Bridle Path (New Zealand)

Looking down to Lyttelton Harbour from the top of Bridle Path
The Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial at the top of Bridle Path, with the Jane Deans memorial seat in the foreground

The Bridle Path is a steep track that traverses the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano connecting the city of Christchurch and the port of Lyttelton in the South Island of New Zealand.

It was constructed in 1850 as a bridle path for leading horses,[1] and was used by the early European settlers as a route from the port to new settlements on the northern side of the Port Hills. Although very steep, it was the only means of traversing the hills until Summit Road over Evans Pass was completed in 1857.[2] The track ascends from the port itself to a height of 350 m before descending again via Heathcote Valley to Christchurch. It remains popular today as a walking and mountain biking route.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bridle Path (New Zealand).
  1. ↑ "The Bridle Path". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "Walking Notes: Bridle Path". New Zealand Tramper. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  3. ↑ Bridle Path Walkway Archived 22 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Christchurch City Council

Coordinates: 43°35′36″S 172°42′29″E / 43.593344°S 172.707940°E / -43.593344; 172.707940


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