10 Day Trips from Christchurch: Wildlife and Spa Top Our List

Whether you are a wildlife fan, nature enthusiast, wine lover, or need a break to soak your cares away, there are several fabulous day trips from Christchurch.

Jeff and I have travelled the length of New Zealand’s South Island many times. So, while every destination on this page can be done as Christchurch day trips, for us, many of them are also overnight adventures or stops on a more extended South Island road trip.

Our typical cut-off for a day trip is 3 hours total driving (1.5 hours in each direction) from the CBD, but we included a few popular options that are a bit farther.

Exploring Christchurch day trips on a map

Below, you’ll find a map pinpointing our recommended Christchurch day trips. It’s a visual guide to help you plan your routes, especially if you are doing multiple days or visiting more than one site in a day.

Akaroa (1 hour 30 min drive southeast)

A stunning 90-minute drive over the Banks Peninsula brought us to the charming village best known for its French influence and beautiful harbour. Akaroa is an escape from the city.

There are so many things to do in Akaroa, so we wrote a separate page here. However, for a day trip, we have our top picks:

• Wildlife tours from the water
  We took a 2-hour dolphin and harbour nature cruise with Akaroa Dolphins and loved it. We not only saw Hector’s Dolphins (one of the world’s smallest species) but also New Zealand fur seals, seabirds, sea caves, Akaroa Salmon Farm, and volcanic remains. It was one of our two Akaroa highlights. Reserve your 2-hour dolphin nature tour with Akaroa Dolphins here.
  
  There are other companies, but we were thrilled with our choice. Other options include swimming with wild dolphins, sailing, or kayaking.
• The Giant’s House
  Visit the whimsical gardens of The Giant’s House, which has been dubbed the ‘Happiest Garden on Earth’ for good reason. It is filled with larger-than-life colourful sculptures and mosaics that fascinated us.
• More things to do in Akaroa.
  Stroll along the main road and enjoy French colonial architecture, cafes, galleries, and shops. And be sure to indulge in a fresh seafood meal.

Option: Take an Akaroa tour from Christchurch

If you don’t want to drive to Akaroa or don’t have a car, check out this full-day sightseeing tour of Akaroa from Christchurch.

This top-rated 9.5-hour tour includes cheese tasting, a two-hour nature cruise, lunch (optional), and an informative guide. Reserve your Akaroa sightseeing tour from Christchurch here.

Hanmer Springs (1 hour 45 min drive north)

With tall pine trees, hiking trails, plenty of eateries, and soothing thermal pools, waterslides, and spa treatments, Hanmer Springs is a perfect Alpine escape. The surrounding nature reminds us of the days we lived near Lake Tahoe.

Jeff and I started our day by walking up Conical Hill for views and spent the rest of the day at Hanmer Springs Hot Springs and Spa. With plenty of pools to choose from our favourites are floating down the Lazy River, sitting under the jets in the AquaTherapy pool, or relaxing in the sulphur pools.

Mainly, we chose adults-only pools, but there were several family-friendly pools and giant hydroslides. It’s an easy place to spend an afternoon. You can reserve your entry to the thermal pools here.

We opted for private time as well, booking a sauna followed by a soak. Both had showers in our private area, and both were clothing-optional.

Then, we went to the day spa for side-by-side massages. It costs a bit more than we are used to spending on massage, but it is worth every penny. The posh spa had added touches like hot tea, robes, etc. It was one of the best massages I have ever had.

We left feeling as though we had improved our physical and mental well-being. While we know many people who visit Hanmer Springs as a Christchurch day trip, we were too relaxed for the long drive back and glad we booked a luxurious accommodation at the Oakview Boutique. Book your stay at Oakview Boutique Accommodation here.

Don’t want to drive? Take a tour of Hanmer Springs from Christchurch

Check out this highly rated 8.5-hour full-day tour to Hanmer Springs, which departs from Christchurch, stopping for a jet boat ride through Waiau Gorge at Thrillseekers Canyon.

Next is lunch in Hanmer Springs, followed by a soak in the natural thermal pools. Reserve your Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and jet boat day trip from Christchurch here.

Kaikoura (2 hour 30 min drive north)

Kaikoura is a prime location for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. When we are self-driving and bring our car over on the ferry, we stop for a day or two in Kaikoura on our way down the coast rather than a Christchurch day trip.

Kaikoura highlights

With so many great options, we wrote a separate post on what to do in Kaikoura. But for now, here are the highlights:

• Swim with dusky dolphins or watch their acrobatics from the boat with Dophin Encounters. (This was our Kaikoura highlight!)
• Join a whale-watching adventure here to see giant sperm whales.
• Visit the seal colonies along the coast, either by land or reserve a seal kayaking adventure here.
• Discover the best spots to see the dark sky here.

Let a guide bring you to Kaikoura from Christchurch

Two key options are whale watching or swimming with dolphins. Both are all day, the whale tour being 11 hours door to door while the dolphin swim is 12 hours. Either way, pick-up is from most hotels in Christchurch.

You can reserve your Kaikoura whale watch day tour from Christchurch here or reserve your Kaikoura swim with dolphins tour from Christchurch here.

