Ever since the destructive earthquake on February 22, 2011 Cantabrian climbers have been forced to look further afield than the crags found in the Port Hills.

While some of the trails have been gradually reopened to walkers and mountain bikers, stabilisation issues have kept the crags out of bounds, forcing climbers to look elsewhere.

The cliffs on Banks Peninsula, which otherwise would have been overlooked by the city’s climbers, have seen an explosion of visitors who have found some hidden gems such as the grade 12 Diploma, climbed here by Jamie Vinton-Boot.

– Troy Mattingley