Ellas Track

Ellas Track is a pleasant sidle along the Christchurch Port Hills with harbour views. Connect with the Cass Ridge Track to make a short and easy loop.

Park north of Mount Ada, near the top of the Kennedys Bush and Bivvy Tracks. The Crater Rim Walkway heads uphill toward Mount Ada. Follow this for a couple minutes to the signposted turn-off to Ellas Track. 

The track sidles smoothly beneath the bluffs of Mount Ada, soon coming to a lookout point on a spur. It continues through regenerating scrub past the end of the Totara Log Track before meeting up with the Crater Rim Walkway beyond Mount Ada. Staying on the harbour side, the track soon reaches the Sign of the Bellbird car park. The track continues on the far side of a grassy clearing. The track soon opens onto grassland and meets the Cass Ridge Track by a stand of old lacebark trees.

Walking times:

• Car park north of Mount Ada to Totara Log Track: 10 minutes
• Totara Log Track to Sign of the Bellbird: 10 minutes
• Sign of the Bellbird to Cass Ridge Track: 15 minutes

Here is an easy 20 minute circuit. Park at the Sign of the Bellbird. Follow the Crater Rim Walkway south for a minute to the Cass Ridge Track turn off. Follow Cass Ridge Track down to Ellas Track. Follow Ellas Track back to Sign of the Bellbird.