Taylors Mistake - Awaroa / Godley Head Walk
Taylors Mistake - Awaroa / Godley Head Walk
Taylors Mistake - Awaroa / Godley Head Walk
4.5
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4.5
171 reviews
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9
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1
jackstrike
Delft, The Netherlands17 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Probably the best single day home you can do at a cycling distance from the city center of Christchurch. The hike offers some stunning views over the coast. The tracks are well accessible and offer some nice gradients. For an experienced hiker, this is an easy track.
A part of the track is closed off (near the military station) due to asbestos hazards, keep this in mind.
I traveled to the hike by bus via Nayland St, which is also well doable if you don't own a car.
A part of the track is closed off (near the military station) due to asbestos hazards, keep this in mind.
I traveled to the hike by bus via Nayland St, which is also well doable if you don't own a car.
Written 22 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James M
3 contributions
May 2020 • Family
I completed the track today with a mountain buggy and felt this needs clarification as I searched everything before doing it and all places said not suitable for buggy’s/prams... but I gave it a crack anyway!
It is a GREAT track for buggy’s. The only tricky bit is a few rocky steps up from Taylor’s Mistake beach. However, if you have two people it’s a short lift of approx 10m - or if you’re solo like me, some kind young girls helped me out, so plenty of people around that you could ask. Or you can also take the track from the green paddock behind the carpark, over the fence stye and that track skips the rocky bit. From there the track is great, with only two minimal sets of steps I easily navigated on my own!
Hope this clears it up for anyway trying to find the right answer on Buggy’s and Prams
It is a GREAT track for buggy’s. The only tricky bit is a few rocky steps up from Taylor’s Mistake beach. However, if you have two people it’s a short lift of approx 10m - or if you’re solo like me, some kind young girls helped me out, so plenty of people around that you could ask. Or you can also take the track from the green paddock behind the carpark, over the fence stye and that track skips the rocky bit. From there the track is great, with only two minimal sets of steps I easily navigated on my own!
Hope this clears it up for anyway trying to find the right answer on Buggy’s and Prams
Written 17 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xodar
Pace, FL131 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
A short 30 min drive from downtown Christchurch took us to Taylors Mistake and Godley Head park. If you don’t have a car, it’s ~$38 NZ by Uber to get there. A well marked path loops around the peninsula, past several WW2 gun emplacements (minus the guns) with many scenic overlooks. Overall a very nice hike, not too strenuous, about 12 km. I would suggest you bring water and some snacks. There are bathrooms at the start and and near the Godley Head Battery emplacements.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SD2606
Christchurch, New Zealand2,444 contributions
May 2022 • Family
Taylors Mistake Godley Head Walk
Amazing views!
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The walk can be made ‘there and back’ with leaving your car in one car park, or if you have a friend you could do it one way and go back to retrieve the other car.

There is no advantage in viewpoints with starting at one end or the other.

Toilets at each end.
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The track is wonderfully maintained and at times feels like a glorified footpath.
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You could take a push hair if it was like a Mountain Buggy off roading one. There are a few steps though that you would have to negotiate.
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Highly recommend a walk or a run along here, it really has the most amazing views.
Amazing views!
Â
The walk can be made ‘there and back’ with leaving your car in one car park, or if you have a friend you could do it one way and go back to retrieve the other car.

There is no advantage in viewpoints with starting at one end or the other.

Toilets at each end.
Â
The track is wonderfully maintained and at times feels like a glorified footpath.
Â
You could take a push hair if it was like a Mountain Buggy off roading one. There are a few steps though that you would have to negotiate.
Â
Highly recommend a walk or a run along here, it really has the most amazing views.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlie G
Clemson, SC14 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a great hike with beautiful views of the beach, harbor, surrounding hills and distant ocean. The path is well marked and maintained and 9 km if you walk the whole loop. It's a bit of up and down, but, hey, exercise is one of the reasons you're there, right!
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelove58
15,491 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
It took us about 3 hours to finish the walk & loop. However, it was very hot as literally we are walking under the direct sun throughout. No shelters at all.
Good thing we came well prepared - with sunglasses, caps, comfortable walking shoes & lots of suntan cream protection. The strong sea breezes helps.
As the walking paths are built along the perimeters (outer sides) of the mountains, the views are really awesome. Expect uphill climb at many areas too.
Take note the paths were very narrow at certain sections & one is just walking off few inches from the side of the cliffs.
With the strong winds or lack of concentration, you may lose your step if not careful & fall off the cliff.
Overall, it was a good mountain trekking experience though.
Good thing we came well prepared - with sunglasses, caps, comfortable walking shoes & lots of suntan cream protection. The strong sea breezes helps.
As the walking paths are built along the perimeters (outer sides) of the mountains, the views are really awesome. Expect uphill climb at many areas too.
Take note the paths were very narrow at certain sections & one is just walking off few inches from the side of the cliffs.
With the strong winds or lack of concentration, you may lose your step if not careful & fall off the cliff.
Overall, it was a good mountain trekking experience though.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna
42 contributions
Dec 2020 • Solo
It was hot, but what a lovely walk. The road to thd carpark is narrow so tske your time.
Once there, it is easy to follow the well signposted track which winds up and down around the headland to Godley Heads.
We saw seals, swimmers divers, boaties.
Its not too strenuous and the track is a good walking surface and quite wide.
Once there, it is easy to follow the well signposted track which winds up and down around the headland to Godley Heads.
We saw seals, swimmers divers, boaties.
Its not too strenuous and the track is a good walking surface and quite wide.
Written 14 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Corinne A
Lafayette, Indiana130 contributions
Feb 2013 • Solo
If you are looking for an afternoon hike near CHCH, park at Taylor's Mistake and take the coastal path out to Godley Head. On the way there, you will pass many military guns, bunkers and other buildings left over from WWII. When you get to the main base, which was closed as of Feb 2013, you can keep going. At the carpark you have a choice to return along the coastal path or head toward the Summit route. I took the Summit route and then got completely lost...the remaining path is not well marked and intersects with the mountain bike path ( which I did not know but a helpful mountain biker got me sorted). The walk took me about 3 hours.
Written 18 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rainbowclaire
Lake Hawea, New Zealand72 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
The road is narrow and a number of switchbacks, so please don't drive this unless you're experienced. Great views though and it reminded me of Dartmouth in the UK with all the houses perched precariously on the cliffs. Awesome
Written 5 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue H
Newbury, UK145 contributions
Feb 2019
I started at Taylor’s Mistake and am glad I did as the path gets steeper at the Godley Head end so it is best to do the steep bit half way through the walk than at the end. It is a wonderful walk with spectacular views the whole way. I was a solo walker so was pleased it is a very easy to follow path and would be great for couples too as it is wide enough to walk side by side. It took me one and a quarter hours to get to Godley Head and an hour to get back down and I am not a particularly fit person so it should be pretty easy going for anyone younger. I recommend you take plenty of water and a snack or two as there are no opportunities at either end although there is drinking water and toilets, you can always reaard yourself with a coffee or ice cream when you get back to Sumner. It was very lucky that it was just the right weather for my walk, warm and clear and sunny/cloudy with a nice breeze to keep me cool. If you get the opportunity do give this lovely area a visit.
Written 19 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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