The Port Hills

Recreation and facilities

Mount Cavendish Scenic Reserve

Mount Cavendish Scenic Reserve.

Mount Cavendish is located at the top of the Heathcote Valley approximately 10 km from Dyers Pass, and 4.7 km from Evans Pass via the Summit Road.

Mount Cavendish is rich in plant life because of the variety of climates offered by its altitude, range of aspects and its dominating bluffs. It affords spectacular views of the city, and the peak itself is one of the notable features that give the rugged skyline of the crater rim its dramatic quality. This reserve displays some of the best examples of lava flow to be seen on the Port Hills. The reserve is steep and rocky along the north facing bluffs with a rounded knob above, falling away steeply to the west.

History

Mount Cavendish was first transferred to the Crown for a Scenic Reserve in 1910, by the Morten Brothers. The mountain was first named Hill Morten in 1912 by Harry Ell, in recognition of the Morten family's gifts of land for the Summit Road and scenic reserves.

The name Mount Cavendish was first given to nearby Mount Pleasant in 1848, but did not stick and the peak of Hill Morten was named Mount Cavendish after the Hon. R Cavendish of the Canterbury Association.

Access

Summit Road, Crater Rim Walkway, or via the Gondola which has its lower terminal located on Bridal Path Road, in Heathcote Valley.

Nearest Bus

28 Lyttelton/Rapaki. For more information check out the Christchurch City Bus Services at metro info.

Facilities

• The Gondola Restaurant Complex has a café, restaurant, shop and panoramic views of the plains and Banks peninsula.
• The Crater Rim Walkway and Cavendish Bluffs Track extend through the reserve.

Plant life

Vegetation is mostly native silver tussock, once common around Banks Peninsula but now seldom found elsewhere in large areas. The rocky bluffs harbour native plants adapted to the dry, hot conditions on the north face and more diverse species on the colder, moister southern facing bluffs.