Head into Christchurch City and visit the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens, one of the cities most popular attractions, particularly in the spring and summer time when the flowers are in full colour. The Christchurch Botanical Gardens are home to an incredible array of native and international plans in addition to the network of streams, waterways and water features scattered throughout the gardens. The Gardens were established over 150 years and serve as a special spot for the local people of Christchurch to enjoy the flora and fauna the city is home to.

Head North from Christchurch 30 kilometres (approximately 19 miles) to Waimakariri on State Highway 1 or the inland Scenic Route 72 for jet boating on the river, kayaking on Lake Pegasus and farm tours all within thirty minutes drive of the city. Next set your sights on Hanmer Springs and Hurunui, a Trip Advisor 2012 top destination, the Alpine Pacific Touring route provides many gems to explore the adventure, wine and thermal attractions in the area just 45 minutes from Christchurch International Airport.

Hanmer Springs is home to fresh mountain air and warming natural hot springs nestled in the wooded alpine gardens. For a more adrenaline fuelled adventure, hit the trails on a mountain bike, catapult yourself off a bridge on a bungee jump, or traverse the rapids on a white water rafting trip. Hanmer is also home to the North Canterbury wine region and plenty of spots to park up your motorhome to stroll or cycle between vineyards featuring award winning dining and wine.

Kaikoura, a seaside town on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, 3 hours drive north of Christchurch, embrace all that this eco-tourism centre has to offer. All year round wildlife are present, with sperm whales, dusky dolphins, fur seals and the majestic albatross frequent the area. Being Earthcheck certified, the benchmark for sustainable tourism free from green washing, leaves you to rest assured that while touring in your NZ Motorhome Rentals campervan the sights and sounds are looked after.

Make your way toward the ski fields through Arthur’s Pass and Mid-Canterbury. Arthur’s Pass doubles as Middle Earth, featuring many of the sites made world famous by the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Within the Arthur’s Pass National Park you will find Selwyn, the home of several hiking and mountain biking tracks, or ski the famed Selwyn 6.  Take your rental campervan on the ski trip of a lifetime and enjoy the mountains only 1.5 to 2 hours from Christchurch International Airport. For those that have more time up their sleeve, grabbing a Queenstown motorhome rental and driving toward Christchurch is a once in a lifetime journey.

Christchurch Helicopters has been operating in Christchurch, New Zealand for a number of years and are located at their Heli Centre, Harewood Aviation Park at Christchurch International Airport. Christchurch Helicopters has grown substantially over the years and now maintain a highly diversified offering of Heli services in Christchurch. 

Take your dream scenic flight with Christchurch Helicopters and on a Big Backyard Tour. Big Backyard Tours start at the City & Lyttelton Scenic landscape package and range through to Movie Sets, High Country Lakes and beyond to charter hunting trips and the dramatic World In A Day tour of the stunning beauty of the South Island. All flights are either in a Cabri G2, EC120 B or AS350 B2 (Squirrel) helicopter! 

Christchurch Helicopters field a highly capable and experienced team of pilots performing commercial and agricultural helicopter operations in addition to taking passengers on helicopter tours of the Canterbury region. For the rugby fans in your group, Christchurch Helicopters also offers tours piloted by former All Blacks Captain Ritchie McCaw. 

The team are also avid supporters of conservation in New Zealand and have partnered with the Department Of Conservation (DOC) assisting through fundraising and promotional efforts as well as transporting DOC workers into remote areas around Canterbury! The team are partners with the New Zealand National Parks & Conservation Foundation (NPCF).  

Enquire with the team about your options to see Canterbury from above!

The Barrys Bay Cheese team have been in operation since 1895 and this year are celebrating their 125th anniversary of making stunning cheeses in the Banks Peninsula area. In the early days (we’re talking New Zealand in the 19th century) the Barrys Bay Cheese team were one of only nine family owned cheese makers in the area. Today Barrys Bay Cheese is the only family owned establishment producing traditional cheeses in the area, such as Havarti, Maasdam, Gouda, Cheddar and Peninsula Blue!

In the early 1950’s Barrys Bay Cheese built a brand new factory that the team uses today to create their stunning cheeses. The factory is located on the way out to Akaroa and is the perfect place to take a break from your travels to explore the culinary delights created by the team in the home of true artisan cheese makers. The Barrys Bay Cheese team are committed to time tested and trusted methods of cheese production – over 100 years of production has resulted in true expertise. 

