Mount Thomas Forest Conservation Area — Attraction in Canterbury

Most of the hiking trails start from the Wooded Gully camping and picnic area. The forest can be reached by approaching from Rangiora and Loburn, or Oxford and Ashley Gorge  and is about a 1 hour drive from Christchurch. The last 4km is on a flat unsealed gravel road to the forest.

Travel along Hayland Road, where a DOC sign points to the Mt Thomas conservation area.

The most direct route to the summit is via the Summit Track. The summit track goes up a steep ridge to the summit of Mt Thomas, and takes approximately 2.5 hours, while slightly longer the Wooded Gully Track traverses the mountain and takes 3 hours. Hence my reason to walk clockwise and travel via Wooded Gully Track and then walk down Summit Track. All up 5.5 to 6 hours.

In an interview, Jean Renoir spoke of his father the famous impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. His father showed him a painting and asked his reaction and what "he liked about it." Jean told him that he liked the painting. His father asked why? Jean answered that he could not tell him exactly because he didn’t know the history of the painting.

Pierre-Auguste became furious and told him that it’s not about context and meaning but how art is expressed and if it evokes emotion.

That is the reason why you climb to the summit, for the sublime beauty and grandeur of nature. Fom the summit, you are rewarded with magnificent views of Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula and the...

Glentui Falls is roughly a 1 hour' drive away from Christchurch centre. The road surface is un-sealed for the last 3km.

From Christchurch head north on the SH1. In Kaiapoi slide left onto SH71, then in Rangiora turn left onto SH72 towards Oxford. In Oxford turn right onto Ashley Gorge Rd and follow it for the next 13.2km. Then turn left onto Glentui Bush Rd and follow it for the next 4km. The road is partially gravel (has covered and un-covered sections), and the last 1-2km is a narrow winding road. There is a large parking area (Glentui Picnic Area) at the end of the road. There are toilets, picnic tables and information boards there.

From the parking follow a nice and easy Glentui Waterfall Track (well signposted). First part of the walk is a formal road (slightly uphill walk), while the second part of the walk is a side-track leading down to the waterfall's lookout platform. The waterfall is seen from a distance only, and a closer approach is not recommended. There is a bench at the platform - sit and enjoy the view!

Return via the same route, total walking time is about 20 minutes; or continue walking the track as a loop, total walking...

Great place, very peaceful and amazing scenery! Always remember bug spray or cover up well. Good place to bring youngster and dog. Only downside was the road up and parking. There are deep pits in the road and gouges so unless you have a 4wd or high under carriage on your car be prepared to have issues. Some of the potholes...