Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Godley Head Coastal Hike with Picnic
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Experience the spectacular scenery of Godley Head on a full-day guided coastal hike designed for cruise ship guests visiting Lyttelton Port. Meet your local guide at the port before travelling to the seaside suburb of Sumner in a 12 seater van, where you'll enjoy hot drinks overlooking the ocean. A short drive brings you to Taylors Mistake Beach, where your walk begins along a beautiful coastal track. Set within an ancient extinct volcano, the 8-10 km (5-6 mile) loop track takes in restored WWII gun emplacements, Scott's Cabin, and panoramic views across the Pacific Ocean, Pegasus Bay, Lyttelton Harbour, and the Southern Alps. Enjoy snacks and a gourmet picnic lunch while keeping an eye out for seals, dolphins, and native birdlife. Your guide will share stories of the area's history, wildlife, and volcanic landscape. With approximately 3.5 hours of walking, this small-group experience offers a relaxed pace and plenty of time to enjoy the scenery before returning to Lyttelton Port.
Inclusions
What's included
- Local guide
- Walking poles
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Port pickup
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's not
- Gratuities
Itinerary
After meeting your guide at Lyttelton Port, you will be transported in a 12-seater van to Sumner Beach (approximately 10 minutes drive), where you will enjoy a hot drink on the deck of a seaside cafe overlooking the ocean and Cave Rock. This is a beautiful landmark and a great start to the day.
Your next stop is Taylors Mistake beach (10 minutes drive), a beautiful black sand surf beach, with quaint little baches. Here your guide will hand out backpacks, poles, lunch, water bottles, and snacks, and prepare you for the walk.
The next three hours will be spent walking Godley Head Loop Track, undoubtedly one of Christchurch's most beautiful hikes. The track is undulating and well-maintained. Sights include Scott's Hutt (an Antarctic Cabin), WW2 Gun emplacements, a penguin colony, and coastal views in all directions. Picnic lunch will be enjoyed at a remote beach along the way with historic cabins, where we often encounter wildlife such as seals, dolphins, and many birds. Your walk returns to Taylors Mistake Beach.
Upon completion of your walk, your guide will drop you back to Lyttelton Port. Alternatively, if time allows, you can request to be dropped into Christchurch City to explore, and then make your own way back to Port.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 568
- 42
- 30
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- 10
Ratings come from 70 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Thrill of a lifetime crater hike.
This is a hike - 5 miles - around the crater rim and includes some steep hills and climbing rocky stairs. Our guide was fantastic. Emma was knowledgeable about the area and kept checking with us on hike options to either up the difficulty or adjust to simpler pathways. The scenery is breathtaking and you see ocean views from 3 different directions as you navigate the rim! People need to follow the physical recommendations and understand you should be in good shape without mobility restrictions to make this trek. Lunch and snacks were included. Everything was healthy and delicious!
5Incredible Experience
We recently visited New Zealand and booked with Crater Rim Walks for the guided walking tour and picnic at the Godley Head Loop Trail. If I could give it 100 stars, I would!! This was one of our favorite excursions of our entire trip!! The communication, hospitality and professionalism on this tour was top notch! But the hike itself was stunning! The views and the picnic were just off the charts!! Our guides were knowledgeable and accommodating and just so thoughtful. I highly recommend this experience!!
5Do this one if you can!
The scenery is beautiful! Our guides Flock and Emma were fantastic! Snacks and lunch were provided and were delicious. Be aware you will be walking about 7 miles and much of it is up hill. It was a very good representation of New Zealand.
5Stunning sweeping Mountain View
Emma and Flick were personable, patient and genuinely interested in everyone in the group. They made the 8 mile undulating hike go smoothly and efficiently. They kept an easy pace throughout and one of them always stayed with those in the group who couldn’t keep up. The day started with coffee, tea or hot chocolate at a beach cafe. There was a snack break, and bathrooms after an hour. Lunch was delicious and healthy: salad and vegetarian quiche. If you don’t want to miss out on the gloriously sweeping mountain views, this cruise ship Shore Excursion is for you!
5LOVED this experience!!
Helen and Dave were excellent guides, with attention to all details and keeping the pace suitable for all participants. The lunch exceeded expectations and the views were stunning! Highly recommend!
5Do this amazing hike with thoughtful extras!
First, I wanted to know that we took this as part of an excursion we planned on our own from our cruise stop in Lyttleton Port. Second and most importantly , Helen and Dave were fabulous guides. They took us to an amazing local café on the beach for morning coffee and tea, gave us lots of details about the local history, including background on the Māori. Helen & Dave provided all the essential & quite a few especially thoughtful extras: walking sticks, reusable NZ water bottles that we could take with us, sunscreen and a hat for those who forgot them. Helen even lent her own hat to someone whose cap kept blowing off due to the very high winds during our trek.. There were so many extras: an amazing lunch in a reusable bento box, healthy snacks for a break on the journey, and an amazing lunch spot. We truly loved the sustainable nature of this tour, our amazing guides, and the fantastic scenery from the beach to the history to the crater. We can’t say enough about our fabulous and this amazing local company, Crater Rim Walks. Definitely plan hike with them if you are. In Lyttleton! You will not be disappointed.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Get the free shuttle bus from the ship to Norwich Quay (5 minutes drive), where your guide will be waiting opposite Canterbury Street with a sign.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 10 travellers
- Operated by
- Crater Rim Walks
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Christchurch
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 112 day trips we list in Christchurch.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 14 of 112.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Christchurch
Christchurch is the South Island's largest city, a flat, green city on the Avon River with the Southern Alps and Banks Peninsula close by.
Christchurch was planned by English settlers in 1850 around a central square and the Avon River, which winds through the city past willows and lawns. Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens cover a large green area beside the centre, and punts glide along the river. The Gothic Revival Arts Centre, built for the university, houses studios and cafés, and Canterbury Museum stands beside the gardens.
Top-ranked sights in Christchurch: Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo, TranzAlpine Train.
Special offers in Christchurch
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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