Full Day Guided Walking Tour and Picnic around Godley Head
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a stunning guided walk along the Godley Head Loop Track, one of the most breathtaking hikes in Christchurch. Your guide picks you up from your accommodation and transports you to Taylors Mistake Beach, where the adventure begins.
Take in world-class views as you traverse the ancient crater of an extinct volcano and enjoy one of New Zealand's most beautiful coastlines with an experienced local guide.
This well-maintained loop track spans 8-10 km (5-6 miles) and takes approximately 3 hours to complete, allowing plenty of time to soak in the scenery. Hot drinks at a local café, morning snacks, and a gourmet picnic lunch are all included.
Along the way, you'll see recently restored historic WWII landmarks, an Antarctic cabin, a penguin colony, and charming little huts. Visit Boulder Bay, a secluded beach with views over Pegasus Bay and the majestic Southern Alps. Wildlife sightings may include seals, dolphins, and native birds.
This day tour begins and ends in Christchurch City.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Sumner Beach (Cave Rock)
After hotel pick up, your guide will entertain you with the history of Christchurch on the 20-minute drive to Sumner Beach in a 12-seater van. Here 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.
Taylors Mistake - Awaroa / Godley Head Walk
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.
What‘s Included
Local guide
Walking poles
Bottled water
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Hotel pickup (within a 5 km radius on the city)
Hotel pickups more than 5km outside of the city centre
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Full Day Crater Rim Walk
Our top-notch guided 1-day walk on Banks Peninsula, a small group tour with up to 10 people departing from Christchurch.
Duration: 6 hours
Lunch, hot drinks, water
Air conditioned van
Pickup included
Reviews
152 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Very enjoyable and informative walk
Trip37876931757,,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were delighted by the lectures, discussions and chats with our knowledgable and friendly guide Herb and our fellow walkers. Nicole from Crater Rim Walks organized everything very well: timing, pick up and transport back to our hotel. We got a tasty lunch bag and a water bottle as a present and a lasting memory for our walk.
Wonderful Day Exploring
Sunshine22211468237,,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nicole is very organized and keeps in touch before and after the trip. Herb picked us and others up and we stopped for a coffee before heading out from Taylor’s mistake. Herb was a wealth of knowledge on the history of the area and a birder. We found him to be very personable and a delight to listen and share with him. The lunch they provided was a really good frittata and coleslaw along with fruit and bars. I highly recommend this tour.
A great day out on Godley Head with fantastic people and a delicious lunch and wonderful location.
robnC1465HT,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic time exploring Godley Head on the full day tour with Crater Rim Walks. The scenery was fantastic, the lunch on Boulder Beach was both delicious and a memorable location. Everything was provided for you including a rucksack to borrow, walking poles, snacks, lunch and even a waterbottle to use and keep as a souvenir!! Nicole kept us fully informed in the lead up to the tour and Nikura was a fantastic guide for the day. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone interested in exploring the coastline around Christchurch.
Perfect day hiking Godley Head Crater!
Mike G,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The day was perfect. The walk was about 8 km. Up and down but not difficult walking. Nikuru, our guide was fabulous. She brought just the right amount of explanation and conversation. Lunch was homemade, unique and absolutely delicious. Thank you for a special day! Highly recommended!
Great Walk
MGB,,Feb 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The entire trip was very well organised, lovely walk with a superb picnic lunch. The views were magnificent.
A great day of learning, exploring and exercising
C5806XZ ,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enthusiastic and friendly guide, gave us a wonderful experience of exploring the coasts of Christchurch, full of historical lore and natural wonders (WWII, name of bays, environmental knowledge……). One of the best days of our trip! The picnic at boulders bay is very nice and had a lot of fun.
The Crater Walk everyone should put in their list of things to do while in New Zealand
lawson55elizabeth,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was our very first excursion and experience in New Zealand. The Full day Banks Peninsula Guided Crater Rim Walk. Our guide Jacqueline picked us up and made us comfortable for our journey. Jac as she asked us to call her greeted us and explained some of the cool locations in Christchurch and Lyttelson when we stopped for a cup of coffee and hot chocolate she explained what to expect on our adventure . We were somewhat prepared but she made us comfortable at the level of our hiking abilities throughout the entire day we spent with her Jac was personable and helpful while explaining historical and fun facts keeping the conversation lively and engaging . There were a few moments that I needed to make sure I stay hydrated and she was so helpful with my husband and me and our needs. The weather was perfect and the walk was breathtaking. We both loved all the details of the walk that our guide made special. She was so knowledgable about the the history and the culture. We both love history so appreciated her so much. We had a great boxed lunch prepared by the host and it was great. I loved the pace she let us walk at. At the end of the walk we also saw more of this incredible tunnel system that she shared . At the end we felt we had a new friend and experienced a great adventure in a new country thankyou Jac for sharing you’re day with us and sharing why you love it so much because it made us appreciate all the beauty that surrounded us. Great first day in New Zealand
Hockey Head vistas and history.
Escape438152,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The entire experience was unforgettable. Pick up from the front door, drive to a beachside cafe for morning coffee, fascinating history and cultural commentary along the way, before being outfitted for a hike up to one side of the head then around the circumference before heading back down to sea level. Stops for a snack and then lunch along the way. And impressive scenery at every turn. Our guide, Dee, skillfully managed the pace of the hike to accommodate the young as well as the less young while providing historical info throughout. Excellent experience all round.
Top grade walk!
jgeorge,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I had a wonderful day on this walk ... superb scenery, thankfully lovely weather, a great guide in Dee who was so friendly and knowledgeable about a wide range of topics, delicious lunch catering for a specific need, and for us, just about the right length of walk ... 5 miles. It was also good to learn about the nearby village of Sumner as we drove through. A truly great day! If you like walking and beautiful scenery ... do this!
Awesome views of the Pacific and Harbour.
davidaN3303SR,,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Heidi is a wonderful Guide - caring, sensitive and full of great information along the way. Our walk was a small test of endurance at times, but we thoroughly enjoyed it in every sense. Views are breathtaking and the height above the Pacific and harbour was second to none. The 2nd world war history attached to the point at roughly the half way mark was very interesting. Thanks again Heidi for such a great day!
From NZ$300.00
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