Canterbury & Christchurch
Alpine peaks, wide plains, and marine giants π
The Canterbury region offers a diverse landscape ranging from the silvery coastline to the soaring Southern Alps, centered around the resilient city of Christchurch. Known as the "Garden City," Christchurch is remarkably family-friendly. The Avon River winds through the center, where you can take a relaxing punt boat ride. A must-do for families is the Margaret Mahy Playground, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring splashing water play and enormous slides. The International Antarctic Centre near the airport is another hit, allowing kids to experience a simulated polar storm and meet little blue penguins.
North of the city, the coastal town of Kaikoura is world-famous for marine wildlife. Boat tours offer a high chance of seeing giant sperm whales year-round, while large pods of dusky dolphins frequent the bays. For families who prefer to stay on land, the seal colony at the peninsula tip allows you to see seals basking on the rocks from a safe distance. Inland, the alpine village of Hanmer Springs is a favorite weekend getaway. It features a large thermal pool complex with waterslides and a lazy river that keeps children entertained for hours while parents relax in the hot mineral waters.
Venturing inland towards the mountains, the landscape opens up into the vast Mackenzie Country (often shared with the Southern Lakes region). The turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and the dark sky reserve offer incredible stargazing opportunities. The TranzAlpine train journey, which departs from Christchurch and crosses the Southern Alps to the West Coast, is widely considered one of the world's most scenic train rides, offering a comfortable way for families to see the dramatic mountain geography without the stress of driving.
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Activities & Best Times
Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
Offers world-class alpine landscapes in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and unique marine biodiversity in KaikΕura. Peak summer provides optimal hiking weather and high wildlife activity, while winter conditions bring freezing temperatures and trail closures.
Scenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel
Spectacular routes including the Great Alpine Highway and the turquoise glacial vistas of the Mackenzie Basin. Peak season offers maximum visibility and safe driving conditions, whereas winter months carry high risks of snow and ice on mountain passes.
Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
Home to the International Antarctic Centre and the world-renowned Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Summer months offer the best temperatures for outdoor scientific exploration and stargazing, while winter temperatures can be prohibitively cold for families.
Winter sports, ski resorts, snow activities
Features Mt Hutt, a premier international ski destination, alongside authentic high-country 'club fields' for experienced skiers. Peak winter months provide the most reliable snow base, while the shoulder months offer spring skiing with thinner coverage.
Sport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation
High-quality facilities for mountain biking, sailing in Lyttelton, and championship-grade golf courses. Peak summer months provide the dry conditions and mild temperatures (avg 15-21Β°C) necessary for these activities, while winter is dominated by snow-sports.
Urban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture
Christchurch is an innovative 'Garden City' with a sophisticated blend of heritage architecture and modern creative hubs. Peak months align with the best walking weather and outdoor cultural events, whereas winter is often damp and cold (avg 5-7Β°C).
Events, celebrations, seasonal attractions
Hosts the internationally recognized World Buskers Festival and various garden and arts celebrations. Summer offers the best conditions for outdoor festival programs, while the colder months see a significant decline in major cultural events.
Spa retreats, wellness centers, peaceful getaways
Offers world-class thermal retreats like Hanmer Springs and high-end alpine spa facilities. Peak summer provides the pleasant ambient temperatures (18-28Β°C max) required for outdoor wellness, while winter's low temperatures limit the comfort of outdoor relaxation.
Beach resorts, marine activities: diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, wind surfing, sailing
Swimming with rare Hector's dolphins in the French-influenced Akaroa harbor is a unique highlight, though water temperatures rarely meet tropical standards. This experience is best attempted during the height of summer; the rest of the year is too cold for comfortable family water sports.
Attractions (76 total)
Historic Town / Village / Cultural Area
Akaroa Historic Village
Akaroa
New Zealand's only French settlement, this charming seaside town features colonial architecture, French street names, and a unique cultural heritage.
Visit website βNew Regent Street Historic Precinct
Christchurch
A beautiful 1930s pedestrian mall featuring pastel-colored Spanish Mission style architecture and a heritage tram line running through its center.
Visit website βRoad Trips & Scenic Drives
Alpine Pacific Scenic Route
Christchurch
450km paved loop (3-5 days). This route connects the whale-watching hub of Kaikoura, the thermal alpine village of Hanmer Springs, and the Waipara Valley wine region with Christchurch. Highlights include rugged coastlines, limestone formations, and boutique vineyards.
Visit website βMount Cook Road (SH80)
Pukaki
55km paved road (1 hour one way) following the shores of Lake Pukaki. Famous for its striking turquoise glacier-fed water and the constant, dramatic view of Aoraki/Mount Cook at the head of the valley. Ends at Mount Cook Village.
