Last updated November 2026
The Major Hornbrook Track is a short, steady climb out of Lyttelton that follows the route a 19th-century landowner used to carry supplies home to Mt Pleasant. It starts on Ross Terrace above Lyttelton township and climbs to the tussock-covered Mt Pleasant Saddle at 396 metres, just below the Summit Road.
DOC grades it Easiest and gives it about 1 hour return, though it notes the track suits people of moderate fitness and is steep in places.
From the saddle you look down over Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula, and on a clear day across the Canterbury Plains to the Kaikōura ranges. It sits about 10 km from Christchurch and links into the wider Port Hills track network.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Major Hornbrook Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- Ross Terrace, Lyttelton
- Finish
- Mt Pleasant Saddle (396 m)
- Distance from the city
- About 10 km from Christchurch
- Walking time
- 1 hr return
- Track length
- 1 km return
- Grade
- Easiest
- Dogs
- Dogs on a leash only
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
About Major Hornbrook Track
The track takes its name from Major Alfred Hornbrook, a local landowner in the late 1800s who used this line up the hill to carry supplies from Lyttelton to his home on Mt Pleasant. Walking it today, you follow much the same route, climbing from the edge of town towards the crater rim.
The first section passes through regenerating bush in Major Hornbrook Reserve, which still holds some of the original vegetation of the Lyttelton basin. The track then moves into the more open Lyttelton Scenic Reserve, winding up through a boulder field and climbing beneath rocky bluffs, with views across the valley to Mount Pleasant Scenic Reserve.
At the top, the tussock of Mt Pleasant Saddle opens out at 396 metres. The views take in Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula, with the Heathcote Valley below, and on a clear day the Canterbury Plains and the Kaikōura ranges to the north.
It is a good short outing for anyone wanting a taste of the Port Hills from the harbour side. DOC’s Easiest grade reflects the track standard, but expect a sustained climb, so it suits walkers with moderate fitness.
Getting There
DOC suggests driving or taking a city bus from Christchurch to Lyttelton. From Canterbury Street, head up to its end, turn left and follow Somes Road across Cornwall Road to the parking bay on Ross Terrace. DOC notes the parking bay is small and suggests parking on a street lower down.
Linking Tracks
From Mt Pleasant Saddle you can walk back down to Lyttelton or continue onto the Christchurch City Council track network, including the Crater Rim Walkway.
Heading west from the saddle joins the Bridle Path, which offers a return route to Lyttelton or a way down to the Heathcote Valley. DOC says combining the Major Hornbrook Track with the Bridle Path makes a loop of about two hours.
Track Conditions and Safety
In DOC’s words: “The Major Hornbrook Track is relatively steep in places and can be slippery when wet, especially in the winter.” DOC also warns: “The track passes through a clearly marked rockfall zone.
Do not stop in this zone.” The track is quite exposed, so DOC advises against walking it in bad weather. Check DOC before you go and tell someone your plans.
From locals
Can I get a bus to Lyttelton for the Major Hornbrook Track?
How do primary school age kids find the climb up to the saddle?
No answers yet. If you know, a local would love to hear it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Major Hornbrook Track take?
DOC gives about 1 hour return. Adding the Bridle Path makes a loop of about two hours.
How hard is the Major Hornbrook Track?
DOC grades it Easiest but says it suits people of moderate fitness. It is relatively steep in places and can be slippery when wet.
Where does the track start?
On Ross Terrace in Lyttelton. DOC notes the parking bay there is small and suggests parking lower down.
Can I take my dog?
DOC’s rule is dogs on a leash only.
Where does the track finish?
At Mt Pleasant Saddle (396 m), close to the Summit Road, where you can link with the Crater Rim Walkway or the Bridle Path.
What should I watch out for?
The track crosses a marked rockfall zone where DOC says not to stop, and it is exposed, so DOC advises against walking it in bad weather.
Is the Major Hornbrook Track open?
It was open, with no DOC alerts, when we checked on 18 October 2026. Check the DOC page for current alerts before you go.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 2
- Department of Conservation: Major Hornbrook Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Christchurch City Council: Port Hills: information on the council’s Port Hills tracks, including the Crater Rim Walkway and the Bridle Path.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.