Private Guided Full-Day Godley Head Coastal Hike with Picnic
Description
Enjoy a stunning guided walk with a touch of luxury. Your experienced local guide will collect you from Christchurch in a private vehicle and take you on a scenic 20-minute drive to Sumner, the city’s charming seaside suburb. Here you’ll enjoy hot drinks at a local café overlooking the ocean, while hearing fascinating stories about Christchurch’s history. From Sumner, it’s a short 10-minute drive to Taylors Mistake Beach, where your walk begins. The 8km trail follows the Crater Rim, the edge of an ancient volcanic caldera, offering breathtaking views across the rugged Pacific coastline, Pegasus Bay, and the often snow-capped Southern Alps. Along the way, visit historic WWII coastal defense sites and an Antarctic cabin used for expedition training. A gourmet picnic lunch is served at a picturesque spot with panoramic views. Total walking time is approximately 3-4 hours, with a relaxed 30-minute lunch break, before returning to Christchurch City in the afternoon.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After being picked up by your private guide in an SUV, head to Sumner Beach for hot drinks at our local seaside suburb. Sit out on the deck admiring the ocean and Cave Rock.
A beautiful black sand surf beach, with quaint little baches is the starting point of our walking track. Your guide will provide walking poles, bags, lunch, snacks and water before you set off.
Walk around the stunning Godley Head, undoubtedly one of Chrsitchurch's most beautiful walks. This 8 km loop track will take around 3 hours walking, with lots of time to stop and enjoy the scenery. It is a well-established track, full of history and beautiful coastal views. You will see Scott's Hutt, an Antarctic Cabin, WW2 Gun Emplacements, a penguin colony, and visit Boulder Bay, a quaint beach accessible only by foot, where you will enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch. Note: The remaining time is for the round tour and time spent sightseeing or explorations. Take the day at your own pace with your own private guide, and return to the city in time for dinner.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(38)
Great hike/walk . Very well organized- fun with great views. Host was fantastic .
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed this experience:-)
Dee was a fabulous tour guide with a great combination of history, important facts and good conversation and stories. The lunch was healthy and tasty. Worth every penny !!
Thank you, Dee will be very happy to know you enjoyed her company and stories in addition to the hike. All the best with the rest of your time in NZ!
We had a lovely day with Dee. We were met at the airport with a big grin and lots of energy. My husband and I had a perfectly done hike and tour. We enjoyed our delicious sesame slaw and potato frittata for our gourmet lunch with cloth napkin and real cutlery. Dee brought fresh fruit and chocolate snacks. I am the owner of a fun NZ metal water bottle. I’m a birder and we found oyster catchers, spotted shags, eurasian goldfinch and silver gulls to make my day even better.
Thank you, thrilled to hear you had a great day with Dee, and managed to spot some of our coastal birds at the same time!
The views are amazing & it’s a great circular loop. Our guide, Emma, was very interesting & knew a lot about the area with lots of tips on places & restaurants
Thank you! So glad to hear you enjoyed Emma's recommendations, local knowledge makes all the difference when travelling!
Emma was the perfect tour guide for our family!! It was an absolute beautiful day and the view was gorgeous!
Thank you! So great to hear you enjoyed the day with Emma so much:-)
Our guide was warm and welcoming. She allowed us flexibility in the route selection. And she provided a thorough overview of the area history and natural world.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re so pleased you enjoyed your time with us. It’s great to hear you felt welcome and comfortable with the route, while also appreciating the history and natural highlights of the area. That balance is exactly what we aim for. We hope to see you again one day!
Our day spent hiking with Emma was absolutely phenomenal! Of course, it is a tremendously gorgeous location. That natural beauty was enhanced exponentially by Emma’s impressive knowledge of NZ history and culture. She was friendly, engaging and easygoing. And she went above and beyond to customize the walk to accommodate my slower pace due to past injuries. Last, but not least, the pre-hike coffee stop and the mid-hike picnic were both delicious. I wholeheartedly recommend including a day hike with Crater Rim Walks!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words and review. Thrilled to hear you had such a great time with Emma, and enjoyed the finer details of a day out on the Crater Rim track. Safe travels!
We thoroughly enjoyed our culm day hike with Flick! What an excellent guide, and she is such a people person! Her knowledge of the surrounding area and history was fantastic. She let us set the pace to our ability and made the day fun, while we got great exercise! Truly enjoyed!
Thank you, your review is really appreciated, and Flick will be so glad to know you had a great time. All the best for the next part of your journey in New Zealand:-)
What an absolutely amazing hike! The crater rim walk offered some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever experienced, and it was the perfect way to begin our visit to New Zealand. Our guide Heidi was absolutely fantastic - her knowledge, enthusiasm, and warmth made the entire experience even more special. She brought the landscape to life with her insights and made sure everyone felt comfortable and engaged throughout the trek. The views from the crater rim were breathtaking, and the whole experience set the tone for what we knew would be an incredible trip. We can only recommend Crater Rim Walks✨
We were welcomed by the owner of the company who was lovely. she picked us up on time with a very clean vehicle. She was well equipped with walking sticks a small pack and a wonderful picnic Lunch. She was very knowledgeable and fun. She went at our pace (fast) and took lots of great pictures. I would highly recommend this tour company. Excellent experience! Class act!
Thank you so much! It was a pleasure to meet you. All the best with the rest of your time in New Zealand.