Visit website βThe Great Alpine Highway (SH73)
Christchurch
255km paved route (4-5 hours) crossing the South Island. Highlights include the Canterbury Plains, the limestone monoliths of Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti), the engineering marvel of the Otira Viaduct, and the rugged Southern Alps in Arthur's Pass National Park.
Visit website βThe Starlight Highway (SH8)
Fairlie
130km paved route (2 hours). Passes through the heart of the Mackenzie Basin, featuring the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo and breathtaking vistas of the Southern Alps. It is the main artery through the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Visit website βInland Scenic Route 72
Amberley
155km paved route (2-3 hours) that runs parallel to the Southern Alps. An alternative to State Highway 1, it passes through the Canterbury foothills, the dramatic Rakaia Gorge with its blue waters, and the craft-centric town of Geraldine.
Visit website βSummit Road (Banks Peninsula)
Christchurch
30km paved ridge-top road (1-2 hours) offering panoramic views of Lyttelton and Akaroa Harbours. This high-elevation route follows the rim of an ancient volcano, providing views of the Pacific Ocean and the patchwork hills of the Banks Peninsula.
Visit website βHiking & Cycling Routes
Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
Aoraki / Mount Cook Village
300km moderate 4-6 day cycling route from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean with approximately 1,500m elevation loss. Bike rental: Cycle Journeys (cyclejourneys.co.nz) and BeSpoke Bike Tours (bespokebiketours.nz)
Visit website βHooker Valley Track
Aoraki / Mount Cook Village
10km easy 3-hour return hike through a glacial valley with 80m elevation gain. Features three suspension bridges and views of Mount Cook and iceberg-filled lakes.
Visit website βMueller Hut Route
Aoraki / Mount Cook Village
10.4km challenging 6-8 hour return hike with 1,000m elevation gain. Requires high fitness for steep rocky terrain leading to a famous alpine hut with 360-degree glacier views.
Visit website βBealey Spur Track
Arthur's Pass Village
12km moderate 4-5 hour return hike with 600m elevation gain. Offers high-altitude views of the braided Waimakariri River and Southern Alps peaks without technical climbing.
Visit website βCrater Rim Walkway
Christchurch
25km moderate 6-8 hour ridge walk with 800m elevation gain along the rim of an extinct volcano. Can be done in shorter segments with multiple access points in the Port Hills.
Visit website βGodley Head Loop Track
Christchurch
9.3km moderate 3-hour loop walk with 300m elevation gain. Features dramatic coastal cliffs, historic WWII coastal defense sites, and views of Lyttelton Harbour.
Visit website βLittle River Rail Trail
Hornby, Christchurch
45km easy 3-5 hour one-way cycling route with 50m elevation gain, following a historic railway line past Lake Ellesmere. Bike rental: Natural High (naturalhigh.co.nz)
Visit website βMolesworth Muster Trail
Hanmer Springs
207km expert/challenging 3-4 day gravel cycling route with 3,000m elevation gain through New Zealand's largest high-country farm. Bike rental: Hanmer Adventure (hanmeradventure.co.nz)
Visit website βSt James Walkway
Lewis Pass
66km moderate 4-5 day multi-day trek through subalpine forests and meadows with 1,500m elevation gain. This is a classic New Zealand tramping experience with serviced huts.
Visit website βNational Park / Nature Reserve
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Mount Cook Village
Home to New Zealand's highest mountain and longest glacier, offering stunning easy-access alpine walks for all ages.
Visit website βArthur's Pass National Park
Arthur's Pass Village
A dramatic alpine park crossing the Southern Alps with impressive waterfalls and the chance to see the cheeky Kea parrot.
Visit website βPeel Forest Park Scenic Reserve
Geraldine
A lush remnant of ancient native forest featuring massive podocarp trees and gentle waterfall walks perfect for family outings.
Visit website βAwaroa / Godley Head Reserve
Christchurch
A coastal cliff-top reserve offering panoramic ocean views and historic World War II coastal defense battery sites to explore.
Visit website βAdventure Park / Outdoor Activity Center
Christchurch Adventure Park
Christchurch
A premier outdoor destination featuring the southern hemisphere's longest chairlift, extensive mountain bike trails, and thrilling ziplines for all ages.
Visit website βTekapo Springs
Lake Tekapo
An all-season activity center offering turquoise hot pools, a snow tubing park, and an outdoor ice rink with stunning views of the Southern Alps.
Visit website βAdrenalin Forest Christchurch
Christchurch
A multi-level high ropes course set in the forest canopy, offering over 100 aerial challenges including bridge crossings and high-speed ziplines.
Visit website βEcoZip Adventures Kaikoura
Kaikoura
A unique eco-adventure experience featuring long, side-by-side ziplines that soar over native bush with panoramic views of the ocean and mountains.
