Last updated November 2026
The Crater Rim Walkway follows the rim of the old Lyttelton volcano along the Port Hills, from the Godley Head Road car park above the harbour entrance to a car park opposite Ahuriri Reserve.
Christchurch City Council splits it into six sections, and together they add up to about 25.7 km and roughly 10 hours one way on the council’s times.
Each section starts and ends at a car park or road point on or near Summit Road, so it is easy to walk a piece at a time. The council keeps the Cavendish Bluffs side track off the Evans Pass to Bridle Path section closed because of serious rockfall danger.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check with Christchurch City Council for updates on Crater Rim Walkway on the day you walk.
More from Christchurch City Council
Practical Information
- Start
- Godley Head Road car park (east end)
- Finish
- Car park opposite Ahuriri Reserve, Summit Road (west end)
- Distance from the city
- About 13 km from Christchurch
- Track length
- About 25.7 km over six council sections
- Walking time
- About 10 hours one way in total; each section takes 1 to 3 hours one way
- Dogs
- On a leash from Godley Head to the Sign of the Kiwi; under effective control from the Sign of the Kiwi to the Sign of the Bellbird; prohibited from the Sign of the Bellbird to Ahuriri
- Toilets
- Godley Head car park, Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Bellbird
- Managed by
- Christchurch City Council
- Status
- Check Christchurch City Council’s tracks and safety page before you go.
About Crater Rim Walkway
The walkway traces the eroded rim of the volcano that formed Lyttelton Harbour, so for most of its length the harbour sits on one side and the city and Canterbury Plains on the other.
The ground changes as you go west: rocky bluffs and open farmland at the Godley Head end, tussock reserves and historic gun emplacements in the middle, and more native bush around the Sign of the Bellbird and the Ahuriri end.
The six sections run east to west, joining at Summit Road stops such as Evans Pass, the Bridle Path, the Rāpaki Track, the Sign of the Kiwi and the Sign of the Bellbird, so it is easy to pick one for a morning walk or link two or three. It suits walkers comfortable with hill climbs, rough ground and short stretches beside or across Summit Road.
The Six Sections
Godley Head to Evans Pass
About 5 km and 1.5 hours one way. From the Godley Head car park the track climbs up and under steep rocky bluffs to Breezes Col, then winds round to Livingston Col on the harbour side.
On a clear day you can see across Lyttelton Harbour to Banks Peninsula and north up Pegasus Bay towards Kaikōura. The track follows a stock fence and drops onto Summit Road at the Evans Pass car park. Dogs must be on a leash here to protect grazing farm animals.
Evans Pass to Bridle Path
The longest section on the council’s times: about 5.3 km and 3 hours one way. It begins with a short walk west along Summit Road, so take care on the road, before the track climbs along the harbour side to the Second World War gun emplacements. It crosses the tussock of Greenwood Reserve, passes the television masts at the top of Cavendish Reserve and drops to Cavendish Saddle before following the rim to the Bridle Path car park.
The Gondola Top Station is a short detour from Cavendish Saddle and has food and drinks. The council keeps the Cavendish Bluffs side track closed because of rockfall danger.
Bridle Path to Rāpaki
About 3.4 km and 1.5 hours one way. The track heads west along the harbour side towards Castle Rock and Tors Reserve, then around the slopes of Witch Hill Reserve. A short stretch is shared with a mountain bike track before a gate onto Summit Road, about 50 m from the Rāpaki Track car park.
Rāpaki to Sign of the Kiwi
About 4 km and 1 hour one way, starting with a steep climb through tussock to the top of Mt Vernon, which the council describes as having some of the best views on the Port Hills.
The summit ridge shows the hills’ volcanic origins. It then crosses the pines of Scott Reserve and follows Mitchells Track through native bush down to Dyers Pass and the Sign of the Kiwi.
Sign of the Kiwi to Sign of the Bellbird
About 4 km and 1.5 hours one way. The track goes round the harbour side of Coronation Reserve, sidles above Summit Road, crosses it twice and climbs to the top edge of Hoon Hay Reserve before heading on to the Sign of the Bellbird. Dogs must be under effective control on this section.
Sign of the Bellbird to Ahuriri
About 4 km and 1.5 hours one way. The track enters regenerating native forest with tree fuchsia and tōtara, crosses the grassy tops of Orongomai Reserve and climbs onto the slopes of Ōmawete-Coopers Knob, at 573 m the highest point on the Port Hills.
The short detour to the summit involves easy scrambling over rock that the council warns can be slippery in wet weather. The walkway then descends through native bush to the car park opposite Ahuriri Reserve. Dogs are prohibited on this section.
Planning Your Walk
The council suggests checking track alerts and the forecast on Plan My Walk, run by the NZ Mountain Safety Council, before you set out. Port Hills tracks can close after bad weather, so check the council’s tracks and safety page on the day and follow any signs.
Each section is one way: retrace your steps, leave a second car at the far end, or drop off the rim on a track such as the Bridle Path to Lyttelton or Heathcote Valley, or the Rāpaki Track to St Martins. Tell someone your plans for a long day on the tops.
Where to Learn More
Christchurch City Council: Crater Rim – Godley Head to Evans Pass: the first section of the walkway, with a map and links on to the next section.
Christchurch City Council: Crater Rim – Sign of the Bellbird to Ahuriri: the final section, including the Ōmawete-Coopers Knob detour and the dog rule.
Christchurch City Council: Tracks and safety: current track closures and warnings for council tracks on the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Crater Rim Walkway?
The council’s six sections add up to about 25.7 km from the Godley Head Road car park to the car park opposite Ahuriri Reserve.
How long does it take to walk?
About 10 hours one way on the council’s section times. Single sections take 1 to 3 hours one way.
Are dogs allowed on the Crater Rim Walkway?
On some sections. Dogs must be on a leash from Godley Head to the Sign of the Kiwi and under effective control from the Sign of the Kiwi to the Sign of the Bellbird. They are prohibited from the Sign of the Bellbird to Ahuriri.
Where can I check if the track is open?
Check Christchurch City Council’s tracks and safety page before you go.
Where are the toilets?
At the Godley Head car park, the Sign of the Kiwi and the Sign of the Bellbird.
What is the highest point on the walkway?
Ōmawete-Coopers Knob, at 573 m the highest point on the Port Hills, reached by a short detour with some easy rock scrambling on the Sign of the Bellbird to Ahuriri section.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track line and facts: Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, Outdoor Access Commission, from LINZ and DOC data (CC BY 4.0). Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.