Christchurch Tours, Tickets, & Excursions

Visit four boutique wineries of North Canterbury on a half-day wine-tasting tour with optional lunch. Departing Christchurch, you’ll taste a quality selection of wines in the up-and-coming Waipara wine region, including stops at Pegasus Bay, Waipara Hills, Torlesse Wines and Waipara Springs. Learn from a knowledgeable guide about Waipara’s unique terroir as you sip a range of superior reds and whites.

Explore the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps on this Arthur’s Pass day tour from Christchurch. Travel through the pastureland of the Canterbury Plains to Springfield with your guide. Hop aboard your TranzAlpine train and journey through the Waimakariri Gorge. Explore the alpine village of Arthur’s Pass in the Otira Gorge and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Visit a sheep farm, and admire native birdlife in the foothills of the Southern Alps. Upgrade to include a hair-raising jet-boat ride on the mighty Waimakariri River!

Travel the full circuit aboard the Christchurch Tramway, which departs regularly. Use your ticket to hop on and hop off at 17 stops and create your own sightseeing itinerary. Drivers provide live commentary on the landmarks of this South Island city. Bonus: children up to age 15 travel free.

Learn about Antarctic landscapes, wildlife and explorers with tickets to the International Antarctic Center in Christchurch, an award-winning experience that combines fun and education. Try to weather a harsh Antarctic storm, then hear about life on the remote Scott Base and spend some quality time with the Center’s adorable Little Blue penguins. Enjoy Hagglund rides and 4D shows, and enter the 'cuddle zone,' where you can meet, snuggle and pet the fluffy Huskies that explorers historically used to pull their Antarctic dogsleds.

Ride a coach from Christchurch to Queenstown during a fully narrated sightseeing tour via Mount Cook village, situated at the base of New Zealand's tallest mountain. Other South Island highlights include the fertile farmlands of Otago’s Canterbury Plains, glacier-fed Lake Tekapo and the grandeur of the Southern Alps in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Opt for an included 3-course buffet lunch at the Hermitage Hotel. If you’d like, take a helicopter or ski-plane flight (own expense).

Travel by TranzAlpine railway to Arthur's Pass National Park, riding across the Canterbury Plains, then winding through Waimakariri Gorge and into the heart of the Southern Alps on this day trip from Christchurch.  An informative guide takes you on a minivan tour of Arthur's Pass, including short rain forest walks past rivers to mountain vistas at Castle Hill. Enjoy a hotel lunch and light refreshments before the return trip via Waimak Gorge. This small-group tour is limited to eight participants, ensuring a more personalized experience.

See the top sights of the spectacular South Island on a 5-day guided coach tour, round-trip from Christchurch. Stop at Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain; enjoy free time to explore the adventure capital of Queenstown; take a boat cruise on Milford Sound, surrounded by steep rock walls; view Fox and Franz Josef glaciers; and travel by rail through the Southern Alps aboard the scenic TranzAlpine Express. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, and four nights’ accommodation in Queenstown and Franz Josef.

Enjoy a 4-course dinner aboard the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant and travel in heritage style through the city center, round-trip from Cathedral Junction. Relax and enjoy views of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Avon River from your window-side table. The journey in this elegant restaurant on wheels includes a welcome drink upon arrival, with tea and coffee to accompany your gourmet meal, served by professional waitstaff.

Get ready for a hassle-free day of adventures from Christchurch with round-trip transport, and admission tickets included. The trip will showcase scenic viewpoints along the way, such as Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, the Ben Ohau Range, and sites from Lord of the Rings. Avoid long lines at Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre by having admission included. Another highlight is a visit to the Tasman Glacier, and a delicious lunch is included too.

This is a superb choice for hiking fans. Spend a day exploring Banks Peninsula with the convenience of having a guide to navigate. After a morning pickup, you’ll be taken on a roughly 30-minute journey to start your walk. You won’t have to bring heavy equipment with you as a backpack, walking poles, and bottled water are included. Access scenic photo opportunities that you wouldn’t find alone, and hear about the area’s history. Highlights include visiting Crater Rim, seeing views of Pegasus Bay, and enjoying a picnic lunch.

This is a great option for a Christchurch day trip that combines nature, local wildlife, and delicious food experiences too. Save time planning transfers by having round-trip transport in a luxury vehicle included. You won’t have to worry about bringing snacks with you as light refreshments, drinks, and a delicious lunch are all included. Travel in comfort between dispersed sites including Banks Peninsula, Barrys Bay Cheese Factory, and the Wild Side Conservation Area to spot wild penguins.

Take an aerial journey on the Christchurch Gondola to the Port Hills crater rim and Mt Cavendish summit. At the summit complex — revamped since the 2011 earthquake — you’re rewarded with views of the cityscape, the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour. Upgrade for admission to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens including a caterpillar bus tour, or go punting by flat-bottomed boat on the Avon River.

