Last updated November 2026
The Mount Herbert Walkway/Te Ahu Pātiki is a full-day tramp from Te Waipapa/Diamond Harbour to the 920 m summit of Mount Herbert/Te Ahu Pātiki, the highest peak on Banks Peninsula. It starts at the Diamond Harbour wharf, which you can reach by ferry from Lyttelton or by road around the bays.
DOC grades it Advanced and gives 6–8 hr return. The track climbs through pine forest, regenerating bush and open farmland, past relics of early settlement, to tussock tops with views of the Port Hills, the Canterbury Plains and the open ocean. The start is about 16 km from Christchurch, and the summit tracks form part of Te Ara Pātaka/Summit Walkway.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Mount Herbert Walkway/Te Ahu Pātiki on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- Te Waipapa/Diamond Harbour wharf
- Distance from the city
- About 16 km from Christchurch
- Walking time
- 6–8 hr return
- Track length
- 14 km return
- Grade
- Advanced
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Summit
- Mount Herbert/Te Ahu Pātiki, 920 m
- Shelter
- Mount Herbert Shelter (water tank and long drop toilet)
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
About Mount Herbert Walkway/Te Ahu Pātiki
From the wharf, follow the road towards the village. After a few minutes a track branches right and drops to the beach. From there a rough track climbs along a creek bed through pine forest and regenerating bush; DOC advises ignoring the side tracks. After crossing Marine Drive at a bend, the route turns right into scrubby farmland.
The lower slopes carry traces of early settlement. You pass a large eucalyptus believed to have been planted by settler Mark Stoddart in the 1860s, then, after crossing the unsealed Bayview Road, the remains of a pioneer’s cob cottage, where mature gums form a square around an overgrown garden.
Bayview Road is the last place in Diamond Harbour to start the walk, which DOC says saves about 30 minutes.
After about 1 hour 30 minutes, the track levels off and meets a 4WD track, then climbs for another hour through tussock and introduced grasses. The dark chunks of rock across the slopes are pieces of an old lava flow. Near the top, a junction offers 10 minutes to the summit or 15 minutes to the shelter.
The summit is covered in tussock and some speargrass around a small antenna housing. DOC describes views to the Port Hills, north to Mount Thomas and Mount Grey 66 km away, and east over open ocean. DOC describes it as a full day trip that is very exposed to the weather.
Getting There
DOC suggests taking the ferry from Lyttelton to the Diamond Harbour wharf, or a public bus to Lyttelton and then the ferry. You can also drive from Lyttelton around the bays to Diamond Harbour. DOC notes good parking in the small village above the wharf, and there are toilets in Diamond Harbour.
Mount Herbert Shelter and Onward Routes
The Mount Herbert Shelter, near the summit, has a water tank and a basic long drop toilet. The tank is fed by the roof and may run dry after long dry spells, and DOC says to treat or boil the water before drinking. Most walkers return the same way.
You can also continue along Te Ara Pātaka/Summit Walkway over the Port Levy Saddle to Rod Donald Hut (DOC gives 3 hours 20 minutes), or head out via Orton Bradley Park, Kaituna Valley or Gebbies Pass, passing Packhorse Hut, a DOC hut about three hours from Mount Herbert. DOC says bookings are required to stay at these huts.
Track Conditions and Safety
DOC warns that the walkway is “very exposed to the weather, so trampers must be prepared for cold, heat, fog and wind”. Carry plenty of water and food. The track crosses an active farm, so stay on the marked track, use the stiles to cross fences and give stock space.
No fires are allowed. DOC’s page also says the track is closed for lambing from 8 August to 15 October, so check DOC if you plan to go in late winter or spring. Check DOC before you go, tell someone your plans and use Plan My Walk to check the weather.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Mount Herbert Walkway/Te Ahu Pātiki: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Te Ara Pātaka/Summit Walkway: the full ridgeline route, huts and bookings.
Plan My Walk: weather, track alerts and a trip plan to share before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Mount Herbert Walkway take?
DOC gives 6–8 hr return from the Diamond Harbour wharf. Starting from Bayview Road saves about 30 minutes.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it Advanced. It is a long climb to 920 m and very exposed to the weather.
Can I take my dog?
No dogs.
How do I get to the start?
By ferry from Lyttelton to the Diamond Harbour wharf, or by road around the bays. DOC notes good parking in the village above the wharf.
Is there water on the track?
The Mount Herbert Shelter has a roof-fed tank that can run dry. Treat or boil the water, and carry plenty of your own.
Are there huts nearby?
Rod Donald Hut and Packhorse Hut are on Te Ara Pātaka/Summit Walkway. DOC says bookings are required to stay at them.
What can I see from the summit?
The Port Hills, Mount Thomas and Mount Grey to the north, Banks Peninsula, the Canterbury Plains and the open ocean to the east.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
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.