Mt Oxford is a Canterbury classic, a mountain that’s seen from just about any spot. A climb up Mt Oxford makes for a perfect day trip if you have some spare time in Christchurch. With varied scenery and lookouts over the Canterbury Plains and into Lees Valley, this is a locals’ favourite and a rewarding workout for beginners and experts alike. The views at the top are spectacular and probably the most rewarding in this region. You will see the peninsula and the full south and north coast of the Christchurch region – as far south as the Timaru coastline and as far north as Hurunui.
The native beech and podocarp trees found here are all that remains of the great forest that once covered northern Canterbury. This gnarled “goblin forest” contrasts with the smooth tussock slopes around the summit and makes for some great photo opportunities.
Book a spot on Mt Oxford with me today and let’s challenge ourselves to an excellent hike up one of the regions most prominent mountains.
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The outdoors have been a massive part of my life for many years now. With a background in multisport and adventure racing, I have spent a lot of time exploring the incredible terrain we have in our backyard. I have fallen in love with the terrain and scenery, and I look forward to sharing this with you. While I'm not out on adventures, I work as an auditor for Moore Stephens Markhams, and volunteer in an urban search and rescue team. I also worked as a kayak instructor/guide for 5 years training people for the Coast to Coast. Over the years I have picked up a wide range of experiences and skills that you wouldn't expect the accountant to have!
Mt Oxford is not far from Christchurch, making it a popular day trip for Cantabrians. We can meet at the car park or enjoy the scenic drive together – I highly recommend grabbing a coffee and pie in Oxford before we head out.
An easy walk through dense forest allows us to warm up before the track gets steeper and reaches the treeline. The sub-alpine terrain and first views of Canterbury around here are a good motivation to keep going.
While the climb is lengthy, we can stop to catch our breath and enjoy the views below us. Energy-rich snacks are your best friends here! We can have a well-deserved break and brew at the summit if it’s not too windy, and I can tell you more about the surrounding peaks and hikes.
From up here, you can see the whole of northern Canterbury, better than any map.
A full-on day that you (and your muscles) won’t forget!
Need some outdoor training tips? Check out our blog here on how to prepare
All tours require the proper gear to ensure you’re having the time of your life, and are well prepared if things go south. It’s the real and rugged New Zealand out there!
750ML Water Bottle
Day Pack
Hand Sanitiser
Hiking Pants
Rain Jacket
Recreational Footwear
Sunscreen & hat
Top Base layer
Torch & Batteries
Warm hat & gloves (March to October)
Whistle
Cutlery & cup
Hiking Socks
Insect Repellent
Lighter / Matches
Personal First Aid Kit
Your Bushman has added a couple of answers to questions other Visitors have asked in the past to help you with your booking plans. Once you book a tour, you'll be in direct contact with your Bushman for more support.
Once you're through the native beech forest, the track gets quite steep and challenging (your lungs will certainly burn). We can take our time and I recommend using hiking poles if you’re struggling with ascents. You can either bring your own or hire a pair.
It can get windy at the summit, so you should definitely have a few layers of breathable clothing to keep warm. Have a look at our minimum required gear if you are unsure.
Light colours are also a good idea, there are lots of wasps in the area from January to March.
Here’s a few answers to the more general questions about the whole journey. You can visit our help and support area for any further information or contact us via the chat function.
Bushman Tours sets a standard cancellation policy that can be found via our Terms & Conditions. This is globally set at 48 hours notice. However, Bushmen may add to this depending on the requirements for the Adventure (e.g. - hiring gear and renting equipment on your behalf). The final policy will be located at the bottom of the checkout, or you can reach out to us to check.
In most cases, the Bushman can arrange another day to run your tour, but this also comes down to when you're available if travelling through New Zealand. We recommend ensuring you have insurance for cancellation of any tours. If the Bushman has to cancel due to a health risk, we will call you to arrange another option.
Although we have a minimum requirement of gear, you will need the right equipment and gear that is relevant to the Adventure you're booking. This is usually found at the bottom of each tour page, but for our minimum, please visit our FAQs & blog page.
In some circumstances, your Bushman will have equipment for you to hire. This is available to browse and book through the checkout. We may also have options through our checkout. Although you may be able to borrow gear during the tour, it's important to reserve it now.
Depending on the length, this can vary. Your Bushman will advise on the tour page what is recommended for this particular Adventure, but typically, what we offer at checkout via the add-ons section is what you'll need. Keep it lightweight and nutritious if you buy your own.
We always try to pick the closest iSite (Visitor Centre) to your Adventure's location. Instructions on precisely where to meet are sent after the booking is made. However, you can also message your Bushman and arrange another location as long as it's close enough to the region.
If you book and find that more people want to come with you, we can arrange to add them onto the booking (this is dependant on the Bushman's preference to the number of people to take out). The more that book on the original checkout option, the cheaper the fee for each individual - so spread the word before you go to book! Please note, you cannot add or bring extra people 48 hours before the tour starts.
Absolutely! Once you book, you will be able to login and chat directly to your Bushman through a private, secure chat. Here you can arrange some extras you would like to do, timings for pick up and much more.
