Port Hills

The Port Hills are a range of hills which runs approximately between the port of Lyttelton and the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury region on the South Island of New Zealand from east to west. The Port Hills are the northern edge of one of the two former volcanic cone from which Banks Peninsula ( Horomaka ) was formed. The summit of the bastide protrude between 350 and 500 meters above sea level.

Several suburbs of Christchurch extend over the northern slopes of the hill, other parts are used for agriculture and forestry. The transition between the city of Christchurch and Lyttelton in many places barely visible in recent years.

The Summit Road ( " Summit Road" ) runs on top of the hills and is particularly fond of tourists used route. A road tunnel and a separate rail tunnel under the hills by connecting Lyttelton and Christchurch. Three roads cross the Port Hills via Evans, Dyers and Gebbiespass.

The hills are an important recreation area for the citizens of the city of Christchurch, as there are many public parks and reserves are in the mountain range, which also includes mountain biking and hiking. The Christchurch Gondola rides on the top of Mount Cavendish ( 448 m).

At the time of early European settlement, the Port Hills formed a difficult to overcome barrier between the harbor and the level of Christchurch, as the hill of the road could not be done without difficulty through the steep and roughness. Only with the installation of the tunnel through the mountains was the port area within easy reach.