Godley Head loopIntermediate
Submitted by Daniel Redmond
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
BeachCoastalOpen farmlandsOpen ridges/tops
Intermediate
3:00 (Slow)
2:15 (Moderate)
1:40 (Fast)
-10.6%
+11.5%
The Godley Head Reserve is currently closed as DOC have found asbestos in the ground. You will need to find a diversion around this part of the route. If you have an update on this situation please email us
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
Head up the main road up the hill to the first hairpin corner, where Flowers Track starts and climbs steeply to Nicholson park on the top of the hill. Cross the road and head east down a track to get behind the houses. Head right, and follow the track along the cliffs down to Taylors Mistake beach. On the south end of the beach, pick up the Boulder Bay walkway for a cruisey run (with a few small hills) around the coast to Godley Head. From the Godley Head carpark, pick up the poled Crater Rim track that roughly follows the main ridgeline heading west, all the way to Evans Pass (where the road comes up from Sumner). For a slightly longer but less hilly option for this section, you can follow the road. From Evans Pass head back down into Sumner on the Captain Thomas track which runs along the true left side of the valley. This track ends in a park on the edge of Sumner. Follow your nose back towards the beach through the streets.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Historic gun emplacements. Coastal cliffs. Post run swim at the beach
Make Up of Run
Untracked / Route only: 0%
Technical Single Track: 5%
Moderate Single Track: 35%
Easy Single Track: 50%
Farm Road / 4WD Track: 0%
Gravel Road: 0%
Sealed Road: 10%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each

Sumner Half Heads
Length: 21.60km

Whigs' Flying Fifty (WFF)
Length: 50.30km

The ATH (Around The Harbour)
Length: 61.40km

The Crater Rim
Length: 27.90km

Christchurch 360 Trail - Godley Cliffs Section
Length: 16.10km
Photos:
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Access
Clocktower at the Scarborough (east) end of the Sumner esplanade
Plenty of parking along the esplanade. Purple line bus goes to Sumner from the central city.
13 km
22 minutes
Yes
No
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Staying Safe
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
At the Godley head gun emplacements, you can either run up the road to the carpark, or drop down the trail on the harbour side to get to the same carpark.
Generally good.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.
A tap can possibly be found at the surf clubs in Taylors Mistake and Sumner, otherwise not much drinkable water on the route
Very exposed to wind for a large portion of the route
Watch out for mountain bikers on the Captain Thomas track
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Sponsor this trail
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