Harry Ell Track is a nature reserve and walking track in Cashmere on Christchurch's Port Hills, reached from Victoria Park Road. It holds a 4.8 rating from 55 reviews, with walkers praising an easy, well-marked route, good shade, city views and, on clear winter days, the snow-capped Southern Alps.
The Port Hills reserves reward a little planning. Weather on the tops can turn quickly even when the city below is calm, so a windproof layer and grippy shoes are wise, and tracks stay muddy for days after rain. Regulars set out early for the light and the quiet, and pick a route by where they want to finish — the old stone rest houses of the Summit Road scheme, like the Sign of the Kiwi, make natural turning points or a well-earned coffee stop.
For an easy first taste of the hills so close to Cashmere, this track is where many Christchurch walkers begin.