Godley Head Recreation Area - Awaroa

A significant headland that marks the southern boundary of Christchurch city on one side, and forms the entrance to Lyttleton Harbour on the other. In settler days, the most important feature of the headland was the Lighthouse and lighthouse keepers home, built here in 1865, from local stone with an imported lantern. The Department of Conservation was successful in a dramatic rescue of both buildings after the quakes had left them teetering towards a potential tumble towards a rocky end.

The reserve has mountain bike tracks walkways and features of historic and geological interest, though it is almost bare of native bush and farmland style of park. While many visitors arrive on foot via the the walkway from Taylors Mistake, it can also be accessed via the Summit Road which runs to it's dead end at the Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite, a recycled WWII defence camp and a great place to stay for some exposure to weather, also famous for spectacular sunrises.

A heritage trust oversees the historical Gun Emplacements (WW2) which are presently out of bounds due to earthquake damage. The Department of Conservation is planning to repair some but not all of these. The headland itself was also damaged in the quakes, leaving significant problems with cracks running back from the cliff face. Historical buildings within a compound are open on open days but it remains possible to walk through the area. Some of the other buildings outside the main compound, such as a miniature range, can be visited but the tunnel walk is closed. The Trust is planning a museum in the area.

Image Credit: THE LIGHTHOUSE ON GODLEY HEAD, AT THE ENTRANCE TO LYTTELTON HARBOUR 1908 Sir George Grey Special Collections Auckland Libraries and Stuart Brown

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