Godley Head Loop Track

From the Taylors Mistake car park make your way behind the beach to the start of the Pilgrims Way Coastal Track. The track offers views of places where old cave dwellings used to be built into the hillside, as well as views down to the rocks and sea below.

Passing Boulder Bay, the track climbs up to the headland and the historic Godley Head coastal defence battery. It passes two of the first gun platforms to reach the Godley Battery Compound (currently closed due to earthquake damage). From here the Godley Head Gun Emplacements Track carries on around the nose of the headland, past the historic military buildings including the Battery Observation posts located at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour. Good views of the city and coastline south can be had from the headland. There are toilets at the car park at Godley Head.

From there the Breeze Col Loop Track climbs high above above Breeze Bay, offering sweeping views of Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula, until it drops back down to Breeze Col.

Follow the Black Rock track down for 20 minutes to the Pilgrims Way Coastal Track. Turn left there to walk back to Taylors Mistake Beach and car park.

Mountain biking is possible from the Taylors Mistake car park up the Anaconda Track to Breeze Col. You can also mountain bike on the track below the Summit Road from Breeze Col to the Godley Head car park and toilets.

This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.

From the centre of town it's a 30 minute drive to the coastal suburb of Sumner. From Sumner, it's another 10 minutes to drive over to Taylors Mistake.

Public transport is available as far as Sumner. There is no access from Lyttelton.

Alternatively, start from the car park at the Godley Head end of the Summit Road from Evans Pass, 50 minutes drive from the centre of Christchurch.

The sealed road is narrow, has sharp corners and steep drops off the sides,

• There are steep, unfenced cliffs - keep children under close supervision at all times.
• There are toilets at Godley Head car park and at Taylors Mistake.
• The sealed road is narrow, has sharp corners and steep drops off the sides. Drive with care.
• The Summit Road to Godley Head is popular with cyclists. Keep left, reduce speed and keep a lookout for oncoming cyclists.

All drone use must be authorised by DOC

A concession is required to fly a drone on any public conservation land - see Recreational drone use and Commercial drone use for more information.