Top Christchurch Day Trips

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.

Mount Cook (Aoraki) is the highest mountain in New Zealand at 12,218 feet (3,724 meters) and lies surrounded by some of the South Island’s most stunning natural landscapes. On this tour, enjoy magnificent views of Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, and Lake Pukaki; pose for photos amid fields of lavender (summer season only); and hike through the Mount Cook National Park to see the Tasman Glacier.

Discover volcanic landscapes and breathtaking scenery on New Zealand’s South Island on this 9.5-hour Akaroa day trip from Christchurch. Take in top attractions including Governor’s Bay, Gebbies Pass, Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth with your guide. Ascend the Banks Peninsula for beautiful views over Akaroa Harbour and the volcanic crater. Then, sample locally made cheeses and admire colonial architecture around Akaroa. Cruise by catamaran into the harbor where diverse marine and bird life thrives, including rare Hector’s dolphins. Upgrade your tour to enjoy a delicious lunch in Akaroa Village.

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.

Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo Tour. This small group, fully-guided day trip combines all of the key highlights in the area with the famous Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook National Park and Tasman Glacier as key highlights. Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety. Highlights: Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepard Mt Cook & Aoraki National Park Tasman Glacier, Lake Pukaki While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.

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!

Make the most of your time in port in Christchurch with a half-day shore excursion that takes in all the highlights. Explore downtown Christchurch, stroll around the Botanical Gardens and Monavale Gardens, and learn how the city was rebuilt after the devasting earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Continue along the scenic Summit Road, stopping to admire the views from the Sign of the Takahe, and stop at Sumner Beach for a walk along the coast.

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 ten participants, ensuring a more personalized experience.

Get out of Christchurch for the day and explore some of the most majestic landscapes in the South Island on an easy small-group day tour. Leaving Christchurch early in the morning, you’ll head to the mountains. Stop to enjoy the views at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, and take short walks on the Hooker Track and the Tasman Glacier (New Zealand’s longest). See and do a lot on a full-day tour.

Visit Edoras of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fame on this full-day excursion by 4WD vehicle to the peak of New Zealand’s Mt Sunday. Get a look at exclusive photos of Edoras under construction and learn from a knowledgeable LOTR guide about its transformation from tranquil countryside to mythical capital city of the Rohan people. Pose with replica props from the popular trilogy, such as Aragorn’s sword, Gimli’s axe and the flag of Rohan. Includes round-trip hotel transport from Christchurch plus a picnic lunch with sparkling wine.

Tour one of New Zealand’s up-and-coming wine regions the easy way from Christchurch on this hassle-free day trip. Leaving the city behind, you’ll be driven to the scenic Waipara Valley region, which is dotted with vineyards. Visit several of the best and sample a range of red and white wines. Don’t worry about who is going to drive as transfers are taken care of.

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.

Begin your amazing day with a pickup from one of our very friendly team members. Sit down and relax for the 45-min drive to the Waipara Region. Waipara is a picturesque valley in the north of Christchurch. This is one of New Zealand’s premier wine regions where pinot noir and riesling grapes do very well here. We will visit a series of cellars and tasting rooms, which may include Waipara Hills, Pegasus Bay, Waipara Springs, and Torlesse Wines (wineries are subject to change without notice depending on availability). We are all about the experience, so we want to make sure that you have 100% worry-free tastings of NZ's finest wine. Lunch, tastings, and snacks and photographer are included so all you need to do is join us, seat and enjoy your day. We are super flexible and the day is all about you. Want to make a stop or do something extra just let us know With Cheeky Wine Tours you will alwyas See More, Do More & Spend Less

This is a wonderful way to see Christchurch City. We showcase the best of the city to you and include some of the best local attractions. With a food tasting at a fabulous atmospheric venue in Central Christchurch, punting, gondola and the Christchurch Tramways this is a day out not to be missed. Excellent local guides, small group tour so you will be very well looked after throughout the day

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.

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.

Visit three must-see Christchurch attractions in one day: the International Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and the Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Experience firsthand what life is like on the ice of Antarctica via an all-terrain Hagglund ride; observe native and exotic animals at the wildlife reserve; and discover military history with two dozen fully restored aircraft representing the four ages of flight. Round-trip hotel transport is included.

Shared with you by a local, rolling Canterbury farmland lead you into this spectacular wonder of Mother Nature and the filming locations of many Lord of the Rings scenes. Instantly recognisable by their grandeur, the Southern Alps divide the East from the West of the South Island of New Zealand. Forming part of the ‘Ring of Fire’ also known as the San Andreas fault line, be swallowed up with the share enormity of this stunning mountain range. It's flora and fauna is extraordinary. * Police approved driver guides and true locals. * All guides full members ProGuides New Zealand.

You're not going to believe the beauty and 'interesting' you'll see on this tour. It's the people, the lakes, the bays, sheep, cows and deer, that makes this tour so special. This is a bespoke tour. Bespoke means the itinerary is flexible. Your local guide has lived in the area for 45 years. 25 years as a driver / guide. Reviews are 5/5 because of the flexibility this tour offers and the experience of your local guide. Yes, we have a plan so you get back to your ship on time but everything else is decided by you and your expert guide on the day. There's no rush like many other tours. We say this is a 7.5 hour tour but if time allows it might just as easily be 8 hours, just so you experience all you want. This private tour has a number of recommended easily added 'options'. We'll have time for just ONE of these options on this fabulous day away. Book now! * Guides are licensed and have passed all Police checks.

Explore all corners of the gorgeous garden city with this guided tour of Christchurch. Located on New Zealand's East Coast of the South Island, the city is filled with stunning scenery and history. Visit the famous Christchurch Cathedral in the city center, before traversing the Port Hills to visit the town of Lyttelton. Punt along the Avon River while admiring the gorgeous Botanic gardens.

This guided tour from Christchurch includes a Hagglund snowmobile ride at the International Antarctic Centre and a dinner buffet at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Start with the Snow and Ice Experience and watch the antics of playful arctic birds at the Penguin Encounter, then observe both native and exotic animals — including the endangered kiwi bird — at the wildlife reserve after your five-course meal. Round-trip hotel transport is included.

Travel to Kaikoura from Christchurch on a small-group full-day tour that includes a whale-watching cruise. Look for whales, dolphins, and other wildlife during the whale-watching cruise, and get great views of the Kaikoura Range and Pacific Ocean. You’ll also stop for a cafe lunch, visit a Waipara winery (if time allows), and go to viewpoints where you can spot New Zealand fur seals.

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.

Experience some of the South Island’s most majestic mountain landscapes on this small-group day tour across the Southern Alps. Ride the scenic TranzAlpine train from Christchurch, admiring the views from the large windows and viewing carriage. Stop at Arthurs Pass National Park to stretch your legs on a short hike among the meadows and mountains. Relax over a home-made picnic. Return to Christchurch the same day by car.