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Ashburton
3.5 km
1 hour 30 minutes
100 metres
If you’ve ever dreamed of standing in the heart of Middle-earth, or if you simply crave a landscape so vast it makes your heart skip a beat, the Mount Sunday Track is calling your name. Tucked away in the rugged reaches of the Hakatere Conservation Park in Mid-Canterbury, this trail is one of those rare gems that offers a massive "wow" factor for relatively little effort.
Whether you are a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan or just a lover of the great New Zealand outdoors, this 3.5km walk delivers a high-country experience that feels like a true adventure. Despite its cinematic fame, the area remains remarkably peaceful, offering a sense of solitude that is harder and harder to find these days.
The journey begins at a well-marked car park on Hakatere Potts Road. Right from the get-go, you are greeted by the scale of the Canterbury high country. The Southern Alps tower in the distance, their jagged peaks often dusted with snow, while the valley floor spreads out like a golden carpet of tussock.
The track starts as a gentle, flat stroll across expansive river flats. This section is incredibly easy-going, making it a favourite for families with young children. The path is well-formed and easy to follow as it winds through the pātītī (tussock grass). One of the early highlights is crossing a small, picturesque suspension bridge over a clear stream. It’s a great spot for a quick photo or to let the kids peer into the water before continuing toward the "mountain" ahead.
As you traverse this ancient, glacially carved landscape, you’ll start to see Mount Sunday rising from the valley floor. While it’s called a "mount," it’s actually more of a large hill—a solitary mound of rock left behind by retreating glaciers thousands of years ago. The first two-thirds of the walk are essentially flat, but don't let that fool you into thinking there's no challenge at all.
The final approach to the summit involves a short, steep climb. It’s only about 100 metres of elevation gain, but it’ll definitely get your blood pumping! The track here is a bit narrower and requires a steady foot, but it is over quickly. Once you reach the top, any breathlessness is immediately forgotten. You are standing on a natural viewing platform in the middle of a colossal glacial valley, with the Rangitata River snaking its way across the plains in silver ribbons below you.
A spacious car park with long-drop toilets is available at the trailhead, located directly off Hakatere Potts Road. The gravel road leading to the car park is generally well-maintained and suitable for 2WD vehicles.
Get DirectionsKeep an eye out for these native and local bird species along the trail
Nestor notabilis
Intelligent alpine parrot endemic to the South Island. Known for curiosity and problem-solving abilities.
Best time: Year-round
Larus bulleri
The world's rarest gull species, endemic to New Zealand's braided rivers, often nesting on stony islands.
Best time: Spring-Summer
Refuel after your hike at these nearby spots
4.6km away
A remote and welcoming lodge offering a café, restaurant, and bar. The café serves hearty home-style meals, fresh baking, burgers, and chips, perfect for refuelling after a hike. It's known for its stunning mountain views and high-country hospitality. The café is open to the public Thursday-Sunday, 10 am-4 pm.
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Out and back
The trail is an out-and-back route, so once you’ve finished soaking in the views, you simply retrace your steps. The return leg offers a different perspective on the Cloudy Peak Range, and because the landscape is so open, you’ll feel like you’re walking through a giant landscape painting the entire way back.
The obvious drawcard here is that Mount Sunday was the filming location for Edoras, the capital of Rohan in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. While the golden hall of Meduseld and the wooden buildings are long gone, the "bones" of the city—the sheer cliffs and the commanding position over the valley—are unmistakable. You don't need to be a film buff to appreciate the majesty of this spot, but if you are, standing where the Golden Hall once stood is a bucket-list experience.
Beyond the movie magic, the 360-degree panoramic views are the real star. From the summit, you can look deep into the heart of the Southern Alps. To the west, the peaks of Mesopotamia Station (made famous by author Samuel Butler) dominate the horizon. To the north and south, the vastness of the Rangitata valley makes you feel incredibly small in the best possible way.
The geological history of the area is also a highlight. The way Mount Sunday sits isolated in the middle of the valley is a perfect example of a "roche moutonnée"—a rock formation created by the passing of a glacier. Seeing the scale of the valley around you gives you a real sense of the incredible power of the ice that shaped this land.
To get to the Mount Sunday Track, you’ll head toward the Ashburton Lakes area. From Ashburton, follow the signs toward Mount Somers and then continue onto Hakatere Potts Road.
Be prepared for a bit of a drive on gravel. While the road is generally well-maintained and perfectly suitable for 2WD vehicles, it is a long, unsealed stretch that can be dusty in summer or slippery in winter. Take your time and enjoy the scenery as you pass through the Hakatere Conservation Park.
There is a spacious car park at the trailhead. You'll find long-drop toilets here, which are the last facilities you’ll see until you head back out, so it’s a good idea to make use of them before you start your walk.
The Hakatere area is a haven for native birdlife, particularly those that thrive in braided riverbed environments. As you walk across the flats, keep an ear out for the New Zealand Pipit (pīhoihoi); they are common here and often flit along the track ahead of you.
Up in the sky, you are almost certain to see the Australasian Harrier (kāhu) soaring on the thermals, looking for prey in the tussock. If you are lucky, you might spot the rare and impressive New Zealand Falcon (kārearea), known for its speed and aggressive hunting style.
Down by the riverbeds, keep an eye out for the Wrybill (ngutu pare) during spring and summer. This unique bird is the only one in the world with a beak that curves sideways! You might also see Black-billed Gulls nesting or feeding nearby.
On very rare occasions, a wandering Kea might fly over from the higher alpine ridges to investigate the tourists. Remember: never feed the birds, and keep a respectful distance so they can continue their high-country lives undisturbed.
The Mount Sunday Track is accessible all year round, and each season brings a completely different vibe to the landscape:
Best time of day: Aim for early morning or late afternoon. The "golden hour" light in the Canterbury high country is world-class, making the tussock glow and the shadows on the mountains pop.
The Hakatere area is rich in history. For Māori, this region was part of the ara tawhito (ancient trails) used by Ngāi Tahu to travel between the east coast and the pounamu (greenstone) resources of the West Coast. The area was also a significant mahinga kai (food gathering site), where birds and freshwater species were harvested.
In the colonial era, this became classic "High Country Station" territory. The name "Mesopotamia" nearby was coined by Samuel Butler, who established a sheep station here in 1860 and later wrote the famous satirical novel Erewhon, inspired by this very landscape. When you look out from the top of Mount Sunday, you are looking at a landscape that has changed very little in over a century, preserved thanks to the efforts of the Department of Conservation and local landholders.
After 1.5 hours in the wind and sun, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite. The best place to refuel is the Mt Potts Lodge, located just 4.6km back down the road from the car park.
It’s a wonderfully remote and welcoming spot that offers a café, restaurant, and bar. They are famous for their hearty home-style meals—think big burgers, bowls of hot chips, and fresh baking. Sitting on their deck with a cold drink while looking back at the mountains you just climbed is the perfect way to end the day.
Note: The café is typically open Thursday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm, so check their hours before you head out if you’re planning a mid-week trip!
Best time: Year-round
Alauda arvensis
An introduced species, the skylark is renowned for its beautiful, sustained song delivered while hovering high in the air.
Best time: Year-round
Circus approximans
This is New Zealand's largest native bird of prey, commonly seen soaring over open tussock lands.
Best time: Year-round
Falco novaeseelandiae
Also known as Kārearea. Fast and agile raptor found in both forest and open country.
Best time: Year-round
Anarhynchus frontalis
The wrybill is the only bird in the world with a bill that is bent sideways, always to the right, which it uses to probe for insect larvae under riverbed stones.
Best time: Spring-Summer