- Area
- Redcliffe Conservation Area
- Grade
- Easy
- Accom.
- Tribulation Hut
- Access
- Around 20km from Mount Hutt on Double Hill Run Road
- Map
- BW20, BX20
Rat Hill, Redcliffe Conservation Area
Redcliffe Conservation Area and scenic reserve were created in October 2009 as part of the tenure review process. The reserve encompasses the Redcliffe Stream catchment to the edge of Cookies Flat. From there the Hakatere Conservation Area covers most of the Mt Hutt Range and beyond to the Ashburton Lakes. Our tramping party set off up the track from the road end with a chill in the easterly breeze and high cloud between us and the sky. We had left a wet and rainy Christchurch with the promise of fine weather relayed to us via the Mt Hutt web cam. The track is well marked as it wanders along the Redcliffe Stream terrace then joins an old dozer track. Matagouri gave way for regenerating mixed shrublands and kowhai groves showing the first signs of flowering. There are remnants of beech and mixed hardwood species on the west side of the stream. [caption id="attachment_5355" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]