NZ Tourism.com 2024 New Zealand Tours, New Zealand self drive tours & coach tours
Christchurch – Canterbury Tours
It’s not surprising that visitors to Christchurch see Tittle glimpses of England in this beautiful garden city, Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens are an absolute must for visitors – no matter what the season, take home the memories of brightly coloured daffodils or rich red and gold autumn leaves, Christchurch Cathedral, the Art Centre with its neo Gothic architecture and the vintage tram, blend easily with the new contemporary art gallery and the inner city cafés and bars nestled below the Port Hills.
Experience Christchurch – Canterbury Region
- The Garden City
- Daffodils and Spring blossom
- Historic Bridge of Remembrance
- Banks Peninsula
- Christchurch Cathedral
You´ll ❤️ these great things to see & do…
- Punting on the Avon River
- Buy authentic kiwi gifts from the Arts Centre
- Enjoy a picnic in the Botanic Gardens
- Walk through Hagley Park especially in Spring and Autumn
- Take the ferry to Diamond Harbour
- Soak up the French ambience at Akaroa
- Indulge in a spa treatment at Hanmer Springs
- Take a horse trek in peaceful Peel Forest
- Raft or kayak the Rangitata River
- Savour the North Canterbury Food and Wine Trail
To the North -Kaikoura
- Whales and Dolphins
- Crayfish/lobster
- Eco tourism destination
- Spectacular coastline
Hanmer Springs and Hurunui
- Natural thermal pools
- Mountain bike and nature trails
- Food and wine trail
- Waipara Valley
To the South – Aoraki/ Mt Cook +Mackenzie
- Lake Tekapo + Church
- Ski slopes
- Mt John Observatory
- Mt Cook-our country’s highest mountain
- Tasman Glacier
Useful Christchurch – Canterbury Resources
Christchurch and the Canterbury region of New Zealand have always been popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The area offers a wide range of activities to suit everyone, including mountain biking, hand gliding, bungee jumping, snowboarding, jet boating, skydiving, paragliding, and 4-wheel driving.
For those who prefer a more relaxed experience, the region also offers tramping, hiking, golfing, fishing, swimming with dolphins, cruising, horse-trekking, and kayaking, as well as sightseeing. The locals are known for their warmth and hospitality, making visitors feel welcome and at home.
There are various accommodation options available in the Christchurch and the Canterbury region, from star-rated to budget-friendly, with package deals that include complimentary bed and breakfast, as well as activities such as river punting, hot-air ballooning, wildlife cruising, eco-touring, and treatments at the thermal pools. Travel agents are a great resource to help plan a trip to this beautiful region of New Zealand.
The Christchurch and the Canterbury region offer a unique blend of outdoor activities and traditional Maori culture. It is a popular tourist destination that appeals to both solo travelers and families. With so much to see and do, visitors will never be bored in this amazing part of New Zealand.
Christchurch – Canterbury Day Tours & Activities
Listing view
The historic French Village of Akaroa and its spectacular harbour is just a 90 minutes drive from Christchurch. Here you can cruise around an extinct volcanic crater and experience majestic scenery and stunning wildlife on daily harbour cruises. Your cruise is packed with highlights including the rare, NZ native dolphin - the Hector's Dolphin, as well as penguins and other sea birds. And you'll see giant volcanic sea cliffs and hear about Akaroa's fascinating past. Cruises depart every day, weather permitting. Your modern catamaran, the 60 foot /20 metre Black Cat (previously the Canterbury Cat), is perfect for viewing the natural wonders of Akaroa Harbour. Our vessel is the largest and most luxurious on the harbour. Each cruise is fully narrated by your skipper who has extensive knowledge of the nature, wildlife and history of the harbour. The highlight of this trip is undoubtedly the sighting ....
