Banks Peninsula Track

Accommodation at Stony Bay for walkers on the Banks Peninsula Track

The Banks Peninsula Track is a 35 kilometre tramping track on the Banks Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand in the Canterbury region. The track opened in 1989 as the first privately managed track in New Zealand.

Tramping

The track is open from October through April. Hut accommodations along the track are unique and well-equipped.

1989–2017 route

Sheep on the Banks Peninsula Track, with the Sleepy Cove sea arch in the background that fell in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake; after the 2016–17 season, trampers won't have this view, as the track will have been relocated[1]

Both the two-day and four-day track options started and ended in Akaroa and reached a maximum altitude of 699 metres (2,293 ft) at Trig GG, traversing a rugged coastline, forests, bush, pastures, and the Hinewai Reserve.

From its opening in 1989 until April 2017, the track sections were:

Point Coordinates
(links to map & photo sources)		 Notes
Onuku Farm Trampers' Hut 43°50′41″S 172°57′00″E / 43.844650°S 172.950019°E / -43.844650; 172.950019 (Onuku Farm Trampers' Hut)
Trig GG 43°51′11″S 172°57′52″E / 43.852957°S 172.964386°E / -43.852957; 172.964386 (Trig GG)
Mortlock's Mistake 43°50′46″S 172°58′47″E / 43.846053°S 172.979590°E / -43.846053; 172.979590 (Mortlock's Mistake)
Flea Bay Cottage 43°52′00″S 173°00′13″E / 43.866691°S 173.003679°E / -43.866691; 173.003679 (Flea Bay Cottage)
Stony Bay Cottages 43°51′16″S 173°02′15″E / 43.854491°S 173.037447°E / -43.854491; 173.037447 (Stony Bay Cottages)
Otanerito Beach House 43°50′13″S 173°03′17″E / 43.837057°S 173.054752°E / -43.837057; 173.054752 (Otanerito Beach House)
Purple Peak saddle 43°48′57″S 173°00′29″E / 43.815721°S 173.008192°E / -43.815721; 173.008192 (Purple Peak saddle)
Mount Vernon Lodge 43°48′29″S 172°58′53″E / 43.808057°S 172.981305°E / -43.808057; 172.981305 (Mount Vernon Lodge)

Route from October 2017 onwards

After the 2016/17 season, the track was shortened by one day. One of the founding operators, the Narbey family in Otanerito Bay, pulled out of the agreement over health and safety concerns, with track users using private parts of their property. A new track has been built in the valley from Stony Bay leading up towards the tops, with most of the land belonging to Hinewai Reserve.[2][3] This route change cuts out Otanerito Beach House, owned by poet Fiona Farrell and her partner Doug Hood.[3]

Point Coordinates
(links to map & photo sources)		 Notes
Onuku Farm Trampers' Hut 43°50′41″S 172°57′00″E / 43.844650°S 172.950019°E / -43.844650; 172.950019 (Onuku Farm Trampers' Hut)
Trig GG 43°51′11″S 172°57′52″E / 43.852957°S 172.964386°E / -43.852957; 172.964386 (Trig GG)
Flea Bay Cottage 43°52′00″S 173°00′13″E / 43.866691°S 173.003679°E / -43.866691; 173.003679 (Flea Bay Cottage)
Stony Bay Cottages 43°51′16″S 173°02′15″E / 43.854491°S 173.037447°E / -43.854491; 173.037447 (Stony Bay Cottages)

Flora and fauna

Among the fauna that may be observed are yellow-eyed penguins, little penguins, spotted shags, sooty shearwaters, fur seals, and Hector's dolphins. Flora observed include nikau palm, kahikatea, and tree ferns. [4]

Ecotourism

The establishment and ongoing stewardship of the track is an example of ecotourism. The track was established by nine landowners, mostly farmers, as a means of supplementing income in response to the fiscal pressures caused by drought and elimination of farm subsidies in the 1980s. A limited liability company was formed to manage track operations. In return for use of the land, track maintenance, and providing accommodations, landowners are given an annual sum based on several factors, including the amount of land traversed by the track and level of responsibility for track operations. There is some degree of uncertainty as to the long-term future of the track because of the risk that land along the track could be subdivided and pass into the hands of owners less sympathetic to the track. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Hayward, Michael (5 November 2016). "Banks Peninsula Track cut down to three days at the end of the season". The Press. p. A16. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "The final season of our classic four day walk". Banks Peninsula Track. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 Hayward, Michael (5 November 2016). "Banks Peninsula Track loses a day". The Press. p. A16. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. ↑ DuFresne, Jim (2002). Tramping in New Zealand. Melbourne: Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 1-74059-234-4.
  5. ↑ Hargreaves, Bob (2002). "The Banks Peninsular Track-A Case Study In Rural Tourism" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-05-20.

Coordinates: 43°51′11″S 172°57′52″E / 43.852957°S 172.964386°E / -43.852957; 172.964386 (Banks Peninsula Track - nominal location)

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