The team are no strangers to awards (with far too many for us to list here!) – a notable mention is winning the Category Champion for Best Flavoured Cheese with their Peppered Havarti at the 2019 NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.. Cheeses are made in the factory between October and May each year whilst the local cows are all milking. The factory features a large viewing window between the shop and the cheese making spaces providing visitors with a glimpse of the magic that takes place inside. 

Visit the Barrys Bay Cheese website for more information and give the team a follow on Instagram and Facebook to see their latest updates. To arrange group factory visits you can email the team at visit@barrysbaycheese.co.nz. 

Soak in the spectacular views of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa with Coast Up Close Wildlife Tours! On your Coast Up Close Wildlife Tour you’ll see some of NZ’s most amazing wildlife in their natural habitats. Be sure to bring your camera for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities!

The team will take you on a wildlife tour that explores the spectacular volcanic coastline and abundant wildlife of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa. Wildlife tour numbers are kept limited, offering you a small and intimate tour that will take you where others can’t, with amazing views of New Zealand’s wildlife. Some of the wildlife you’ll get to see include the Hector’s dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, little blue penguins and an array of seabirds.

The friendly and knowledgeable crew love meeting and talking with guests and Scruffy, the friendly boat dog, joins in on afternoon trips! Tony, a real Kiwi, has been exploring the waters around the Peninsula since the 1960s. He’ll entertain you with his the stories of his adventures and share his enthusiasm for this wonderful environment and stunning wildlife.

The characterful and comfortable boat – Wairiri, is a 41-foot Kauri Launch built in 1964. Tours specialise in small groups and enough space to move around the boat for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities! On the tour you’ll see gigantic cliffs, go inside sea caves and get close to all the incredible wildlife.

Experience Akaroa and Banks Peninsula on this intimate boat tour where you’ll see stunning wildlife and extraordinary views of the coastline!

Adult $85.00

Child $40.00 (1-15 yrs inclusive)

Location

Main Wharf, Beach Road, Akaroa 7582

Coast Up Close Wildlife Tours are located at the ocean end of the Main Wharf, walk past the blue buildings and past the Fish & Chip trailer. For peace of mind and security, if your Close Up Close experience is cancelled by the operator (in the event of adverse weather or anything else out of your control) you will be entitled to a full refund.

Coast Up Close recommend that you allow approximately 2.5 hours for the whole experience and are offer places on the tour for children under 1 yrs old are free of charge! Check out their website for more information. 

Canterbury is one of the most picturesque locations in New Zealand to skydive and to learn the art of the jump. Skydiving Kiwis is situated in Ashburton a few minutes outside of Christchurch. Set in the heart of Canterbury’s majestic scenery, your New Zealand adventure skydiving experience awaits you. Feel the exhilaration of total freefall whilst taking in breathtaking views of New Zealand!

Skydiving Kiwis are proud to offer one of the most welcoming ‘Kiwi’ adventure activities in Canterbury, and pride themselves on providing guests with an experience they will never forget. Skydiving is a truly exhilarating activity and you’ll likely want to capture the whole event – Skydiving Kiwis offer photo and video packages so you can share your adventure with your family and friends.

Skydiving Kiwis are proud to be fully certified by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority as an Aviation Adventure Operator. The certification strengthens and reinforces Skydiving Kiwis commitment to the safety and continuation of the New Zealand skydiving industry. With over 20 years of skydive industry experience, you can jump assured that your skydiving adventure will be as safe as it is exciting. 

With Skydiving Kiwis your tandem skydive package includes a thorough briefing with qualified instructors who will provide you with an in-depth end to end description of the jump and procedures. On exiting the aircraft you’ll reach a terminal velocity (nearly 200 kilometers per hour) for almost one full minute! Once the parachute deploys, you will glide for around 5 minutes over Canterbury’s stunning vistas before landing safely back within the boundaries of the dropzone to reflect on completing your bucket list life experience!

Skydiving Kiwis offer a range of skydiving experiences for all budgets and adrenaline appetites. Give the team a call on 0800 359 549 or book your tandem skydive on their website. 

