Broken Hill
A walk over Broken Hill is straight-forward open country tramping with the pluses of easy access, moderate height gain and great views. However it has a couple of optional extras that make it into a superlative day trip that should satisfy the most discerning keen tramper.
Drive west out of Christchurch on SH73 over Porters Pass, and park just before the turnoff to Craigieburn ski field.
 Post-glacial landscapes toned in shades of blue and gold |
Be prepared to be gob-smacked by the view out over lakes Pearson and Grasmere to the north. They're worth the walk by themselves.
The ridge travels on around in a great flat arc to the summit of Broken Hill.
Bryce Williamson was the leader of this Christchurch Tramping Club trip. He suggested nestling down in the big tussocks, out of the breeze, to have our lunch.
We were a friendly chatty group of eight.
 Bryce, Joanne, Honora, Adrian, Stephen, Caroline & Bruce |
The whole team decided to take the extra 1.5km walk along the ridge to check the view from the nameless 1578m summit. Bryce had reccomended it and he was absolutely right.
It's true if you've climbed Broken Hill but haven't gone on to 1578, you've missed half the benefit.
The views from 1578 are a genuine 360 degree panorama. You can even plainly see the Broken River Hut way below, and the historic old coal mining relic area down in the Broken River gorge.
After a long spell spent fully taking in the views all round we returned back along the ridge to Broken Hill. Bryce talked about options for a more interesting return journey.
We followed the crest of a spur due west from the summit of Broken Hill. At the end it dropped steeply and Bryce explored for the start of a scree that would let us into the valley below.
 It was a steep and dusty scree-run down off Broken Hill |
The scree was a bit steepish at first, and some of the team were new to the experience so we all started down cautiously.
However once we could see all the way to the stream, most couldn't resist the chance for a good scree run and bounded down in clouds of dust.
The usual course from here is to travel down stream a short distance and climb to a low saddle to rejoin the route of the morning back to the cars. However we decided on another add-on.
We continued on down the picturesque stream. It twisted and turned as it ran through a deep cut gorgy valley clothed in shading beech forest.
The forest finally ended and as we emerged we had our first casualty. Bryce had paused to check everyone was together, and unfortunately just happened to stop right next to a wasp nest. The first he knew was when a squadron of wasps launched a simultaneous attack. The restrained gentlemanly cry of alarm he uttered was most commendable, considering he received 8-10 stings before getting clear.
From here we only had a pleasant flat 3 km walk along the farm track through attractive regenerating native vegetation. The highlight of the scene was above us on our left, a long hill rimmed with a continuous craggy cliff of Tertiary limestone. What a spectacular scene that makes.
When we arrived at the road we only had left a short walk of a few hundred metres to the cars.
What a great day.
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