Christchurch / Mt. Cook / West Coast

Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island. Alive with a mix of historic charm and exiting city life. It hosts a busy international airport and deep water port. Each day offers so much to do from hot air ballooning to the casino, or a punt ride down the Avon River. Exploring Christchurch and Canterbury takes time. This part of the region gets snow on the mountains in winter, and sports fantastic beaches to relax on in summer.

Sightseeing on your own is easy using the Christchurch Tramway. This is an inner city tour that uses beautifully restored trams that follow a 2.5 km loop around central Christchurch. The tour combines the heritage of the trams, attractions and historical buildings with the culture of the Garden City. The nine stops include Cathedral Square, the Aquarium of Discovery, the Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens, Canterbury Museum, the Avon River, Victoria Square and New Regent Street - to name just a few. By using an all day pass, you can hop on and off and save a lot of walking. 

Akaroa
Formed by three violent eruptions from ancient volcanoes is the Banks Peninsula which is only a 30 minutes drive from Christchurch.. The coastline of Akaroa Harbour and the surroundings bays are the result of earth’s fury. The Ngai Tahu Maori Tribe originally discovered the charm of this location. Captain Cook sighted Akaroa Harbour in 1770s. The only early French settlement in New Zealand, still has French street names, quaint historical buildings and inspired cuisine. French influence is still evident in this popular tourist town.

Kaikoura
The underwater mountains off shore and ocean currents make Kaikoura. a natural World renowned area for whale watching and swimming with the dolphins. 

Along the rugged coast line Fur Seals sun on the rocks as Hector Dolphins play close to the shore. Whale watching cruises can see giant Sperm Whales that rise from the depths and surface all year around.

Hanmer Springs
Hammer Springs is a scenic alpine and thermal village. Visitors have been attracted to the soothing mineral water spas since 1859 to relieve tensions and physical replenishment. Out door activities include mountain biking, skiing, river rafting, forest walks and bungy jumping.
Discover the wine makers of the picturesque Waipara Valley which is also just north of Christchurch.

Mt Cook/Aoraki
Mount Cook Australasia's highest mountain and the Tasman Glacier the longest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere. Guided or self-guided options to are available for mountaineering tramping, hiking or ski touring.

The park is also part of Te Wahipounamu - South Westland World Heritage Area - in recognition of its 19 peaks over 3,000m high, Glaciers that cover 40 percent of the Parkland and its outstanding natural value. This part of New Zealand is awesome nature at its best, a chorus of rock and ice.

Follow a sealed road from Twizel right into the Park and Mount Cook/Aoraki Village, which ends at the Hooker and Mueller Glaciers.

A comprehensive range of Accommodation include backpackers, lodges, and luxury accommodation. There are 17 huts in the park. used by mountaineering visitors with the needed climbing skills to reach them

Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo and smaller neighbours, Lakes Alexandrina, McGregor and Conway, lay quiet and peaceful about a three hour drive south-west of Christchurch. Lake Tekapo milky-turquoise colour is a result of fine rock-flour dust ground by glacier movement that is held in suspension in the lake. Looking north form the township over the turquoise lake are the majestic Southern Alps. A view from the alter window of the famous church of the Good Shepherd frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps. Near by is the "sheepdog monument' This bronze statue in recognise of the district's debt to the sheepdog "without the help of witch the grazing of this mountainous country would be impossible' Lakes Alexandrina, McGregor and Conway, offer the better fishing for Brown and Rainbow Trout. The township is host to the winter visitors who come to enjoy Tekapo's nearby ski fields.

Arthur's Pass
This pass in the Southern Alps is on the historic Road connecting Canterbury and the West Coast. Arthur Park (114,500 hectares with Arthur's Pass village is centred in the Southern Alps. The village is 154km from Christchurch (one hour and a half hour drive) with The west coast and Greymouth 100km (one hour drive) past the village.

Alpine Scenery, high mountains with large sheer slopes, wide braided rivers, steep gorges, native bush. The newly built, and very spectacular, viaduct are the major landscape feature. This is one of the country's most scenic routes..

The Tranz Alpine train also stops at Arthur's Pass is one of the world's great rail journeys. Regular bus service, one day tours from Christchurch and rental cars for the independent traveller. 

There are plenty of accommodation options in and around the area, from hotels to backpackers lodges. Thirty back country huts and basic shelters (bivouacs) are located within the park, and are linked by an excellent track system.

West Coast
Stretching 600 kilometers along the western edge of the South Islands is the rugged West Coast. A region that plunges west from the Southern Alps through luxurious rainforests to breathtaking coast. The West Coast is home to five of New Zealand's National Parks with not-to-be-missed natural features.

Greymouth is the major town on the West Coast boasting a range of character restaurants café's and bars. For an experience of early West Coast life, visit Shantytown, a replica pioneering and gold mining town. It is also home to the traditional West Coast delicacy - white bait, which is celebrated each year at the various festivals.

On the West Coast, remnants of the ice age cascade from vast snowfields of the Southern Alps to valley floors just 300m above sea level. Nowhere in the world’s temperate zones are glaciers so accessible. A range of companies offer guided excursions to explore the spectacular ice formations. All companies provide professional guides that give full explanations regarding the geological features, flora and fauna of the area. Helicopter and fixed wing aircraft also provide scenic flights and snow landings amidst New Zealand's highest peaks overlooking the glaciers.

Franz and Fox Glacier
On the west coast the villages of Franz and Fox Glacier are good bases from which to explore the glaciers. 

A range of walks exist provide excellent vantage points for viewing the glacier as well as exploring rainforest environments.