HIKING TO THE HIGHEST POINT IN BLENHEIM
08 JULY 2022
Sienna on the Mt Vernon Track
Wither Hills Farm Park
The Wither Hills are an iconic backdrop in Malborough which is one of the sunniest places in New Zealand. There are multiple walking tracks on the hills, some easy and some make you regret even getting out of bed that day and will have you crying for your mammy...just kidding (or am I?). Our favourite of all has to be the Mt Vernon Track - it's an absolute thigh, calf, ankle and pretty much any muscle in your body, killer but the views are spectacular and totally worth it (although your body may disagree the next day)!
The hills are a beautiful sight and were formed by tectonic uplift and erosion a looong time ago and are made of hard greywacke rock, which is resistant to erosion and have stood up to the forces of weathering and erosion over millions of years. This has resulted in the formation of the distinct ridge like hills that we see today (unless you have reeeeally bad eye sight).
The hills are a beautiful sight and were formed by tectonic uplift and erosion a looong time ago and are made of hard greywacke rock, which is resistant to erosion and have stood up to the forces of weathering and erosion over millions of years. This has resulted in the formation of the distinct ridge like hills that we see today (unless you have reeeeally bad eye sight).
Mt Vernon Track
Mt Vernon Track
Sutherland Stream Track
Not Your Every Day Track
Our first hike up the Wither Hills was the Mt Vernon Track, which is one of the most challenging tracks in the park and boy did we feel it! We did it on a day that was sunny but had high cloud and a cool wind so it was the perfect temperature to do the hike as it can get insanely hot in summer and there's a fire risk between 9am and 5pm.
Bella wasn't feeling up to the hike, so it was just Sienna, Lath and I heading on up. It was a steep track that felt like we would be walking up hills for eternity. Ok, I might be overexaggerating, but it's definitely not a flat track so if you're looking for something a little more gentle, then the Sutherland Stream Track (more about that later on in the blog) or Gentle Annie is perfect.
The views the whole way up are fantastic with views across the rolling hills an the Marlborough district. We had to avoid a lot of cow pats and sheep droppings along the way but that's all part of the fun! There were loads of sheep saying hellooooooo humans but they kept their distance.
There are two entrances to the Mt Vernon Track. The first is the Redwood Street carpark (where we started) and the second is the Quail Stream carpark. You can either walk up the top of Mt Vernon and return back the same way or continue on to end up on the Sutherland Stream Track to make it a loop track - both of these start/end up at the Redwood Street carpark.
Bella wasn't feeling up to the hike, so it was just Sienna, Lath and I heading on up. It was a steep track that felt like we would be walking up hills for eternity. Ok, I might be overexaggerating, but it's definitely not a flat track so if you're looking for something a little more gentle, then the Sutherland Stream Track (more about that later on in the blog) or Gentle Annie is perfect.
The views the whole way up are fantastic with views across the rolling hills an the Marlborough district. We had to avoid a lot of cow pats and sheep droppings along the way but that's all part of the fun! There were loads of sheep saying hellooooooo humans but they kept their distance.
There are two entrances to the Mt Vernon Track. The first is the Redwood Street carpark (where we started) and the second is the Quail Stream carpark. You can either walk up the top of Mt Vernon and return back the same way or continue on to end up on the Sutherland Stream Track to make it a loop track - both of these start/end up at the Redwood Street carpark.
View across the Blenheim township and out to the Blue Mountains
On Top Of The World
Sienna's little legs did so well to get to the top, with some help from daddy! It took us around 1.5 hours to get to the top but it would be quicker without kids and it should take an hour to get up, depending on your fitness level.
The views at the lookout are some of the best in Marlborough and you can see across to the Blue Mountains, the Wairau Valley, Blenheim and even across to Wellington in the North Island on a really clear day.
The wind was a little stronger at the top so we can imagine it could get a little chilly up there in the cooler months! We enjoyed relaxing at the lookout for a while, taking in the views, drinking some water from the water fountain (well, Sienna did) and having a wander around.
The way down was just as tough on our legs as it was heading up as we had to stable ourselves on the loose gravel on the path so we didn't end up sliding down on our butts. The best thing about the way down is that you get to see the views the whole time, which means that on a clear and sunny day you'll be enjoying the views and taking your time, but on a cloudy day that's looking to turn a bit sour you'll be walking a lot faster/running to get back to your car before the rain arrives.
The views at the lookout are some of the best in Marlborough and you can see across to the Blue Mountains, the Wairau Valley, Blenheim and even across to Wellington in the North Island on a really clear day.
The wind was a little stronger at the top so we can imagine it could get a little chilly up there in the cooler months! We enjoyed relaxing at the lookout for a while, taking in the views, drinking some water from the water fountain (well, Sienna did) and having a wander around.
The way down was just as tough on our legs as it was heading up as we had to stable ourselves on the loose gravel on the path so we didn't end up sliding down on our butts. The best thing about the way down is that you get to see the views the whole time, which means that on a clear and sunny day you'll be enjoying the views and taking your time, but on a cloudy day that's looking to turn a bit sour you'll be walking a lot faster/running to get back to your car before the rain arrives.
Know Before You Go
- Some of the tracks on the Wither Hills are for both walking and mountain biking, so remember to share the track
- In summer, it's not recommended to walk on the hills between 9am and 5om due to a high fire risk
- Leave the gates as you found them as there are animals on the farm that need to be in specific areas
- The Mt Vernon Track takes around 2 hours to complete but allow longer with kids (and if you're unfit!) and for taking the time to soak in the views at the top
- All of the tracks lead onto each other so you can just keep going and going
- We HIGHLY recommend either taking a map with you, or taking a photo of the map at the beginning of the trails so you can see which track leads onto which and ultimately, which one leads back to your car!
- The park opens 1 hour before sunset and closes 1 hour after sunrise
- The wind can be really cold at the top, so pack warm clothes just in case
- We also love the Sutherland Stream Track (which leads up to Mt Vernon if you want to head up) and the Lower Quail Stream Track
Mappy McMap Face
Getting There
The entrance to the Mt Vernon Track is at the end of Redwood Street where you'll find plenty of parking.
Conclusion
The Wither Hills Farm Park is the perfect place to get some fresh air and stretch your legs. The walking tracks offer a variety of terrains, from easygoing paths to more challenging hikes, so there's something for everyone and the kids always enjoy seeing the sheep and stepping over cow pats! The views from the top of the hills are truly breathtaking and make for a great photo opportunity, especially at sunset or sunrise.
Gallery of the Mt Vernon Track
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
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