Where to stay if you decide to spend a night in Kaikoura

At 2.5 hours and with so much to do in Kaikoura, we prefer to spend a night (or two). Our first choice is the White Morph Heritage Collection, which offers a 5-star experience and is conveniently located for easy access to marine tours and local dining. Reserve your stay at the White Morph here.

Lyttelton (20 min drive southeast)

Lyttelton is a lively port town known for its artsy vibe and historical significance. It’s close to Christchurch, and many cruise ships dock here.

We didn’t do much in Lyttelton itself. We came to Lyttelton to ride the nearby Christchurch Gondola. From the top, we enjoyed impressive panoramic views and hiked some of the crater rim walks. Reserve your gondola tickets here.

Should you want to spend more time in Lyttelton, some options include shopping along London Street, any number of hiking trails, or exploring the partly restored 1885 Lyttleton torpedo boat at the Torpedo Boat Museum.

Waimakariri (20 min drive north)

Waimakariri District is a slice of rural New Zealand charm, scenic beauty, adventure, and 10km of beach. Sitting just north of the city, it makes for an easy day trip from Christchurch.

We haven’t explored the entire region, as we love Waikuku Beach on Pegasus Bay.

There are also bird-watching and nature walks at the Tūhaitara Coastal Park. For more adventures, go ziplining, take a jet boat adventure, or ride on NZ’s first and only commercial airboat. Reserve your AirBlast (airboat) ride here.

Mount Hutt (1 hour 45 min drive west)

Mount Hutt is celebrated for its winter ski fields and hiking opportunities in the warmer months. Both of our girls have skied or snowboarded here in the past.

Afterwards, there are all the après-ski dining and relaxation opportunities one would expect, although as a day trip from Christchurch, one would probably just hit the slopes and then drive back.

Timaru (2 hour drive)

While the coastal town of Timaru is best known for its agriculture and woolly sheep, we found the Māori rock art to be the highlight. At two hours each way, Timaru wouldn’t be my top pick for a day trip from Christchurch, but if you are driving south, it is well worth the stop.

A fascinating place, Te Ana Maori Rock Art Centre boasts the most significant collection of ancient Maori rock art in New Zealand. However, most of the 600 creations discovered have been left in place. Many are on private land, and the centre offers tours out to see these during the warmer months.

Much of the Maori rock art dates back to the 1300s, long before Europeans arrived on the island. Our guide shared insight into the origins of the Ngāi Tahu Whānui, historical relics (identifying which were original or copies), and tribal stories, traditions, and history.

Join one of these all-day Christchurch day tours

If you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive, these are three great choices: TranzAlpine train, Waipara wine tour, or a Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier tour.

TranzAlpine train (8.5 hour tour)

Years ago, when our girls were young, we rode the TranzAlpine train over Arthur’s Pass from Christchurch on the East Coast to Greymouth on the West Coast. It didn’t take long to understand why this train ride is renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful railway journeys.

The route takes passengers across the vast Canterbury Plains, the majestic Southern Alps, and stunning river valleys offering dramatic and diverse views. If doing it as a day trip, the best tours will take you to Castle Hill Village, Otira Viaduct, and then a 2.5-hour return trip on the train. Reserve your Arthur’s Pass and Tranzalpine day tour here.

Waipara Valley (5-6 hour tour)

Waipara Valley is known for its wine production. With over 80 vineyards, the region produces some of the best wines and is famous for pinot noir and riesling.

We prefer to take a tour when we visit wineries, so we don’t need to worry about designated drivers. One leads the pack, ranking number 2 on Viator amongst all Christchurch day tours. Reserve your Waipara wine trail afternoon tour from Christchurch here.

Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier Tour (13 hours)

This is a long, exhausting day, but based on the reviews, it is a good one. In 13 hours, your small group will make several photo stops, allowing you to enjoy and capture some of NZ’s lakes (Tekapo and Pukaki), mountains, and lavender fields. You will enjoy a tasty lunch overlooking Mount Cook from the Hermitage Hotel.

Then, you will do a 60-minute Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier Walk. Tasman is the longest glacier in NZ at 27km. Note that this hike requires a moderate level of fitness. Reserve your Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier Tour from Christchurch here.

Longer trips from Christchurch

We have seen Tekapo listed on other articles about Christchurch excursions and day trips, but at 2 hours and 45 minutes each way, we think it’s just too far for one day, unless you are taking the tour just above.

Tekapo is renowned for its stunning turquoise lake, the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, and the dark sky reserve, making it a must-visit for photographers and nature lovers.

Due to its dark skies, the region offers stellar stargazing opportunities and is part of an International Dark Sky Reserve. If you are going to spend the night here, our top recommendation is to stargaze at the Mount John Observatory.

Read next: Things to Do in Lake Tekapo: Epic Days and Starry Nights

Road trips from Christchurch

If you want to go farther, perhaps you can check out one of our longer road trips that start in Christchurch:

• Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary
• Dunedin to Christchurch Road Trip and the Unique East Coast Stops Along the Way
• Picton to Christchurch Road Trip: Our 2 Best Scenic Options

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Which of these day trips from Christchurch appeal to you most?

More from the South Island you might also like … or check out 18 Extraordinary Things to Do in the South Island.

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Things to Do in Mt Cook and Lake Pukaki in a Week