The Governator

The hills behind Governors Bay hold one of the best kept secrets in Christchurch - a myriad network of interconnecting steep, gnarly tails that provides rewards in spades for anyone seeking a hard workout. This one is NOT for those seeking to hit cruise mode and glide across fast easy trails. This one is for those technical trail junkies who just can't get enough vert.

From the carpark trot up the hill to the stile and hop over to descend Faulkners Track. Keep going downhill until it pops you into a bushy area. Drop a bit more altitude and you'll reach a signposted fork - take the left fork marked North Boundary. This track will provide a juicy little loop back up to near the top of Faulkners and get your uphill legs ready for later. It can be a bit sketchy and overgrown through here at times, but its still pretty straight forward to follow.

Eventually you'll loop back round to familiar territory near the top of Faulkners. Head back down again for a second time but at the fork in the bush this time head right and take a sidling descent down into the houses at the top of Governors Bay. Follow the short bits of road and connecting tracks down through Lighthouse Lane to the main road. Head right on the main road to the Governors Bay Hotel. Pick up the road behind the pub and head up to a connecting trail and gravel road section which takes you out onto which Bay Heights Road, which you cross to find the entrance to the Titoki Track on the bend.

The Titoki Track is awesome, climbing pretty steadily and occasionally steeply up through native forest. At about 320M above sea level the Titoki ceases, hang left onto the South Boundary Track for a short bush undulating sidle and then ride the Watlings Track all the way back up to the Crater Rim. Next you need to head west a few hundred metres along the Crater Rim and take the signposted Bush Road Track all the way down to O'Farrells. Carry on down further- you ain't done with the downhill yet... the short Kanuka Track will loop you down and back up further round O'Farrells. Note the orange markers in the Kanuka section, if you get lost go back to the last marker.

Straight across here pick up the wonderful Bivvy Track which will take you all the way back up yet again to the Crater Rim. Take note that Bivvy Track is less defined but marked with spraypaint on the trees but if you lose the trail just keep heading up, the bush is nice and open and wonderfully technical. At the top return to the car east along the Crater Rim and 360 Trail for a well earned break.