Arguably the most popular family-friendly loop walk in Christchurch, Godley Head is packed on summer weekends. Arrive early to secure one of the parking spots before the crowd of swimmers and picnickers flocks to Taylors Mistake beach.

Starting from Taylors Mistake car park on the southern side of the bay, the track passes by a couple of holiday homes and meanders along the coastline with panoramic views of Whitewash Head and across Pegasus Bay. You can also spot old cave dwellings that were built into the hillside once, and on a clear day, the Kaikoura Ranges are visible in the north.

The track passes above a row of wooden baches lining the small pebble beach in Boulder Bay and starts to climb towards the historic Godley Head coastal defence battery and the cliffs’ edge at the peninsula’s easternmost point. Heading back along the southern side of the peninsula, you pass by Godley Head car park before the trail climbs to a point high above Mechanics and Breeze bays with sweeping views of Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbour.

From Breeze Bay, follow the track as it gradually descends across the peninsula back to the trail junction at Harris Bay. Turn left and retrace your steps towards Taylors Mistake beach and car park.