Mount Charles (Otago Peninsula)

We’re staying at Allans Beach Farmstay on the Otago Peninsula, which is conveniently located at the base of Mount Charles. The tallest point on the Otago Peninsula at 408m above sea level, the “mountain” features in many vantage points around the peninsula – from Pukehiki, Mt Charles can be seen rising behing Hoopers Inlet.

From Sandymount (another great walk!), it can be seen directly behind Allans Beach.

The entire mountain is private land (used for grazing sheep and cattle), so I check it’s OK with Christine, our host at Allans Beach Farmstay. She enthusiastically confirms it’s no problem, so I set off from Allans Beach Road the next evening. On the way up Mount Charles I try and find an old trail that’s marked on my topographical map – but there’s no sign of a foot-track, and you really don’t need one. It’s easier to just walk as directly as possible up to the peak. As I gain altitude, there’s a nice view of Allans Beach Farmstay and Allans Beach, with Sandymount behind the beach.

As I follow the fence-line up, I’m attacked by two cows. Which is probably a slight exaggeration… I think they were more curious about why someone was traipsing through their meadow, and keen to introduce themselves. I’m not really a cow person, so I quicken my pace up the mountain!

As I gain altitude, there’s a nice view of Hoopers Inlet with Harbour Cone behind it, Papanui Inlet (also just visible is Gearys Hill Quarry).

I make a slight detour to a rocky knoll (elevation approx 330m asl), which has some great views over the coast. To the south is a small unnamed beach, and 250m offshore the small island of Wharekakahu.

To the west is Allans Beach, Sandymount and the end of Hoopers Inlet, behind the lower flanks of Mount Charles.

I resume the climb, following the fence line directly up from the small knoll, hoping to reach the Mount Charles summit before the clouds rolling in from the north obliterate the view!

The “summit” itself is a bit underwhelming… some rocks with a few fence posts sticking up. It looks like there used to be a trig point – but I reckon the winds must get pretty cyclonic up in here in bad weather.

The views, on the other hand, are stunning… I shelter for a while as the clouds start to clear.

Wandering a bit further north to get a view, a stunted and windblown tree is evidence of the ferocity of the southerly winds which blow over the top of Mount Charles.

While some of the higher cloud persists, there are views to the north over Victory Beach, with the Te Whakarekaiwi headland jutting out at the end, and Quion Cliff behind.

Looking west, you can see most of Allans Beach, Hoopers Inlet and Papanui Inlet behind the fertile green slopes of Mount Charles.

You can see most of the eastern coast of the Otago Peninsula, from Victory Beach to the headlands of Ohinepuha and Oteghata at the end of Cape Saunders, and Allans Beach.

I wait a bit longer on the peak, as the sun sets behind Hoopers Inlet, and the moon rises above it.

I’ve got a head-torch with me, but I set off back down the hill before it gets dark, the sheep and cows looking at me warily as I cross their territory. I take a quicker and more direct way down, following the fence line straight down to the gate at the bottom.

Although this walk is a bit trickier as you need to get permissions, it’s worth it for the views – try and go early in the morning or at sunset, on a clear day.

0.0km Start at gate opposite Allans Beach Farmstay (5m asl)
1.6km Rocky knoll south of peak (330m asl)
2.2km Mt Charles summit (408m asl)
4.0km Allans Beach Road

Accommodation near Tunnel Beach

We stayed at Allans Beach Farmstay on the Otago Peninsula, in one of two rustic cottages. They are basic but comfortable, and just a stone’s throw from Allans Beach in a secluded location. Perfect if you want to escape and get back to nature – but not so convenient if you prefer to eat out, as it’s a 30min drive into Dunedin. The Mount Charles walk starts across the road from the cottages. There’s a wide range of accommodation in Dunedin and on the Otago Peninsula, which is known for its wildlife.

Booking.com

More information on Mount Charles

Permission must  be sought from the landowner:
Mr J Clearwater, Cape Saunders Road, RD 1,  Portobello.
Telephone 478 0274.

• Peter Janssen, Excellent Short Walks in the South Island, p.155
• NZ TopoMap – Mount Charles

Best hikes of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula There are 46 hikes on the very useful DOC Dunedin walks brochure alone – the top Dunedin and Otago Peninsula hikes which I’d recommend if you can’t do them all are: Sandymount (4-7km) – Oustanding coastal views & rock formations Mount Cargill and The Organ Pipes (4.4km) – Interesting walk with great views Mount Charles (4km) – Steep off-track climb to highest point on Otago peninsula Allans Beach (1km) – Great for seals & sea lions, and for sunset photography Silver Peak (26km) – challenging 1-2 day walk; great views from the ridges Tunnel Beach (2.2km) – coastal arch and hidden beach. Gets very busy.