Sumner to Cass Bay
Exploring the coastline between Sumner and Cass Bay is an absolute gem on Christchurch's doorstep. This trip has both open sea and sheltered inland harbour, with steep cliffs providing the view for most of this journey!
Quick Facts
Start - Sumner Lifeboat Ramp, Scarborough Road, Sumner, 8081
Finish - Bayview Place, Cass Bay, 8082
Distance - 17km
Time - 3-5 hours
Difficulty - Moderate
Tides - The tide runs up to 2 knots on springs so will have some effect, particuarly on SUPs. The flood tide flows from South to North between Sumner and the entrance of Lyttelton Harbour.
Cautions - The swell can be powerful around Godley Head, even on relatively calm looking days. Lyttleton harbour is the largest port on the South Island, keep well clear of the ships. There are very few places to get off between Taylors Mistake and Lyttelton town, this is a commiting trip.
Key Planning Information
Wind
Swell
This trip can be done in either direction and consideration should be given to the tide times. Consider that if you start the trip in Sumner at low water, the flood tide will be against you until you enter Lyttelton Harbour, when it will then assist you. Similarly starting in Sumner at high water will give you the opposite conditions. The perfect time (from a tidal assistance point of view) would be to to start around 2 hours before high water in Sumner, or 2 hours before low water in Cass Bay. The prevailing wind also needs to be considered, which generally gets stronger through the day and blows up Lyttelton Harbour.
If starting from Sumner you can get on anywhere along the beach. At low water it's handy to get in at the boat ramp by the lifeboat station. This will mean you don't have to carry your boats across the beach, but you may have to park a short walk away. If there are large waves, this can also be a good place to get on to avoid the worst of this.
After leaving Sumner you'll follow the cliffs around to Taylors Mistake. Keep a look upwards to see some of the houses perched incredibly close to the cliff edge! Taylors Mistake is a good surfing location, although be aware that the waves are often steep here. Avoid the right hand end of the surf (as you look in from the sea) unless you know what you're doing, as the waves here push onto the rocks. This is the last easy(ish - depending on the surf) place to land. There are decent toilets here.
From Taylors Mistake we paddle on around Godley Head. Explore the small bays along the way, finding small caves to paddle into. Check out the houses at Boulder Bay. These are batches dating back to the 1880s! As you head round the corner from Boulder Bay you'll be in the most exposed section of the trip. The swell can be powerful and care should be taken not to be surfed onto the rocks. Stay far enough out to avoid this. Keep your eyes peeled for the World War 2 gun emplacements and tunnel entrances.
You're now in Lyttelton harbour and should feel the effects of the swell reducing. Keep paddling along with panoramic views of Lyttleton Harbour and the Port Hills.
Soon you'll come to Lyttelton Port. This is the biggest port of the South Island and freight ships come and go through the day. As you're approaching the port look out to sea and check if any boats are coming or going. They travel much quicker then you will, consider waiting to let them past. They will not be able to stop for you, so do not get in their way! If you have a VHF radio with you, tune it to channel 16 so that you can communicate with ships and the port authority if needed.
Once you're past the port, you'll come to the pretty Corsair Bay and then onto Cass Bay. Exit at the public slipway.
Alternatives: Extend this trip by paddling around Quail Island / Otamahua. You can paddle around it and add approximately 5km to the trip, or turn this into a 2 day trip by camping on the island. Check out the Quail Island page for useful information on tides.