The Arts Centre of Christchurch once attracted tourists and locals to investigate the Canterbury College and the artisan vendors housed within. This beautiful neo-gothic building and campus was the centre of arts and culture in Christchurch, and featured markets, street performers and artists. The buildings were damaged severely during the earthquakes in 2011. Toward the end of 2019, the multimillion dollar Arts Centre restoration project was completed. Future projects can be contributed to by way of donation.

Only a short drive southeast from the CBD, is the coastal suburb of Sumner. Sumner Beach is the perfect place to swim (during the summer time) and to stroll next to the sea-side. Sumner Beach is also the location of Shag Rock, a famous landmark that marks the entrance to the Avon Heathcote estuary. Te Onepoto (in Māori), otherwise known as Taylor’s Mistake, named after the master of a vessel that crashed into this bay in the mid 19th century because of a navigational error is also well worth a visit.

Riccarton is located to the west of the inner city and is the location of the Riccarton Market. Each Sunday at the Riccarton Racecourse over 250 stall operators sell their wares making the Riccarton Market the largest in the NZ. The Riccarton Market is a great place to collect everything from fresh food and vegetables, plants and trees, furniture, clothing, art and second-hand goods. There are also plenty of children’s attractions like a painting stall and train rides. Do check the opening hours! 

The famous and visually stunning Christchurch Cathedral was all but destroyed by the 2011 earthquake. The cathedral is a gothic revival style building that was built over a 40 year period at the end of the 1800s and is located at the centre of the city in Cathedral Square. The cathedral has been one of the most iconic and key structures in the city for most of Christchurch’s post-colonial history. The damage to the Cathedral had a profound effect on the locals. The Cardboard Cathedral was opened in August 2013 as a transitional place of worship for the community during the reconstruction of the Christchurch Cathedral, and it is well worth a visit.

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are a true highlight. Situated west of the CBD, the gardens display spectacular plants unique to New Zealand. Specialised staff, employing the traditional Kaitiaki, which is the Māori word meaning ‘guardian’, work to ensure the preservation of this treasured location and maintain its respect.

Canterbury Museum houses a number of displays that highlight New Zealand’s rich history. The Museum contains a plethora of items, from contemporary art to ancient artefacts. The museum is a hub for local engagement and great place to learn about our beautiful country. Our highlights include the incredible Maori artworks and artefacts collected and preserved from the Age of Discovery in Antarctica.

Pete Majendie, local artist, built this installation as a memorial for the lives lost in the earthquake that nearly flattened Christchurch in early 2011. Each of the 185 chairs serves as a seat for each victim of the quake. In addition, each chair is totally original, recognising each person who died as a unique individual. The 185 Empty White Chairs was originally established on the site of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, which was destroyed during the earthquakes. The work has been relocated to the site of the former St Paul’s Trinity Pacific Presbyterian Church, which was also destroyed during the earthquake. It is a sobering sight.

Situated in Ferrymead, a suburb southeast of the CBD, next to the Avon Heathcote Estuary, is Ferrymead Park. Ferrymead is an Edwardian style township that contains houses, municipal buildings including a school, a jail, a post office and a church, and businesses including a train station, a tobacconist and a lawyer’s office. Ferrymead was set up in the 1960s by a group of local history enthusiasts to pr ovide a site that displays the culture and legacy of the area and gives an idea of what a township in Canterbury would have looked like at the turn of the 20th century. This park also offers an array of heritage museums and exhibitions that are open for viewing, and display collections of artefacts from the era.

The Isaac Theatre Royal is at the centre of the CBD, a 19th century theatre, originally called the Canterbury Music Hall. Since opening in the late 1800s, the theatre has been home to a huge number of local talents, and to this day remains as one of the most beautiful theatres in the country, with much of the original architecture and interior design intact. Restoration works carried out in the 1990s strengthened the theatre, saving this building from the earthquakes.

The Avon River is a crown jewel for Christchurch locals and Cantabrians in general. The Avon runs through Christchurch’s CBD, and is a prominent feature of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The river is 14 kilometres long and runs from an estuary on the coast of the South Island, a few kilometres east of the city, and intersects through the city before coming to an end a few kilometres west of the CBD. We recommend the Antigua Boat Sheds to hire a boat and get to know the stunning Avon.