Visit website βHanmer Springs Attractions
Hanmer Springs
The region's adventure hub providing family-friendly jet boating, bungy jumping, and quad biking adventures against a backdrop of mountain scenery.
Visit website βArt Gallery / Fine Art Museum
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o WaiwhetΕ«
Christchurch
An iconic public gallery featuring a massive glass facade and a world-class collection of New Zealand and international art.
Visit website βAshburton Art Gallery
Ashburton
A modern regional gallery that hosts a diverse range of touring exhibitions and locally significant contemporary art.
Visit website βAigantighe Art Gallery
Timaru
The South Island's third-largest public art gallery, housed in a grand historic villa with an impressive outdoor sculpture garden.
Visit website βRavenscar House Museum
Christchurch
A purpose-built house museum showcasing a prestigious private collection of New Zealand art and antiques in an architecturally stunning setting.
Visit website βBotanical Garden / Formal Gardens
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Christchurch
A world-class 21-hectare sanctuary featuring stunning glasshouses, thematic gardens, and historic specimen trees along the Avon River.
Visit website βOhinetahi
Governors Bay
A masterfully designed formal architectural garden with structured hedges, stone walls, and contemporary sculptures overlooking Lyttelton Harbour.
Visit website βMona Vale Garden Park
Christchurch
A picturesque heritage estate renowned for its blooming rose gardens, iris displays, and peaceful riverside walks by the Avon River.
Visit website βThe Giant's House
Akaroa
An extraordinary whimsical garden filled with colorful mosaic sculptures and creative artworks set within a historic hillside estate.
Visit website βCastle / Palace / Historic Site
Church of the Good Shepherd
Lake Tekapo
A world-famous historic stone chapel perched on the edge of the turquoise Lake Tekapo with breathtaking alpine views.
Visit website βThe Christchurch Arts Centre
Christchurch
A stunning collection of Gothic Revival stone buildings featuring galleries, boutique shops, and regular family-friendly cultural events.
Visit website βFyffe House
Kaikoura
A unique historic cottage built on whalebone foundations that provides a fascinating look into Kaikoura's 19th-century whaling history.
Visit website βFerrymead Heritage Park
Christchurch
An immersive recreated Edwardian township featuring vintage trams, trains, and heritage buildings that showcase early Canterbury life.
Visit website βRiccarton House and Bush
Christchurch
A grand Victorian/Edwardian homestead set within a tranquil park and a rare patch of ancient native podocarp forest.
Visit website βScience Museum / Natural History Museum / Discovery Centre
Dark Sky Project
Lake Tekapo
An astronomy-focused discovery centre featuring multimedia science exhibits and guided tours of the universe in a world-renowned Dark Sky Reserve.
Visit website βInternational Antarctic Centre
Christchurch
An interactive discovery centre offering simulated polar storms, penguin encounters, and scientific exhibits about life on the frozen continent.
Visit website βSouth Canterbury Museum
Timaru
A regional museum with extensive natural history collections, including fossil remains and exhibits on the unique biodiversity of the central South Island.
Visit website βCanterbury Museum at CoCA
Christchurch
The temporary home of the region's premier natural history museum, featuring highlights of the collection including moa remains and Antarctic artifacts.
Visit website βKaikoura Museum
Kaikoura
A modern natural history museum showcasing the region's unique marine biology, whaling heritage, and the science of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
Visit website βTheme Park / Amusement Park
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa
Hanmer Springs
A premier alpine water park with twenty-two thermal pools, multi-story hydroslides, and a family-focused aqua play area.
Visit website βBeach / Coastal Recreation Area
Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
Kaikoura
A premier coastal recreation area providing spectacular views of the Kaikoura Ranges and access to New Zealand fur seal colonies.
Visit website βNew Brighton Pier
Christchurch
One of the longest piers in the Southern Hemisphere, offering stunning ocean views, fishing spots, and an adjacent modern library.
Visit website βSumner Beach and Cave Rock
Christchurch
A popular family-friendly swimming beach featuring the iconic Cave Rock and a vibrant seaside promenade with cafes.
Gore Bay
Cheviot
A secluded coastal gem famous for its unique 'Cathedral Cliffs' siltstone formations and family-friendly surfing conditions.
Akaroa Waterfront
Akaroa
A picturesque harbor within an extinct volcano, known for its calm turquoise waters, French colonial architecture, and marine life.
Taylor's Mistake Beach
Christchurch
A scenic bay popular with surfers and families that serves as the gateway to the Godley Head coastal loop track.
Natural Feature / Scenic Site
Lake Pukaki
Twizel
This stunning alpine lake features incredibly vibrant turquoise water and provides the most famous viewpoint of Mount Cook.
