We spent the night at Bealey hut, a dingy little 6 bunk hut just 5 minutes walk from an obscure sheep-pasture carpark. Built in 1960, its chimney had crumbled so there was no wood stove, and it was built before bigger windows were popular, but it was a handy little spot to know about. It could be quite useful if we leave Christchurch after work and just need a place to perch for the night before starting a longer hike the next morning, and you don’t get your feet wet walking to it.

The battle scene in the 2005 filming of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe were filmed here at Castle Rock. Limestone outrcrops weather in fascinating shapes with lots of nooks and crannies to explore, all surrounded by soft green grass. We stopped here for an easy walk on our way home, and I think it was probably Milo’s favorite day of our whole trip.

Just Chillin’. Smooth little divots in the rock are warm and inviting in the sun, though I’m sure on an overcast day they’d make a convincing Stone Table scene.

Where’s Daddy? Milo found him, and climbed through this peep hole to join in.

Mama, I want to be up there with you! Clamoring and scrambling over these rocks, it’s a two-year-old’s dream. Actually, we thought of the Johnson boys (roughly middle school) and how much fun they would have here, and Jeremiah declared it the perfect venue for laser tag.