Godley Head Track, Christchurch

Perched at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour, the Godley Head Track offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged cliffs shaped by time and tide. This windswept coastal walkway is not only a photographer’s haven but also a place steeped in history. Named after John Robert Godley, one of the founders of Canterbury, the headland became a key defence site during World War II. Concrete bunkers, gun emplacements, and remnants of the old barracks still stand today, reminders of the Home Guard who once kept watch over the harbour. Now, the site blends peaceful walking trails with echoes of its wartime past — a place where nature and history meet under the vast Canterbury sky.