Summit Road

From Akaroa you can drive back to Christchurch on the winding Summit Road, which runs round the edge of the old volcanic crater, with fine views. At Hilltop it meets Highway 75.

The beautiful Summit Road runs along the Port Hills, the rim of the crater, with various side paths branching off to viewpoints. From Christchurch the best approach to the Summit Road is from Sumner, in the east, on the Evans Pass Road to Gebbies Pass. The road, with many bends, has a total length of some 70km. The return route to Christchurch is over Dyer's Pass or via Lyttleton and the road tunnel.