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Mother Nature was having a very good day when she came up with the South Island of New Zealand.
The landscape is blessed with a rugged coastline, verdant valleys, turquoise lakes, and snowcapped mountains. Its beauty is breathtaking, and if that isn’t enough, let’s throw in some world-class food and wine, adventure activities, and charming and historic towns.
The ideal way to see it all is by road; on a self-drive road-trip you are in complete control of where you go, what you see and do, and how long you stay. And much of the best of the South Island is easily accessible by road from the city of Christchurch — either as a day trip, or as part of an extended South Island road trip. Christchurch car hire is a breeze and you’ll be on the road in no time.
Here are four of the best road trips from Christchurch.
Watch our video of ten top things to do on a South Island road trip:
Ten Amazing Things to Do on a South Island Road Trip, New Zealand – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you ten amazing things to do on a road trip around New Zealand’s stun…
1. Christchurch to Kaikoura
The three-hour, 218-kilometre drive from Christchurch to the coastal town of Kaikoura forms part of the longer 450-kilometre Alpine Pacific Touring Route that continues on to Hanmer Springs. A highlight is the stretch of State Highway 1 (SH1) that hugs the coastline leading into Kaikoura.
Kaikoura is famous for its marine wildlife. Sperm whales, fur seals, and dusky dolphins are all found here. So too are lots of different species of sea birds, including the elusive albatross. Once you arrive, there are plenty of ecotourism activities to plunge into, including kayaking, nature cruises, and ‘flightseeing’.
Another thing Kaikoura is famous for is crayfish. Grab some fresh crayfish from one of the seaside caravans and enjoy a seafood feast on the beach. Nins Bin is a local legend.
2. Christchurch to Akaroa
The picture postcard township of Akaroa on Banks Peninsula is an easy 90-minute scenic drive from Christchurch. Akaroa sits on the shores of a deep blue harbour — the crater of an extinct volcano flooded by the sea. The harbour is home to pods of curious and playful Hector’s dolphins — the world’s smallest dolphins — and a two-hour cruise with Akaroa Dolphins is one of the top things to do in Akaroa. The French street names and tricolors decorating shop fronts are nods to Akaroa’s distinction as the only New Zealand town to be settled by French colonists.
If you’ve arrived in time for lunch, Thai Trading Rooms is one of Akaroa’s top eateries.
A short distance from town is gorgeous Hinewai Reserve — a privately owned nature reserve, which is open to the public. It offers 20 kilometres of walking trails, which are perfect for stretching the legs or doing a spot of birdwatching before you drive back to the city.
3. Christchurch to the Waipara Valley
Someone has to step up to the role of designated driver for this option, but you’ll be rewarded with an amazing day out. At just under an hour’s drive from Christchurch, the Waipara Valley is also home to some of New Zealand’s finest wineries. Around 40 boutique wineries offer a plethora of cellar door and dining options.
The Valley is best known for cool climate rieslings and pinot noirs, and producers of note include Waipara Springs, Greystone Wines, and Waipara Hills. With its manicured gardens and ornamental lake, not to mention a wonderful range of award-winning vintages, Pegasus Bay is a stand-out stop.
4. Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
A four-hour drive across the Canterbury Plains and the Mackenzie region — via stunning Lake Tekapo — will bring you to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. As the name suggests, it’s home to the highest mountain in New Zealand. Consider staying at least one night so that you have time to appreciate the majesty of this extraordinary natural setting.
Most activities and accommodation options are based in and around Mount Cook Village. If you’re feeling fit, consider hiking the ten-kilometre Hooker Valley Track with its three swing bridges. For something a bit more sedate, Glacier Explorers runs boat trips out to the Tasman Glacier from September to May. Stargazing is a popular evening pastime, as the crisp clear skies over the national park are perfect for viewing the Milky Way.
Be sure to make a stop at the pretty Church of the Good Shepherd by Lake Tekapo on your way back to Christchurch. It’s not hard to see why this is one of New Zealand’s most photographed locations!
Need Christchurch car hire?
Discover Cars makes the process of hiring a car in Christchurch so easy. Enter your travel dates in the search box and browse the available options, which range from compact vehicles to luxury sedans. And unlike many other travel destinations around the world, you’ll find that Christchurch car hire is affordable all year-round — with no one month being significantly more expensive than any other.
If you’re planning to do all four of our suggested road trips, you’ll need a vehicle for at least six days. That takes into account overnight stays in Kaikoura and Mount Cook Village. Roadside Assistance is included in the cost of your Christchurch car hire.
This post was published thanks to Discover Cars.
Browse our range of New Zealand tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of amazing Christchurch road trips? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Cover image: Tourism New Zealand/Graeme Murray. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Louise Reynolds made up her mind at the age of about four that she would one day travel the world — and has so far visited around 30 countries across five continents and the Pacific. A hopeless Francophile, she has a particular love for France, its language, and pretty much all things French. Louise’s favourite way to see the world is on foot and her boots have taken her walking on famous trails in Europe, South America, and New Zealand. She also has a passion for her home state of Victoria and loves exploring its diverse regions.
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