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
Known for its milky-blue glacial water and vibrant lupin blooms, this scenic site is a world-renowned destination for photography and stargazing.
Conical Hill
Hanmer Springs
A popular winding forest walk that rewards families with a 360-degree view of the Hanmer Basin and surrounding mountains.
Visit website βDevil's Punchbowl Falls
Arthur's Pass
An impressive 131-meter waterfall reached via a well-maintained forest track that is a favorite for active families.
Visit website βKura Tawhiti / Castle Hill
Castle Hill
Families can explore a labyrinth of massive weathered limestone boulders that rise dramatically from the grassy basin.
Visit website βSki Resort / Winter Sports Center
Mt Hutt Ski Area
Methven
1,438-2,086m, 15+ runs, 3.65 sq km skiable terrain, June-Oct season, features a high-speed eight-seater chairlift and consistent snow conditions.
Visit website βMt Cheeseman Ski Area
Castle Hill
1,540-1,860m, 10 runs, 2 T-bars and a learner tow, July-Sept season, sunny north-facing basin known for its relaxed family atmosphere.
Visit website βMt Lyford Alpine Resort
Waiau
1,249-1,755m, 12 runs, 1.8 sq km terrain, July-Sept season, unique resort featuring a terrain park and a picturesque log-cabin village at the base.
Visit website βMount Dobson Ski Area
Fairlie
1,600-2,045m, 14 runs, 4 sq km terrain, July-Oct season, features a triple chairlift and a natural sunny basin with wide open slopes.
Visit website βOhau Snow Fields
Lake Ohau
1,400-1,825m, 9 runs, 1.25 sq km terrain, July-Oct season, breathtaking views over Lake Ohau and the Southern Alps with a double chairlift.
Visit website βPorters Alpine Resort
Springfield
1,302-1,902m, 11 runs, 12km groomed pistes, June-Oct season, family-friendly terrain with modern chairlift and proximity to Christchurch.
Visit website βRoundhill Ski Area
Lake Tekapo
1,350-2,133m, 10 runs, 5.5 sq km terrain, July-Sept season, home to one of the world's longest rope tows and massive vertical drop for advanced skiers.
Visit website βZoo / Wildlife Park / Safari Park
Orana Wildlife Park
Christchurch
New Zealand's only open-range zoo, offering a unique opportunity to see animals like giraffes, rhinos, and lions in a spacious, natural environment.
Visit website βLandmark / Monument / Iconic Urban Attraction
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora
Christchurch
A stunning complex of Gothic Revival stone buildings that host galleries, boutiques, and heritage tours.
Visit website βAkaroa Lighthouse
Akaroa
A historic, relocated wooden lighthouse that serves as a charming landmark in this French-influenced seaside town.
Visit website βBridge of Remembrance
Christchurch
An iconic war memorial archway dedicated to those who served in World Wars, located in the heart of the city.
Cardboard Cathedral
Christchurch
An innovative Shigeru Ban-designed temporary cathedral built from cardboard tubes after the 2011 earthquake.
Visit website βFarm Park / Petting Zoo / Rural Experience
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Christchurch
An extensive wildlife park featuring a dedicated heritage farmyard section where families can feed and interact with rare livestock breeds.
Visit website βHanmer Springs Animal Park
Hanmer Springs
A 2-acre park featuring a mix of farm and exotic animals set against a beautiful backdrop of alpine mountains and pine forests.
Visit website βKaikoura Farm Park
Kaikoura
A charming rural attraction where visitors can pet and feed over 15 different species of friendly farm animals.
Visit website βArion Farm Park
Christchurch
A family-friendly farm park offering close encounters with a wide variety of animals including llamas, pigs, and miniature horses.
Visit website βShamarra Alpacas
Akaroa
A world-class alpaca farm offering tours with over 170 alpacas and breathtaking panoramic views of the Akaroa Harbour.
Visit website βWater Park / Splash Park / Aquatic Centre
Taiora QEII Recreation and Sport Centre
Christchurch
A state-of-the-art aquatic facility for families, featuring a leisure pool with a splash park, water toys, and a 130-metre hydroslide.
Visit website βHe Puna Taimoana
Christchurch
A modern seaside aquatic centre featuring five salt-water pools and a sauna with stunning views of the New Brighton Pier.
Visit website βNatural Hot Spring / Thermal Bath / Historic Bathhouse
Maruia Hot Springs
Lewis Pass
37Β°C to 42Β°C natural geothermal mineral water high in bicarbonate and sulfur. A Japanese-inspired bathhouse complex featuring outdoor rock pools, indoor thermal baths, and steam rooms with views of the Maruia River and Southern Alps.
Visit website β