“On a Mish” #426 The Battle That Never Happened. Awaroa Godley Heads, Banks Peninsula. 14.11.2024. Bank Peninsula is full of adventure. From the rolling mounds of the Port Hills to the high tops of Te Ahu Patiki Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley there are many sights to see and tracks to follow. At the northeast tip standing high above both Whakaraupo Lyttleton Harbour and Taylors Mistake is Godley Head, and this is a place with historic structures built for a battle that never happened…
During World War Two the threat of danger was everywhere. The Japanese were heading south and the idea that they might come pay Aotearoa New Zealand a visit was very real. To prepare for what was a battle that never happened the New Zealand Military built defence posts in place that had views of the Pacific Ocean in order to protect the South Island’s largest city. Just like the Māori, the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula were used has elevated lookouts and the remains of these can be visited these days.
With my trip to Nepal closing in I needed to keep my training up if I was going to have any chance of making it around the Ganesh Himal Charity Trek route. After recovering from a tough mish in the snow up Helicopter Hill I continued my training with a trip to Awaroa Godley Heads with my niece Beffie and nephew Benji (plus Georgie Dog & Little Flora). Not only were we going to get some hiking in, but we were also going to see the relics of when New Zealand thought the Japanese Forces might come to town.
The weather on mish day wasn’t exactly what we hoped for. Rain tapped the windscreen as we drove northeast from the flats of Ladbrooks to the lumps and bumps of the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula. Luck was on our side as thankfully the rain stopped about 20 minutes before, we arrived at the Awaroa Godley Head Loop Track car park. The rain might have stopped but the wind kept blowing like it was its last opportunity to do so. We had driven all this way for a mish, so we weren’t going to let the breeze stop us from stretching our legs!
After sorting the dogs and wrapping ourselves up in warm clothing we set off on our adventure. The track started on the Lyttleton Harbour side of the head, and as we wandered in the wind, we saw the tiny dots of boats cruising into the harbour. At one stage a big container ship rolled up the harbour, and due to the elevation of around 200m above sea level it looked like a small toy. Along with the harbour, the track gave us views of many of the peaks that make up Banks Peninsula.
After quickly shuffling against the wind along a ‘No Stopping’ section of the track (due to the danger of rockfall) we looked down at the structures built back during the days of WW2. Along with the barracks for the soldiers to stay in, there are numerous lookout posts which at one stage were occupied by gunners ready to blast the enemy if they dared to come within range. Luckily for us Kiwis the battle never happened, but if it did, we were ready.
After completing the loop track, we headed down to the Godley Head Camping Ground which must see some of the best sunrises in the country. Just below the campsite are numerous buildings dug into the sides of the head. Some were for storing ammo, and some were for firing off rounds. Lucky for us the battle never happened, and now long after the fighting in the Pacific stopped the area makes for a very interesting and historic walk.
After soaking in the sights, we returned to the car with legs that had done some work / training. This was my last mish before heading overseas, and thanks to the help of Te Whanau I was ready for a battle with the many ups and down of the Himalayan Foothills. If you are in Christchurch and are looking for a mini adventure with more than just epic views, I recommend a trip out to Awaroa Godley Heads to check the location of the battle that never happened
