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Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 10 min return
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Banks Peninsula area
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
This short walk in Montgomery Scenic Reserve will take you to a huge forked lowland tōtara that is over 2000 years old.
This DOC directory entry covers Giant Tōtara Walk in Canterbury, within Banks Peninsula area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 10 min return
- DOC grade: Easiest
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The huge tōtara can be reached after a few minutes walk into the bush. This massive tree may be 2,000 years old and measures 8.5 m around its trunk. The bush also features tōtara, mataī and fuschia/kōtukutuku.
You can carry on to Montgomery Peak Walk.
Getting there
Drive to Hilltop on the Akaroa Highway then turn along the Summit Road for 200 m to a small area at the side of the road where you can park.
Know before you go
Take care near stinging nettle
Urtica ferox (ongaonga) is an endemic stinging nettle and common in this area. Take care not to touch these plants as they have a very strong sting. Ongaonga are an important host plant of Vanessa gonerilla (kahukura), the endemic red admiral butterfly.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