Wander the charming village of Akaroa, and opt for either a harbor cruise or dolphin swim on this small-group tour from Christchurch. Start with a scenic drive through the magnificent Banks Peninsula where you’re treated to summit views of Akaroa Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and the distant Southern Alps. Sample locally made cheeses at a cheese factory, explore Akoroa and enjoy a cafe lunch before a nature cruise or dolphin swim alongside Hector's dolphins. Numbers are limited to eight people for a personalized experience.

Relax on a romantic 30-minute punt (flat-bottomed boat) ride along the Avon River in Christchurch. Float past willows lining the riverbanks as a punter, dressed in traditional costume, uses a long pole to propel you and your companions across the water while providing informative commentary. You’ll row past the city center and Christchurch Botanic Gardens, which you can opt to tour by electric shuttle. Other upgrades include a Christchurch Gondola ride to the Crater Rim and/or a Christchurch Tram hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour of downtown.

Visit four top attractions in the ‘Garden City’ with a Christchurch sightseeing pass. Set your own pace with this 4-attraction pass, which you can use on different days. See the city from above on a 10-minute Christchurch Gondola ride and visit the Time Tunnel exhibit; enjoy a 30-minute punt ride by flat-bottomed boat on the serene Avon River; tour the Christchurch Botanic Gardens by open-top caterpillar bus; and discover 17 stops during a hop-on hop-off tour aboard the Christchurch Tram.

Get a narrated tour of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens by electric-powered caterpillar shuttle. The ride makes frequent stops where you can disembark to explore the lovely landscapes and extensive plant collection. Combine your experience with a hop-on hop-off tour aboard the Christchurch Tram, a restored heritage vehicle that travels between 17 stops. Other optional upgrades include a punt cruise on the Avon River, a ride on the Christchurch Gondola, or a combination of all four tours.

Visit multiple South Island highlights on this unforgettable 8-day private tour, round-trip from Christchurch. Make the journey from ‘The Garden City’ in a counter-clockwise direction, traveling with ease in your very own luxury vehicle with a private guide at the helm. The route covers Arthur’s Pass, west coast rainforests, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Queenstown, to name a few. Enjoy seven nights’ accommodation including breakfast, entry to the Franz Josef Glacier hot pools and a train ride on the TranzAlpine. Optional activities include helicopter rides and bungy jumps (own expense).

Surround yourself with the snow-capped peaks of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, on this day trip from Christchurch. Travel by coach past the foothills of the Southern Alps to the Canterbury Plains and the MacKenzie Basin; stop at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukari; and enjoy views of Tasman Glacier. Enjoy lunch at the Hermitage Hotel in UNESCO-listed Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park. Includes round-trip hotel transport by coach with morning and afternoon tea.

Taste your way through Christchurch craft breweries on a beer tour that takes you behind the scenes to meet local brewers. With round-trip transport from central Christchurch, you won’t have to worry about driving as you sample the freshest pours at a series of four craft breweries, learning about New Zealand’s local beer scene along the way.

Rejuvenate in the natural thermal pools of Hanmer Springs after a thrilling jet-boat ride through Waiau Gorge. Start your full-day trip from Christchurch with the exciting ride at Thrillseekers Canyon, then visit the resort village of Hanmer Springs, where you’ll melt your stress away with a relaxing soak. Have lunch at the on-site cafe and enjoy the convenience of round-trip hotel transport by private vehicle.

Visit four boutique wineries of North Canterbury on a half-day wine-tasting tour with a delicious lunch. Departing Christchurch, you’ll taste a quality selection of wines in the up-and-coming Waipara wine region, including stops at Pegasus Bay, Torlesse, Greystone and Terrace Edge or Waipara Springs. Learn from your knowledgeable guide about Waipara’s unique micro-climate as you taste a range of world class red and white wines. Booking essential - we need a minimum of 4 people to run and you should be prepared to share your tour with others (Maximum of 6 per tour and subject to Covid-19 regulations)

The TranzAlpine train is often referred to as one of the world’s most scenic train journeys, and this tour will allow you to experience it. Enjoy the convenience of a day trip where all transport is taken care of— round-trip transfers in a luxury minivan, and a TranzAlpine train ticket are included. See Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, Lake Pearson, and get the chance to walk in Arthur’s Pass National Park.

Experience the forests of New Zealand from the top down on this obstacle course in Christchurch. Book your admission ahead of time to guarantee admission to this popular attraction, where participants take on challenges like the flying fox, the Tarzan jump, the wrecking ball, and the barrels. Upgrade your experience with a GoPro rental to document your feats of strength and endurance.

Enjoy a unique opportunity to swim with dolphins in the wild during an Akaroa Harbour cruise. Strap on your provided wetsuit, flippers and snorkel gear, then slip into the water to swim alongside inquisitive Hector’s dolphins. This full-day trip from Christchurch includes a drive through the South Island countryside to Akaroa. You’ll admire breathtaking points of interest such as Governor’s Bay and Lake Ellesmere en route, enjoy free time to explore Akaroa, then visit a cheese factory for a tasting session in Barry's Bay.