Akaroa Harbour is the flooded crater of an extinct volcano. Apart from the huge and awe-inspiring volcanic cliffs, this also means that the harbour is very sheltered. A lot of the time, especially in summer, your dolphin swim will be inside the sheltered harbour. With Black Cat Cruises you will enjoy an incredible experience, swimming with some of the world’s smallest, friendliest and rarest dolphins. Hector’s Dolphins are protected in Akaroa Harbour by a marine mammal sanctuary and our cruise gives you the chance to see these beautiful marine mammals close up. Black Cat’s Dolphin Swimming adventure allows only 12 swimmers per vessel, so you’ll have more chances to come face to face with the dolphins We operate up to 16 cruises per day November – March (Summer), up to 8 per day in April and October and 1 per day May – September (Winter) With only 12 swimmers allowed per vessel, cru....
We invite you to join us on a tour of discovery, featuring spectacular scenery. From Christchurch travel by road to Springfield at the foothills of the Southern Alps. At Springfield, board the world famous TranzAlpine train to travel through the Southern Alps to Arthurs Pass viewing the alpine scenery through panoramic windows. The TranzAlpine is renowned as one of the top ten train journeys in the world. From Arthurs Pass we tour by road over the snow-capped Southern Alps in the Arthurs Pass National Park and on to the Otira Gorge making a photo stop. Visit the old village of Otira before returning to Arthurs Pass for lunch at the Wobbly Kea Restaurant. After lunch explore the village and some of the many walks. The return journey to Christchurch is by road stopping for an exhilarating jet boat ride through the spectacular gorges of the Waimakariri River. Following the jet boating, a visit will be made to a farm for late afternoon tea, followed by a sheep shearing and sheep mustering ....
Read more about Arthur’s Pass Day Tour
On tour we will view some of the areas affected by the earthquakes, see how Christchurch is preserving some of its iconic heritage buildings and hear about the exciting vision to rebuild and restore the inner city.Your experience includes a tour around central Christchurch on New Zealand’s only Open Top Double Decker and a 2 hour Tour on a closed top Double Decker visiting places of interest in greater Christchurch. During the winter months (May-October) the Open Top bus may not be operating on Tour due to weather. The Central City Tour will continue to run on the closed roof Double Decker bus. Open Top Bus highlights Hagley Park and Antigua Boatsheds Botanic Gardens and The River Avon Canterbury Museum and Arts Centre Christchurch Art Gallery Provincial Chambers Catholic Basilica Bridge of Remembrance and Friendship Corner Cashel St ReStart Shipping Container Mall Christchurch Cathedral and new Car....
This memorable journey between Christchurch and Picton stops at Blenheim and the renowned whale watching town of Kaikoura. Along 98 kilometres of ruggedly beautiful coastline you’ll get astonishingly close to the surging Pacific Ocean and steeply rising Kaikoura Ranges. You’ll also travel through beautiful wine growing regions, across broad, braided rivers and the rich patchwork farming landscape of the Canterbury Plains. The Coastal Pacific will operate a winter timetable dates of this service are as follows: Operates 7 days a week (Monday to Sunday) to Thursday 10 May 2012 Operates 4 days a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) from Friday 11 May 2012 to Monday 10 September 2012 Operates 7 days a week (Monday to Sunday) from Tuesday 11 September 2012 to Sunday 30 September 2013 excluding Christmas Day. Christchurch - Picton via Kaikoura Christchurch depart 7.00 am / Kaikoura dep....
An up close amazing encounter with icebergs, on a glacial terminal lake. Depart from Mount Cook Village outside The Hermitage Hotel. The bus will take you on a pleasant trip to the Tasman Valley, followed by an easy 1/2hr stroll through the National Park. Then board your MAC boat, and enjoy the ever changing ice face of theTasman Glacier icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake. Commentary throughout the trip by your experienced guide From late August to 31st May Daily departures at : 8.00am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm & 5pm. Glacier Explorers generally operates from mid August to late May - the glacier lake freezes over winter so the start of the season is subject to the lake thawing. Duration: 2.5 Hours total per trip - (1 hour on the lake)....
