Edoras Itinerary

Day 2: Methven to Christchurch

On this page: Travel time:   Km/Miles Methven - Ashburton 0.5 hr  46/29 Ashburton - Christchurch 1.25 hrs  89/56   Totals for Day 1.75 hrs  135/84

Methven - Ashburton - Christchurch

The village of Methven is a mecca for those who love outdoor sports and adventure. Nearby Mt Hutt provides excellent skiing for around six months of the year and the Rakaia Gorge is a venue for jet boating. Golf, forest walking, mountain biking and hot air ballooning are some of the other things you can do in the area. Expect to find a wide variety of eating establishments in Methven, or head up Mt Hutt to eat in Australasia’s highest dining establishment.

Point your car towards the coast and you’ll be in Ashburton in about half an hour. The chequerboard fields of the Canterbury Plains provide soothing scenery all the way.

Ashburton, which sits between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, is a large town that serves the local rural community. It has about six museums and some excellent craft galleries. Fly fishing for salmon and trout is the local obsession.

Scenic Highlights

Mount Somers Conservation Area
What's an old volcano doing at the edge of the Southern Alps? Around Mount Somers, the usual greywacke rock is upstaged by lava formations.

Canterbury Plains
Like a patchwork quilt made with every shade of green, the Canterbury Plains lie serenely between the mountains and the sea.

Activities

Christchurch - Canterbury
Heliskiing (3), Skiing (5), Snowboarding (4)

Tour and Sightseeing

Christchurch - Canterbury
Skiing (1), Snowboarding (1)

Methven - Ashburton - Christchurch

Ashburton, which sits between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, is a large town that serves the local rural community. It has about six museums and some excellent craft galleries. Trout fishing is the local obsession, and the skifields of Mt Hutt are an easy drive away.

The route to Christchurch is about as straight and flat as roads get in New Zealand. On a clear day, the Southern Alps provide outstanding scenery. The town of Rakaia sits on the southern side of the Rakaia River, and it’s ‘the salmon capital of New Zealand’. The Rakaia bridge spans 1.8 kilometres of one of the world's best examples of a 'braided' river system.

The South Island’s largest city, Christchurch is an entertaining mixture of refined lifestyle and cultural excitement. The tranquil Avon River meanders through the city and adjacent Hagley Park, historic buildings house a lively arts community and restored trams make it easy for visitors to get around. Visit heritage sites, museums and art galleries, and enjoy the highly developed restaurant scene.

Scenic Highlights

Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Founded more than 140 years ago, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens has many special areas to explore.

Mount Somers Conservation Area
What's an old volcano doing at the edge of the Southern Alps? Around Mount Somers, the usual greywacke rock is upstaged by lava formations.

Cathedral Square
From the charming historic trams to the tall spire of Christ Church, Cathedral Square is a picturesque place to organise your day.

Canterbury Plains
Like a patchwork quilt made with every shade of green, the Canterbury Plains lie serenely between the mountains and the sea.

Activities

Christchurch - Canterbury
Bird Watching (4), Climbing (2), Gardens (9), Weddings (10)

Tour and Sightseeing

Christchurch - Canterbury
Bird Watching (1), Gardens (3)