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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -43.59771, 172.73918. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 1.1 km one way
- Walking time
- 35 minutes
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Christchurch area
- Dog access
- Dogs on a leash only. 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
Enjoy panoramic views along the tops of the Mount Pleasant bluffs on this great summer walk, which includes historic gun emplacements.
This DOC directory entry covers Mount Pleasant Track in Canterbury, within Christchurch 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: 1.1 km one way
- Walking time: 35 minutes
- 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
Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Start: Tapuwaeharuru/Evans PassFinish: Mount Pleasant Gun Emplacements
From Tapuwaeharuru/Evans Pass, walk carefully west along the Summit Road a short distance before picking up the Crater Rim Walkway on your left. Follow the marked trail as it climbs up on the Lyttelton Harbour side to the historic WWII gun emplacements. There are fantastic views along here out over the harbour, down towards the Estuary and out to sea.
As well as tussocks and exotic grasses, the native spaniard or speargrass grows impressive spikes of yellow flowers in the summer.
Getting there
Bus
From the centre of Christchurch take a city bus to Sumner. From the end of the line carefully walk up Evans Pass Road for a few minutes until you find the start of a track on your left. Climbing up, you soon you reach a track junction where you turn right and follow the track up to the top of Evans Pass.
Driving
Drive up to the top of Evans Pass from Sumner or Lyttelton and park in the parking area at the top and start the track going up the Tauhinukorokio Scenic Reserve.
This track crosses over the Crater Rim Walkway.
Know before you go
There is a rockfall risk as a result of the Christchurch earthquakes. Keep to the track.
Onga onga/native stinging nettle may be growing around the gun emplacements.
Sheep periodically graze in the area. Keep dogs under control, and leave sheep alone.
History and culture
The open concrete structures are the remains of a heavy anti-aircraft artillery battery from World War II. The role of the artillery was to combat high-flying enemy aircraft. You can see the “holdfast” points where the guns were mounted and the ammunition bunkers on the sides.
The guns at Mt Pleasant could fire a shell 3000 m in 14 seconds.
The emplacements are much the same as they were when decommissioned by the army after the war, with the roofed command bunker sunk into the rock for protection.
More information about the battery.
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.
