Don't Miss

Refresh and relax in the city of Christchurch

Christchurch is an elegant, rather English-feeling city with a refined sense of fun. You'll find plenty to do.

• Take a hot air balloon ride high above the city
• Find out what it's like in the middle of an Antarctic storm at the International Antarctic Centre
• Jump out of an aircraft on your first sky dive - we dare you!
• Christchurch's Port Hills are ideal for paragliding
• Visit the home of the first family of Christchurch - Riccarton House at Deans Bush
• Saunter through Hagley Park, then admire Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• Mona Vale Homestead has five hectares of gardens and fabulous views of the Avon River
• Take a tram ride around the city centre. Trundle through the tree lined streets, past colourful streetside cafes and heritage buildings
• Go punting on the Avon River. Sit back and relax in a punt as a boatman guides you past the sights of the central city
• Explore Canterbury Museum, including the Hall of Antarctic Discovery
• Inspect the collection at Christchurch Art Gallery
• Find the Arts Centre of Christchurch, one of New Zealand's most significant cultural attractions and a dynamic venue for arts, shopping and entertainment
• Travel up the Christchurch Gondola for massive views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbour
• Air Force World brings you face to face with 28 classic aircraft, thousands of artefacts, artworks and stories of famous aviators
• Southern Encounter Aquarium is an interactive aquarium in the city centre
• Willowbank Wildlife Reserve has a kiwi breeding programme and native New Zealand bird life
• At Orana Wildlife Park you can experience the diverse splendour of the animal kingdom in tranquil, spacious surroundings

History and adventure in South Canterbury

A self-drive tour of South Canterbury delivers the perfect balance of natural, historical and indulgent experiences.

• The area has the largest collection of Maori Rock Art in New Zealand. Head for Raincliff near the confluence of the Opihi and Opuha Rivers
• In Timaru you'll find an impressive collection of preserved urban Victorian and Edwardian architecture
• Go rafting on the Rangitata River and launch yourself down the thrilling grade five rapids
• Explore the rugged high country on a 4WD safari
• Visit the only commercial blacksmith in New Zealand
• The Pleasant Point Railway is home to the world's only Ford Model T Railcar. The railway society has regular steaming days
• Drive to Opihi to sample the excellent local wines. Enjoy lunch at the vineyard cafe
• Visit local artisans in their studios
• Cruise around Timaru's Caroline Bay and encounter the local wild life
• See the filming location of Edoras, the fortress city of the Rohan people in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy
• Visit the Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum
• Go walking or biking on the Waimate Walkway, then visit 'The Cuddy' - a thatched house built in 1854

A world of rock and rivers

Between the peaks of the Southern Alps and the city sophistication of Christchurch, there's a lot of room for wild times in Canterbury.

• Ride the Waimakariri river in a jet boat
• See the beautiful countryside up close and personal, from the back of a horse
• Discover some of the best river fishing in New Zealand - hire a guide or ask the locals where to go
• Enjoy one of the six most spectacular train journeys in the world - the stunningly scenic TranzAlpine Express journey to Arthur's Pass
• See unique and rare wildlife and learn about geology, history and conservation on a high country eco tour
• Play a scenic game of golf against a backdrop of the Southern Alps and the mighty Rakaia River
• Hike the trails around Arthur's Pass - discover waterfalls and alpine plants
• Make the most of the longest ski season in Australasia at Mount Hutt
• Get away from it all in a hot air balloon. Drift over the Canterbury Plains with the Southern Alps on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other

A day or two around Banks Peninsula

Around 10 million years ago, the Banks Peninsula area was a very active volcanic island. The two main volcanic vents are now Akaroa and Lyttelton harbours.

• Get a taste of the French colonial past in Akaroa - picturesque, charming and a haven for artists and crafts people
• See New Zealand's rarest dolphin - the Hector's dolphin - on a wildlife cruise of Akaroa Harbour
• Visit Lyttelton's Timeball Station - built in 1876 as a timekeeper for 19th Century shipping
• Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Visit Linton, the 'Giant's House' and judge for yourself. It's provocative, different and fun!
• Enjoy Akaroa's highly developed culinary culture. Fresh local ingredients include salmon, crayfish, beef, Canterbury lamb, venison and fish

The Waipara Wine Valley and Hanmer Springs

Head north from Christchurch to the start of the Alpine Pacific Triangle Touring Route. Here you will find delicious food and wine, hot pools and all kinds of outdoorsy activities.

• Discover the fabulous array of award winning wineries in the Waipara Valley. Stop for a tasting and a meal in one of the fastest growing wine regions in New Zealand. Locally produced hazelnuts, olive oil and lavender products will also tempt you
• Ride the Weka Pass historic railway from Waipara to Waikari
• Do a wine tour the slow way - in a wagon behind a team of Clydesdale horses
• Ride through the high country on horse back
• Discover heritage icons such as Maori rock art, historic hotels and cob cottages
• Soak in the hot thermal pools at Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve or have fun on the hydroslide
• Hike or bike through the fantastic forest trails in Hanmer Springs
• Go jet boating on the Waiau River
• Ski at Mount Lyford or Hanmer Springs Ski Area
• Visit beautiful Gore Bay
• Discover isolated valleys on a four wheel drive tour
• Fish for trout and salmon in pristine waters
• Venture into the backcountry and walk through native bush and sub-alpine environments

Have a whale of a time in Kaikoura

A variety of rare marine mammals converge off the coast at Kaikoura - sperm whales, New Zealand fur seals, dolphins and penguins.

• Go whale-watching by boat or air at any time of the year
• Meet the local dolphins on a dolphin encounter
• Experience seal swimming with a land-based or boat-based guided seal snorkelling tour
• Take a bird watching tour to view seabirds, albatross, molly-mawks, petrels and many more
• Hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway - three hours return to visit a seal colony, limestone formations and a seabird colony
• Visit Fyffe House, a colonial whaler's cottage
• Eat fresh seafood in one of Kaikoura's delightful waterfront restaurants

Enjoy the high life at Aoraki Mount Cook

From cosy Mount Cook Village, you can access the fabulous but unforgiving beauty of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

• Visit the postcard-perfect Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo - its altar window frames an amazing view of the Southern Alps
• Take a scenic flight from Lake Tekapo or Glentanner Station for breathtaking views over the Southern Alps and surrounding countryside
• Land on the Tasman Glacier in a ski-plane, or go heli-skiing amidst the tranquillity and silence of the pristine alpine environment
• If you've always wanted to try mountain climbing, hire a guide and give it a go. Sir Edmund Hillary practised on these mountains before he conquered Mount Everest
• Explore the alpine wilderness on a mountain walk - there are many to choose from. In spring and summer, look for the Mount Cook lily - the largest buttercup in the world