Mount Thomas lies nestled in the scenic foothills of the Southern Alps. Much like its neighbors, Mt Somers and Mt Oxford, it is a highly popular Canterbury day walk that also offers brilliant opportunities for easy, front-country overnight tramping trips. Best of all? It’s just a short, easy drive from Christchurch, making it the perfect weekend escape.
Whether you are looking for a rewarding half-day summit hike or an epic, single-day challenge like the “Big Loop” connecting Pinchgut Hut and Bob’s Camp Bivvy, Mount Thomas has a route for you.
Mount Thomas Fast Facts
- Location: Foothills of the Southern Alps, Canterbury (close to Oxford)
- Topo50 Map: B23 Cust
- Main Highlights: Panoramic views of the Canterbury Plains, Lees Valley, Puketeraki and the Port Hills.
- Track Conditions: Varies from well-formed pine, beech and kanuka forest tracks to more technical and less well-marked routes above the bushline through tussock
- Important Track Update: The Wooded Gully Track has been closed for a number of years. Trampers must use the Ridgeline Track for their descent.
Mount Thomas FAQ
The standard loop of the Summit Track and the Ridgeline Track takes approximately 4 – 5 hours return. The Summit Track takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, climbing 700m over 3.1 km, followed by a gentler descent of 7km on the Ridgeline Track.
No, the entire Wooded Gully Track has been closed due to slips since 2023. Trampers wanting to complete a loop from the summit must bypass the Wooded Gully route entirely and instead descend via the Ridgeline Track.
Yes! Dogs are permitted on the Mount Thomas walking tracks and at the Wooded Gully campsite but must be kept on a leash at all times.
Yes, all the walks start from the Wooded Gully camping and picnic area. This is a standard DoC camping site which can be booked online for $10/night. There are 50 sites, a water tap & toilet.
Yes, water can be obtained from the upper tributaries of the Cattle Peak Stream east of the biv. The Bivvy is free to stay at. There are 2 bunks and plenty of camping room around it under the beech trees
It is best to go in a clockwise direction, heading along to Bob’s Biv first as this makes the navigation on the Cattle Peak route easier and instead climbs the steep descents on the Whare Route. It is 1.5-2hr from the Ridge Track junction to Bob’s Camp Biv.
Option 1: The Mount Thomas Summit & Ridge Track Loop (Achievable Day Trip)
If you are looking for a rewarding day hike, the classic loop up the Summit Track and down the Ridge Track is a fantastic choice.
The Ascent: Summit Track
- 3.1 km (one way) | 1.5-2hr | 700m climbing
- Terrain: Steep pine forest, gravel forestry roads
The Summit Track is the most direct route to the top. While it is a steep grind, it is entirely manageable if you take regular breaks. The trail climbs steadily through a pine forest, crossing a forestry road once, and features some helpful switchbacks to give your legs and lungs some relief.
Near the top, the track pops out of the pine forest onto a wide path before joining a logging road for the final stretch. At the summit (1,023m), you’ll find a trig and meteorological monitoring tools, alongside sweeping views stretching from the Canterbury Plains and Lees Valley to the Puketeraki tops and the Port Hills.
The Descent: Ridgeline Track
- 7km | 3hr (one way)
- Terrain: open tussock tops, beech forest & gravel forestry roads
From the summit, follow the Ridge Track, which offers some fun, fast terrain. You will cross a beautiful bush saddle covered with tussock and scrub before entering a stunning beech forest.
The descent through the beech forest is pleasant and not difficult, though it does feature a few steeper sections lower down.
The track eventually ends at a forestry road. Follow this road down the hill for about 800 meters to return to the campground and car park. Keep an eye out for the orange marker poles—just turn left and head downhill to get back to the campground and carpark.
Option 2: The “Big Loop” via Pinchgut Hut & Bob’s Biv (Advanced Challenge)
For highly fit hikers and trail runners, the ultimate challenging day trip at Mount Thomas is the large outer loop connecting both Pinchgut Hut (standard, 7 bunk hut, non-bookable) and the cute Bob’s Camp Biv (2 bunk, free) in addition to the summit loop. For those wanting a more relaxed pace, it would also make a great weekend tramp.
From the Ridge Track junction it is 1.5-2hr on the Bob’s Camp Route to Bob’s Camp Biv or 2 hr to Pinchgut Hut.
What to Expect on the Big Loop:
- Navigation skills required: The section running between Bob’s Biv and Pinchgut Hut known as the Cattle Peak Route is classified as a route rather than a walking track. Because of this, the orange trail markers/poles are not as frequent, and it is less maintained. You will need solid navigation skills and a keen eye as some of the markers are particularly difficult to spot. In poor visibility, this could be more challenging. It is easier to follow the markers if travelling down the Cattle Peak Route towards Pinchgut Hut
- Overgrown & muddy routes: The route down to Bob’s Camp Bivvy is marked but can often be overgrown and very muddy (10 minute side trip)
- Steep Descents: The Whare Track, which is the track that turns off Bob’s Camp Route to go direct towards Pinchgut Hut, has some steep descents
- Massive Elevation Gain: This loop is a serious leg-burner. By the time you grind your way back to the car park, you will have clocked over 2,000 meters of total vertical climbing for the day.
This larger loop is an incredibly fun challenge that showcases the beauty of the Canterbury front-country and certainly gave my legs a good workout especially since I somehow ran straight past the Bob’s Camp Biv junction sign in the tussock clearing and had to backtrack to it!
