Coastal Hike With Picnic Lunch

Coastal Hike With Picnic Lunch runs through Crater Rim Walks. Rated 5.0 across 167 reviews. Runs 6 hours. From NZ$340.

Overview

This full-day walk with Crater Rim Walks follows the coast at Godley Head, on the crater rim above Banks Peninsula, and it runs about six hours door to door. The day starts with hotel pickup inside a 5 km radius of central Christchurch, or you can meet at the Distinction Christchurch Hotel on Cathedral Square at 09:00. From there an air-conditioned minivan carries the group out to the coast, with a stop at Sumner Beach and its Cave Rock before the walking begins in earnest.

The route proper covers the Taylors Mistake to Awaroa and Godley Head track, then time at Godley Head itself, where the longest stretch of the day is spent. Reviewers regularly describe the shoreline views as the highlight and say the guides fill the walk with history and facts about the area.

A local guide leads the group, capped at 10 travellers, and reviewers repeatedly describe a comfortable pace, with guides adjusting to the group's level of endurance. Lunch, snacks, bottled water, tea or coffee, walking poles and day packs are all provided, so there is little to organise beyond turning up with suitable shoes and layers. It suits reasonably active visitors who want a coastal walk with logistics handled, though the listing notes it is not wheelchair accessible.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup or Cathedral SquarePickup is included from hotels within a 5 km radius of the city centre, otherwise meet at the Distinction Christchurch Hotel, 14 Cathedral Square, for a 09:00 start.
2. Drive to Sumner BeachTransport by air-conditioned minivan to the coast, with a stop at Sumner Beach and Cave Rock lasting 30 minutes.
3. Taylors Mistake walkThe Taylors Mistake to Awaroa and Godley Head walk begins here, with admission free, for about 30 minutes of walking.
4. Godley HeadThe main stretch of the day, around 3 hours at Godley Head, with admission included. A picnic lunch, snacks and water are carried in the packs provided.
5. Return to ChristchurchThe minivan returns to the meeting point, where the tour ends.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this walk.

• Fitness and pace. Walking poles are provided, and one traveller said they helped when the ground was slippery after overnight rain. A reasonable base level of fitness still helps on a walk of this length.
• What is provided. Lunch, snacks, bottled water, tea or coffee, walking poles and day packs are all included, so there is little to carry yourself. One reviewer also mentions a complimentary souvenir water bottle. Past guests repeatedly praise the quality of the packed lunch.
• Clothing and weather. The tour needs good weather and will be rescheduled or refunded if cancelled for poor conditions. One traveller noted poles helped after overnight rain made the ground slippery, so pack a layer and a light rain jacket regardless.
• Group feel. The group is capped at 10 travellers, and reviewers describe a relaxed, chatty atmosphere rather than a march. Many reviews mention guides who share history and local knowledge along the way. Some travellers ended up with a near-private walk when numbers were low, though that cannot be counted on.
• Photos and downtime. There are beach stops and a coffee stop reported by past guests before the walking starts. Bring a phone or camera for the coastal views.

Common issues. The walk is not wheelchair accessible, and pickup is only included within 5 km of the city centre, so anyone staying further out must make their own way to the meeting point. The tour requires a minimum number of travellers and can be cancelled if that minimum is not met, with a different date or a full refund offered. Weather can also end the day, and the terrain can be slippery after rain, as one guest reported. Gratuities are not included.

Choosing Well