Explore our Gallery area which is packed full of informative displays showcasing modern day Antarctica, including the Antarctic Treaty partners, the human impact on the continent, the wildlife and plant systems and Antarctica’s effect on the globe. Our Gallery area encourages ‘touching’ of most of the exhibits to ensure visitors experience Antarctica in a fun and interactive way. Visitors conclude their Antarctic journey with a 17 minute sound and light show "Beyond the Frozen Sunset". Filmed by Emmy award winning film maker, Mike Single, it follows a seasonal arc from sunset to sunrise, weaving in stunning footage shot by mounting a camera to the underside of a helicopter. This majestic audio visual show captivates its audience and leaves visitors with a moving experience of “having been there”. The nocturnal nature of the Little Blue penguin means that most people miss out on sharing in....
Spend your day getting close to nature. Travel by road from Christchurch through the rolling hill country of North Canterbury, enjoying the beauty of its rural pastoral scenes, to Kaikoura where mountains meet sea. Kaikoura is world renowned for the variety of marine mammals which can be seen, not least of all the giant sperm whales and the acrobatic Dusky Dolphins. On your arrival in Kaikoura you will be transferred to a whale watch tour; by boat, light aircraft or helicopter, the choice is yours. In the afternoon you will visit a seal colony where fur seals may be viewed at close quarters. On your return to Christchurch a stop will be made at a North Canterbury vineyard where a wine tasting has been arranged for your pleasure. Collected from your Christchurch accommodation Travel by road or train through the rural pastoral scenes of North Canterbury to Kaikoura where mountains meet sea On ar....
This short scenic option is the ideal opportunity to touch snow and experience the thrill of a helicopter flight. Sweep through the rugged high country landscape of the Ben Ohau Mountain Range to a landing site on a snow field high in the mountains. Enjoy the fantastic vista from this alpine setting as you look out to the mountains and glaciers, and down into the valleys that were carved out by glaciers centuries ago. Duration - 20 Minutes....
A tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary, humanitarian, ambassador and one of the world's greatest explorers, the centre showcases the Aoraki Mount Cook region, its people and its place in the universe. Designed to educate and entertain, the centre features a spectacular state-of-the-art 3D movie, New Zealand's first full dome digital Planetarium and Museum which documents the pioneering heart of the region and features the impressive Hillary Gallery. Located adjacent to The Hermitage Hotel in the majestic Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre is an opportunity to explore and connect to the national identity and celebrate the cultural characteristics New Zealanders hold dear.....
Situated at the base of Mt John in Lake Tekapo, Tekapo Springs is a year round destination for the whole family. Offering stunning vistas of Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie region and a range of fun activities including Hot Pools, Ice Skating Rink, Day Spa, Snow Park featuring a Magic Carpet and the fully licensed Tahr Bar & Café’. Tekapo Springs has recently introduced New Zealand's first Summer Tube Ride making Tubing a year round attraction in Lake Tekapo. Open daily from 10am - 9pm the Hot Pools provide a welcome place to relax and enjoy the views over Lake Tekapo and a wide range of activities. The outdoor Skating Rink is open 10am - 9pm offering views over Lake Tekapo. Friday & Saturday nights the Rink is open for our Ice Discos throughout winter. Over the warmer months the Rink is used for Inline skating. The Tubing Park operates 10am-7pm with extended hours over summer. Indulge in the Sa....
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Read more about TranzAlpine Train
Truly one of the world’s great scenic train trips through the dramatic contrast of dry beech forests and tussock land on one side of the Alps and lush green landscapes on the other. From Christchurch, cross the patchwork farmland of the Canterbury plains, follow the Waimakariri river, climbing into alpine scenery on a series of spectacular viaducts. Then, after stopping at Arthur's Pass, emerge from the long Otira Tunnel and descend through sub tropical rain forest past beautiful Lake Brunner and on to Greymouth. The TranzAlpine operates daily excluding Christmas Day. Christchurch - Greymouth Christchurch depart 8.15 am - Greymouth arrive 12.45 pm ....
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Read more about Whale Watching Cruise Kaikoura – 3hr Cruise
Whale Watch is New Zealand's only marine-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily. Our 95% success rate means we guarantee an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale. Whale Watch tours are extremely popular so we advise to book early. What is Whale Watching? Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Find out why the Whale Watch tour is such an amazing tourist attraction. Depending on the season you may also see migrating... Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura often hosts the world's largest dolphin - the Orca - and is home....