Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Awaroa / Godley Head (Māori: Awaroa), called Cachalot Head by early French explorers, is a prominent headland in Christchurch, New Zealand, located at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō. The headland is named for John Robert Godley.
Etymology
The headland was known to Māori as Awaroa. The wider area around Gollans Bay within Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō is also known as Otokitoki, and this Māori language word refers either to 'the place of tokitoki' (a native tree commonly known as tītoki), or a brown duck (Anas chlorotis), or New Zealand dabchick (Poliocephalus rufopectus). The French whaler Cachalot, commanded by Jean Langlois, came to grief in this location in 1838, and the headland was then known Cachalot Head.The headland was renamed by Captain Joseph Thomas, the chief surveyor of the Canterbury Association, in his 1849 survey of Canterbury.
Location
Godley Head is the easternmost end of the Port Hills. It forms the northern boundary to the entrance of Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō; the headland on the southern side of the harbour is called Te Piaka / Adderley Head. The nearest settlement is Te Onepoto / Taylors Mistake. Walking access is via Pilgrims Way along the baches of Boulder Bay. Since the late 1920s, road access has been via the Summit Road.
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Awaroa / Godley Head (Māori: Awaroa), called Cachalot Head by early French explorers, is a prominent headland in Christchurch, New Zealand, located at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō. The headland is named for John Robert Godley.
Etymology
The headland was known to Māori as Awaroa. The wider area around Gollans Bay within Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō is also known as Otokitoki, and this Māori language word refers either to 'the place of tokitoki' (a native tree commonly known as tītoki), or a brown duck (Anas chlorotis), or New Zealand dabchick (Poliocephalus rufopectus). The French whaler Cachalot, commanded by Jean Langlois, came to grief in this location in 1838, and the headland was then known Cachalot Head.The headland was renamed by Captain Joseph Thomas, the chief surveyor of the Canterbury Association, in his 1849 survey of Canterbury.
Location
Godley Head is the easternmost end of the Port Hills. It forms the northern boundary to the entrance of Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō; the headland on the southern side of the harbour is called Te Piaka / Adderley Head. The nearest settlement is Te Onepoto / Taylors Mistake. Walking access is via Pilgrims Way along the baches of Boulder Bay. Since the late 1920s, road access has been via the Summit Road.
Music; Pink Floyd Learning to Fly
