Valley. The steeper part between the ends of the road remains a walking track to this day.
In January 1851, the Lyttelton Times observed:
Today, the Bridle Path walkway commences at the end of Bridle Path Road which runs up the hill from near the Lyttelton portal of the Road Tunnel. The path ascends to the top of the ridge and traverses the crater rim and the Summit Road before descending to near the Heathcote portal of the Road Tunnel in the Gondala carpark. The track is a 2.4 km long walk that ascends to the 333 metres (1,093 ft) high summit takes about an hour to walk in one direction.[better source needed] The number 28 Lyttelton/Rapaki bus can be used to connect between the ends of the walk.
At the summit, where the Bridle Path meets the Summit Road, is the Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial as well as a visitors car park. Both the Crater Rim Walkway and Stan Helms Track meet the Bridle Path at the car park. All these tracks can be wet and slippery in winter and the city council advises walkers to proceed with caution. While dog-walking is allowed, dogs need to be kept on a lead.
Charlotte Godley, in a letter written between 10 February and 3 May 1850, reported there was a pathway over the hills to the Dean's farm that her husband and Captain Thomas rode over when they first visited Lyttelton, on 12 May 1850. She wanted to see the plains too and persuaded another passenger who had already been to the top to show her the way. She reported they found a "very good, though steep, path to the top" and a "very fine" view of both the harbour and the plains. At that time, the road to Sumner was still being constructed but had reached a point where heavy blasting was required to get past some precipitous bluffs. Although a footpath had been formed along the route for the road-builders to use, that was so steep in places that ropes needed to be used to get past the bluffs. Shortly afterwards, John Godley ordered further spending on the road to cease and the workforce was retrenched.
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