Distance: About 20 kms
Time: 7 hours
Time: 7 hours
Start: Orton Bradley Park, Marine Drive, Chateris Bay
Finish: Same place (it's a loop)
Date: Friday 17th January 2020
Car park to Tablelands/Faulkner Track junction: 1 hour
Faulkner Track junction to Mt Bradley summit (855 m): 2 hours
Mt Bradley summit to Mt Herbert summit (913 m): 1.5 hours
Mt Herbert to Orton Bradley Park car park: 2.5 hours
We drove to Orton Bradley Park, paid our $10 entry fee and parked at the end of the gravel road. The plan was to climb Mt Bradley and so we headed up the hill on the Tablelands track. It's a nice walk up through the pines and it only takes about an hour to get to the junction where you turn off from the Tablelands Track onto the Faulkner Track (there is no sign saying this at the junction turnstile but its on a map I have) direction Sign of the Packhorse hut. We climbed up through farmland and then started sidling along around the hill (altitude approx 487 m). Once through a nice stand of natives (and about an hour from the junction) we could look up towards the ridge to Mt Bradley and at about that point we left the track and headed up to the fence line. It was a steep slog up the hill following the fence line to the corner. Then we weaved our way under the two bluffs, through the gorse patches and finally up and onto the top ridge. The terrain flattened out there (tableland?) and we made our way along a track of sorts to the summit of Mt Bradley. The summit is not very distinct - just a pile of stones hidden amongst the gorse but the 360 degree views are stunning!!
We followed the track back and then continued on it more or less (it sometimes disappeared in the gorse) down the south side and eventually onto Te Ara Pātaka Walkway. At about this point we were very enthusiastic and decided to climb Mt Herbert as well. We were standing on the top of Mt Herbert almost two hours later so its further than you think but its superbly scenic and we stopped for lots of photos. The summit was slightly shrouded in mist but that cleared long enough for us to see Port Levy bay in the distance.
It was about 2.5 hours back to the car down the Mt Herbert Walkway (Orton Bradley Park). We stopped at the Mt Herbert shelter to refill out water bottles (ignoring the boil water notice - as I write this one day later all is ok I think). The valley track is easy going and a nice walk although we were starting to feel the pain!! It was after 4 pm by the time we got back to the car park - The cafe was still open but the hubbies and wine at home were more tempting and so we skipped the coffee. It was an awesome day!
Car park to Tablelands/Faulkner Track junction: 1 hour
Faulkner Track junction to Mt Bradley summit (855 m): 2 hours
Mt Bradley summit to Mt Herbert summit (913 m): 1.5 hours
Mt Herbert to Orton Bradley Park car park: 2.5 hours
We drove to Orton Bradley Park, paid our $10 entry fee and parked at the end of the gravel road. The plan was to climb Mt Bradley and so we headed up the hill on the Tablelands track. It's a nice walk up through the pines and it only takes about an hour to get to the junction where you turn off from the Tablelands Track onto the Faulkner Track (there is no sign saying this at the junction turnstile but its on a map I have) direction Sign of the Packhorse hut. We climbed up through farmland and then started sidling along around the hill (altitude approx 487 m). Once through a nice stand of natives (and about an hour from the junction) we could look up towards the ridge to Mt Bradley and at about that point we left the track and headed up to the fence line. It was a steep slog up the hill following the fence line to the corner. Then we weaved our way under the two bluffs, through the gorse patches and finally up and onto the top ridge. The terrain flattened out there (tableland?) and we made our way along a track of sorts to the summit of Mt Bradley. The summit is not very distinct - just a pile of stones hidden amongst the gorse but the 360 degree views are stunning!!
 |  |
We followed the track back and then continued on it more or less (it sometimes disappeared in the gorse) down the south side and eventually onto Te Ara Pātaka Walkway. At about this point we were very enthusiastic and decided to climb Mt Herbert as well. We were standing on the top of Mt Herbert almost two hours later so its further than you think but its superbly scenic and we stopped for lots of photos. The summit was slightly shrouded in mist but that cleared long enough for us to see Port Levy bay in the distance.
 |
| My phone battery died as we descended the value track but you get the idea |