Port Hills

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Portion of the Port Hills, with Summit Road

Model of Banks Peninsula; the Port Hills are the volcanic ridge on the left

The Port Hills are a range of hills running approximately east-west, between the port of Lyttelton and the city of Christchurch in Canterbury, New Zealand. The Port Hills are the northern rim of an ancient volcanic cone, one of two from which Banks Peninsula (Horomaka) was formed. The summits of the range are generally about 350 to 500 metres above sea level.

Several suburbs of Christchurch extend onto the northern slopes of the Port Hills. Other parts of the hills are used for farming and forestry.

The Summit Road runs along the top of the Port Hills. A road tunnel and a separate rail tunnel beneath the hills connect Lyttelton with Christchurch. Three road routes cross the range via Evans, Dyers and Gebbies passes.

The hills are an important recreation area for Christchurch residents, with several public parks and reserves, including tracks for mountain biking and walking. The Christchurch Gondola goes to the top of Mount Cavendish.

The Port Hills formed a challenging barrier between the harbour and the planned site of Christchurch during early European settlement, their steepness and ruggedness making road-building difficult.