Lupins in Arthur's Pass National Park, just a two-hour drive from Christchurch.
As of this writing, Americans are unable to visit New Zealand due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, so use this story to plan for future trips.
Whether it’s your first time in New Zealand or you’ve been there for a while on the Working Holiday Visa, Christchurch is an underrated destination that deserves to be on your itinerary. Besides being one of the largest cities in the South Island—which makes it a great place to catch a cheap flight into and stock up on supplies for an epic road trip—it’s also a great base for exploring more of the Canterbury Region. Here are three of my favorite places to take a day trip from Christchurch, all within a two-hour drive of the city center and reachable by car, shuttle bus or train.
Akaroa
Distance from the city center: One hour and 20 minutes.
Why you should go: Situated along the Banks Peninsula, Akaroa is often referred to as “the most French town in New Zealand,” which makes sense since it’s the only French settlement in the whole country. Come for the seaside scenery and stay for the food, nature cruises, kayaking tours, hiking trails and the chance to visit The Giant’s House, an artsy Gaudí-esque garden designed by sculptor Josie Martin.
How to get there without a car: The Akaroa French Connection bus leaves daily from the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, with round-trip tickets available for $35 ($50 NZD). Discounted tickets can also be found via Book Me, a popular New Zealand deals website.
Hanmer Springs
Distance from the city center: 90 minutes.
Why you should go: While the major attraction here is Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, it’s worth leaving an hour or so to hike the Conical Hill Loop Trail, which takes you on a 1.7-mile zig-zagged journey through ancient forests to beautiful views overlooking the valley.
How to get there without a car: Hanmer Connection offers shuttle buses from Rolleston Avenue in Christchurch door to door to the Thermal Pools for $35 ($50 NZD) round-trip so you can visit for the day or $20 ($30 NZD) one-way if you’d prefer to stick around.
Arthur’s Pass National Park
Distance from the city center: Two hours.
Why you should go: What began centuries ago as a popular Māori cross-island hunting route is now home to sprawling 148-acre Arthur’s Pass National Park in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Full of family friendly walking trails as well as several backcountry tramping tracks, the park offers a wide range of habitats depending on which part you’re visiting. Eastern sections feature forests of beech trees, while the western side is home to vast rivers and rainforests. Central areas of the park are where you’ll find majestic snow-covered mountains and impressive glaciers.
How to get there without a car: Several shuttle buses are available from Christchurch through Atomic Travel and East West Coaches—both offer one-way tickets for $35 ($50 NZD) or round-trip tickets for $70 ($100 NZD)—while travel sites like Viator offer guided day trip options. From Christchurch, you can also opt for an epic journey through the Southern Alps aboard the TranzAlpine train, which passes through Arthur’s Pass on its way to Greymouth on the West Coast (tickets from $41 or $59 NZD).
All details and policies mentioned were accurate as of press time.
