This is definitely the easiest access hut in the Christchurch area. It's absolutely perfect for first time adventurers, or even seasoned adventurers alike. Read on to find out more about what it's like staying in the hut and what facilities it has. 

 

Location of Lighthouse Generator Cottage Hut

The hut is located on Godley Head, 30 minutes drive from the center of Christchurch.

Keep driving to the end of Summit Road, and eventually you'll hit a locked gate. In your booking you'll have the code to this gate, so you can drive on through. Then you'll get to a 2nd gate which is just latched shut, drive through this too, and you'll be at the Lighthouse Cottage. 

But why drive to the door of the hut? You can make this more of an adventure by walking to the hut.

Starting at Taylor's Mistake and taking the Godley Head Loop Track will take you to the door of the hut too. 

Or for even more of an adventure, ditch the car altogether and bus to Sumner! From here you can walk up the Captain Thomas Track to Evans Pass, and then take the Godley Head Mountain Bike Track to the end of Godley Head instead. But this would be a big day for little legs!

 

Lighthouse Generator Cottage Facilities

The hut is very well equipped - basically the only thing missing is an oven!

You've got:

• Microwave
• Stovetop
• Toaster & Jug
• Cutlery & Crockery
• Pots & Frypans
• Coffee Plunger
• Cups, Mugs, & Wine glasses
• Cooking utensils like whisks & tongs
• Mixing bowls
• Chopping boards & Knives
• Power points
• Dish cloths
• Heaters
• Fridge with ice box
• Cleaning products

To note though - the bowls supplied are not soup bowls. They're very shallow so if planning on eating any stews or soups, bringing your own is a better option. 

The supplied pots are also rather small for a family - the largest is only 2L, so if you need a bigger pot, you may need to bring your own. 

But otherwise the only things you basically need to bring are: 

• Sleeping bags & pillows
• Personal clothing
• Food

Who is this hut perfect for?!

• Parents of a new baby - Test out how bubs handles sleeping in a hut in a low-risk environment.
• First time trampers - A great way to have a gear check before heading further away. 
• People just wanting to escape and either have a break, or just get some work done for a few days in an affordable way. 
• Families visiting Christchurch looking for reasonable accommodation near the city. 
• Experienced trampers hoping for a quick nature fix in the middle of a busy week.

 

The biggest downside to visiting the Lighthouse Cottage? 

The toilets are a short distance away - I'd say further than for most DOC huts in the bush. Which is not a problem for adults or with just a baby, but can be hard to manage with multiple younger kids. Especially as it gets VERY windy here, so windy that small children can feel like they'll blow away. 

I definitely recommend taking a potty with you for toddlers to make bathroom time easier. 

 

What is there to see and do? 

If you're coming here from Christchurch, check out the old gun emplacements if you haven't already. Kids will love exploring all there is to see around them. There's also plenty of signage around about the history of the place. 

You can also venture further along the walking tracks in the area, and see other WW2 shelters along these, as well as amazing views both to the Lyttelton and the city side. 

How much is it?

Pricing varies based on the time of the year, but in 2026 it costs as little as $57 a night with a Community Services Card. There is a cleaning fee on top of this of $40 for your stay.

Check out the DOC Website for the latest pricing. 

 

What my kids loved most

We did this as a spur of the moment trip, deciding 10am the morning of to head on over and stay the night. 

The kids loved stopping at the supermarket on the way, and choosing some special snacks to take with. We knew there was a toaster at the hut, and we don't have a toaster at home, so it was quite a treat to have nutella toast for breakfast. 

They loved settling into the hut, picking out beds, and exploring everything. There were cards and dominoes in the hut, and the enjoyed playing with both. 

We then went for a walk to see the old gun emplacements - a walk they have done a few times before, but they always enjoy. They loved running around these and my almost 10 year old girl pretended they were a stage and she did a show for all of us. 

Once the sun started setting, we headed back to the hut where we heated up some vegetable soup from home to get good nourishment into the kids. 

After this we made a special dessert of Chocolate Self Saucing Dumplings - a recipe that I've created that's in my South Island version of My Overnight Adventure Journal. It's a firm favourite. 

Everyone was quite excited at bedtime, but eventually wound down, and then woke up pumped for our special breakfast! 

The kids played with the cards and dominoes some more, but outside it was so windy we couldn't really explore anymore.  

Even cleaning up the hut was fun according to the kids - they really enjoyed sweeping it out! 

 

Important things to remember

The hut is locked with a keypad. You will have the code in your booking confirmation. Every time you leave the hut, make sure you have your phone with you so that you can't get locked out. That includes trips to the bathroom.

There is full cellphone reception at the hut. 

Dogs are not allowed inside any DOC huts, and they need to be on a leash at all times within Godley Head. There is also no shelter for dogs to sleep outside here, so this is probably not the best option for bringing your pup. 

And even though you're so close to town, it is still recommended to boil the water before use. There is no hot water running in the hut, only cold. 

 

Want more child-friendly huts to visit? 

Check out our books which detail 24 North & 24 South Island kid-friendly options! 

Or for the ultimate in child-friendly hikes, check out the Rexby Guide which is continually being updated to have all the best info on all the best hikes including child-friendly ratings to easily compare between trips.