Mt Sunday on a Saturday

 

South Island Safari, Day 1.  Hoping to explore the Ashburton Lakes Area, and walk up Mount Sunday.  A wet and cold start in Christchurch. The weather began to clear by the time we got to Mt Somers.  

I haven't been to this part of New Zealand before, and soon we had left the tarseal, and exploring the Canterbury highlands via the gravel roads.  It took about 3 hours to drive from Christchurch.  Leave Mount Somers on Ashburton Gorge Road, which becomes Hakatere Potts Road.

Our first sign of snow! Cloudy Peak 2400m and we discovered later, is at the end of the valley.

This valley has Two Thumb range on the left, the start of the Rangitata River, Cloudy Peak Range in the middle, Mt Jollie middle right, Mt Sunday (tiny "hill" bottom right), and Mt Potts on the right. Stunning day. Stunning Landscape.

Mt Sunday is the little hill in the vast valley.  Also you pass by the broad vista used for the 'Battle of the Pelennor Fields in the LOTR movie 'The Return of the King.'

A steep downhill into a the valley, the last part of the road is really rocky.  The Toyota Corolla handled it well.  Just go slow and steady.

 There was a few bridges to cross.  The day was just stunning. Mountains, hills, streams, snow in the distance.  No wind. An excellent experience for the urchins.

The track starts on Hakatere Potts Road, about 48 km west of Mount Somers. 

Carved by glaciers, this hill got its name because boundary riders from the high-country stations would meet here on Sundays.

Mt Sunday walk is a 1.5 km climb up a rocky hill. At the top is 360 degree views of the valley.

The trail is easy to follow, but beware of the Matagouri, a very thorny native plant, don't tangle with it.

There was a rock, so of course the urchins had to climb it.

This rocky outcrop is Mount Sunday.  The track is straight up.

This valley has been carved by a glacier. Looking East toward the Ben McLeod Range the way we had driven in. 

Gina at the top of Mount Sunday.  Amidst the vast Hakatere Conservation park in Mid Canterbury, the sheer-sided hill provided the perfect setting for Edoras - Rohan's capital city, in Lord of the Rings. 

All of us at the top. I would hate to be here on a windy day. There is no shelter.  

Looking towards the West Coast of New Zealand. Cloudy Peak Range.

Mt Potts

Mt Jollie

The Matagouri bushes line the trail.

After a quick snack in the carpark, we were on our way to Oamaru.

One last peak at the mountains before turning into the hills.

Autumn has started, and there are plenty of yellow trees highlighting the brown hills.

We took the opportunity to stop and see some of the early New Zealand artwork painted on rocks.

 at Cave, 3 Mile Bush Road and at 275 Frenchmans Gully Road, Maungati.

Richard Pearse Memorial at Temuka. The first flying machine airborne in March 1903. A high wing monoplane with a frame of bamboo and canvas covered wings. The tricycle undercarriage was of light steel tubing. Had wing flaps, rear elevator, steerable nose wheel, and a propeller. The internal combustion engine was designed and constructed by Pearse from cast iron irrigation pipe. The engine was described as a 25 hp water-cased engine in four part, and able to turn the propeller blades as 800 rpm.

Happened upon a Wallaby on one of the roads between Temuka and Oamaru. Arrived early evening in Oamaru

Post Note about Mt Sunday

Mount Sunday is a stunning site, with expansive views of the Rangitata River and the surrounding mountains. This has to be one of the most remote Lord of the Rings locations one can publicly access.

Amidst the vast Hakatere Conservation park in Mid Canterbury lies Mount Sunday, a sheer-sided hill that provided the perfect setting for Edoras - Rohan's capital city.

Building the Edoras village set was a massive undertaking, not only due to the remoteness of the location but also because of the high north west winds that are funnelled through the valley. It needed the New Zealand army to build several hundred metres of access road before the production crew was able to access the hilltop and start with the set construction. All the structures had to be secured to the rock with iron pegs in order to withstand the elements.

The focal point of the set was Meduseld - The Great Golden Hall of the Kings which stood atop the hill, overlooking around a dozen other buildings, including the stables, the gatehouse and a wooden tower.

Filming only took about three weeks, with all the interior scenes shot in the studio in Wellington. After the wrap, the entire set was dismantled, and everything was returned to its natural state.

Also you pass by the broad vista used for the 'Battle of the Pelennor Fields" in the movie The Return of the King.