Awaroa/Godley Head is a stunning coastal hike that awaits you with breathtaking cliff views over the coast and back to Christchurch. This rugged coastline hike includes a little slice of history with some WWII battery remains and buildings to check out. We found the most interesting historic part of the hike to be Scott’s Cabin, which has ties to Robert Falcon Scott’s Antartica expedition.
We especially loved seeing this hut after having done the Christchurch International Antarctic Centre. If you have the time, why not check it out either before or after the hike? We loved this hike and were really lucky to do it on the perfect day after being cooped up in our van for a couple of weeks waiting on parts to fix our engine. The hike is stunning and as the old gentleman we walked past said, “it makes for a cracker day”. It’s only a half hour drive from the city, so make sure you don’t miss out on this one.
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Details
Starting Point: Taylor’s Mistake Car Park
Distance: 9km
Duration: 3hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
When: We did this in February
Local Iwi: Ngāi Tahu
Additional Information: This is a popular walk with locals and the track is often busy. Pack some spare change so you can grab an ice cream from one of the food trucks parked near the beach at the end of the hike.
Trail Map
Getting to the Starting Point of Awaroa/Godley Head
The drive out to Taylor’s Mistake Car Park is not a fun one if you are in a large van like us. Tiff was anxious the entire way. It’s a good thing Nathan was driving! It was doable in the motorhome but we definitely wouldn’t recommend it.
We were the max size vehicle permitted on the road and honestly, if we had known how steep, narrow and windy the road would be, we probably wouldn’t have driven on it. So keep that in mind if you have a big vehicle or don’t enjoy windy roads.
The Trail
There are multiple trail options to walk along Godley Head. We made sure to stick to the trail running along the cliff edge the entire way to make the most of the views out over the ocean. Unfortunately for us, the very tip of the head was fenced off due to asbestos repairs to some of the WWII buildings.
If this is the case for you too, don’t worry. You don’t miss much by not seeing this part and there is a trail that connects you to the Godley Head Car Park from the fenced off area. Start the trail by following the signs for the Godley Head Loop Track. This starts from the car park and will lead you along the beach next to some holiday bach’s (New Zealand’s name for holiday ‘shacks’) before climbing up to the cliff tops.
Harris Bay
Follow the gravel track through the predator proof fence and along the cliff edges to reach some incredible views over various bays and little inlets. The first bay you will come across is Harris Bay. You can’t get down to the water here, but it’s worth stopping to take in the different views and see if you can spot the cute love heart graffiti. Continue following the coastal track through to boulder bay and then you will start a bit of a climb through the grassy slopes to get up to the Taylor battery.
Taylor Battery
This is a great place to stop and catch your breath after the climb to get here. If you have managed to jag a fine day for the hike, you may see all the way out to the Kaikōura ranges from here! We stopped for a snack here and had a look at the battery before following the short detour up to Scott’s Cabin.
Scott’s Cabin
Make sure you take the slight detour to Scott’s cabin to read about its trip to Antartica and back. The hut itself was never used in Antartica but it did have quite the journey around New Zealand before coming to rest here in Godley Head. It’s a cute story and there is a plaque telling you all about it, so we won’t ruin it by telling you now. You can’t go inside the hut, but you can climb up the stairs to an observation platform on the roof of the hut.
If the WWII battlements are still closed due to asbestos, then follow the track up the hill from Scott’s Hut to join up to the Godley Head Car Park and continue the walk from there. If the asbestos repairs have been completed, retrace your steps to the Taylor battery and continue following the coast and the signs for Godley Head battery.
Lyttelton Harbour
If you are stopping for lunch on this trail, the best spot to do it is the picnic tables at the Godley Head Car Park. The views out over Lyttelton harbour are stunning and make for the best lunchtime backdrop. There are toilets here too, so make use of them as you won’t see any more until you are back at Taylor’s Mistake.
Once you’ve taken in the views, there is a bit of a climb to go before following the cliff edge around to the Littleton harbour side of Godley Head. If it’s a nice day, you might get to see gliders coming down the cliff faces here. You’ll cross a road and cut across the middle of Godley Head to find you join back up to the track you started on to get back to the car park.
Extra Tips/Info for Awaroa/Godley Head
Make the most of this hike ending at a beach! Grab your bathers and go for a dip in the water before heading back out along the winding roads to Christchurch.
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- 10 Free and Cheap Things to do in New Plymouth
- 5 Things We Love About New Zealand
- Half Day Hike – Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain
