Top Christchurch Day Trips

Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier Tour from Christchurch

The TranzAlpine train is often referred to as one of the world’s most scenic train journeys, and this tour will allow you to experience it. Enjoy the convenience of a day trip where all transport is taken care of— round-trip transfers in a luxury minivan, and a TranzAlpine train ticket are included. See Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, Lake Pearson, and get the chance to walk in Arthur’s Pass National Park.

TranzAlpine Train, Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill Day Trip

The scenic TranzAlpine train travels from Christchurch to Greymouth. But if you don’t have the time, or the need, to travel so far, you can enjoy a shorter version of the journey. Boarding the train in Christchurch, travel to Arthur’s Pass, in the middle of the Southern Alps. Spend some free time there, then board a small-group guided tour for the return journey that stops at other top attractions.

Special Offer

TranzAlpine, Castle Hill & Arthur's Pass Small-Group Tour + Lunch

Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram

1 dayFree Cancellation

Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour from Christchurch with lunch

Discover volcanic landscapes and breathtaking scenery on New Zealand’s South Island on this Akaroa day trip from Christchurch and avoid the need to self-drive. Ascend the Banks Peninsula for beautiful views over Akaroa Harbour and the volcanic crater. Sample locally made cheeses and admire colonial architecture around Akaroa. Cruise by catamaran into the harbor, where diverse marine and bird life thrives, including rare Hector’s dolphins. Hotel transfers are included.

Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch

9 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket

2 hoursFree Cancellation

Visit Edoras of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fame on this full-day excursion by 4WD vehicle to the peak of New Zealand’s Mt Sunday. Get a look at exclusive photos of Edoras under construction and learn from a knowledgeable LOTR guide about its transformation from tranquil countryside to mythical capital city of the Rohan people. Pose with replica props from the popular trilogy, such as Aragorn’s sword, Gimli’s axe and the flag of Rohan. Includes round-trip hotel transport from Christchurch plus a picnic lunch with sparkling wine.

Lord of the Rings, Journey to Edoras Day Tour from Christchurch

9 hoursFree Cancellation

View Christchurch’s highlights on a half-day sightseeing tour introducing the architecture, gardens, and waterways of “The Garden City” without the hassle of self-driving or catching public transportation. Pass city center landmarks, meander around perennial gardens, visit the seaside, and marvel at views over the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, and opt to upgrade to include the International Antarctic Centre.

Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Experience the beauty of New Zealand’s Southern Alps on a full-day tour to Arthur's Pass from Christchurch. Travel into the mountains by car, then return in the afternoon on the TranzAlpine scenic train, which runs in reverse in winter. At Arthur’s Pass visit Castle Hill, Lake Pearson, and the Otira Viaduct, explore the national park, and walk to the Devils Punchbowl waterfall. Lunch, snacks, and Christchurch hotel transfers add convenience.

Christchurch to Arthur's Pass Tours + TranzAlpine Train & Lunch

Discover the best of Christchurch on this unforgettable highlights tour, featuring three of the city's most iconic attractions. Step aboard the heritage Tram, glide along the picturesque Avon River on a traditional punt, and soar above the city on the Christchurch Gondola for spectacular panoramic views. Combining history, scenery, and local charm, this tour is the perfect way to experience Christchurch's top sights in one memorable day.

Lyttelton Shore Excursion City Highlights with 3 best Attractions

7 hoursFree Cancellation

Discover New Zealand's marine wildlife capital on this whale watching day tour from Christchurch to Kaikōura. Journey along a spectacular coastal route to witness giant sperm whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and seabirds in their natural habitat. Travel through Canterbury with your expert Kiwi guide, stopping at Cheviot and Hundalee Hills where fur seals bask on rocks. Board your whale watching vessel with naturalist guides. The Kaikōura Canyon creates nutrient-rich waters attracting incredible marine diversity. Search for sperm whales, humpbacks, orcas, and dolphins using hydrophone tracking technology. When time permits, stop at Waipara wine region for tastings. Travel carbon-neutral in a Mercedes Sprinter with WiFi and USB charging. With maximum 16 guests, enjoy personalized attention and lunch included on this ultimate whale watching experience.

Kaikōura Whale Watch Tour from Christchurch - Small Group

8 to 10 hoursFree Cancellation

Ride a train through the Southern Alps on a remarkable scenic journey aboard the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth. Enjoy views of native beech forest, snow-sprinkled mountains, the powerful Waimakariri River, and Arthur's Pass National Park from a comfortable carriage and open viewing deck. For getting the history and context of the landmarks along the railway, GPS-triggered audio commentary is available through headphones at every seat.

TranzAlpine Train Journey: Christchurch to Greymouth

4 hours 50 minutes

4.3

(360)

from $137

Get out of Christchurch for the day and explore some of the most majestic landscapes in the South Island on an easy small-group day tour. Leaving Christchurch early in the morning, you’ll head to the mountains. Stop to enjoy the views at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, and take short walks on the Hooker Track and the Tasman Glacier (New Zealand’s longest). See and do a lot on a full-day tour.

Small group enjoying turquoise waters and autumn colors

Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch with Lunch

Arthur’s Pass Day Tour From Christchurch via Castle Hill

Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch

11 hoursFree Cancellation

Christchurch to Queenstown One-Way Tour via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo

14 hoursFree Cancellation

Travelers short on time in the South Island won’t miss out on exploring the Southern Alps with this easy day tour from Christchurch. Take the train there and a car on the way back. Hop aboard the TranzAlpine train in Christchurch for the ride through the Canterbury Plains, Waimakariri Gorge, and up to Arthur’s Pass National Park. Explore the village, take bush walks, and see the limestone rock formations of Castle Hill.

Arthur's Pass National Park Day Tour with TranzAlpine Train

9 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Make the most of your time in port in Christchurch with a half-day shore excursion that takes in all the highlights. Explore downtown Christchurch, stroll around Monavale Gardens, and learn how the city was rebuilt after the devasting earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Continue along the scenic Summit Road, stopping to admire the views from the Sign of the Takahe, and stop at Riverside Market for a lunch break (own expense).

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Christchurch: Sheep Farm, Lunch and Winery Day Trip

6 hoursFree Cancellation

Wander the charming village of Akaroa, and opt for either a harbor cruise or dolphin swim on this small-group tour from Christchurch. Start with a scenic drive through the magnificent Banks Peninsula where you’re treated to summit views of Akaroa Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and the distant Southern Alps. Sample locally made cheeses at a cheese factory, explore Akoroa and enjoy a cafe lunch before a nature cruise or dolphin swim alongside Hector's dolphins. Numbers are limited to eight people for a personalized experience.

Journey to Akaroa with Harbour Cruise - Luxury, Small Group Tour

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Make the most of a travel day between Christchurch and Queenstown by taking an action-packed tour through the Southern Alps. Instead of just catching an uninteresting long-distance bus, take a guided tour via Mt. Cook, the Tasman Glacier, and the scenic Mackenzie Country. Admire the views along the way and make plenty of stops, including brief stops at Wānaka and Cardrona. The tour ends in Queenstown.

Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook (1 way)

Join Pete for a fully guided day out, travelling through beautiful Canterbury countryside to the magnificent Rakaia Gorge. Here, prepare for an exhilarating 45-minute Discovery Jet boat adventure, racing along the braided river beneath towering limestone cliffs and through spectacular river canyons. With thrilling spins and breathtaking scenery, it’s an experience you won’t forget! Next, it’s time to slow down and unwind at Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa in Methven. Enjoy a blissful two-hour soak in the adults-exclusive Tranquility Pools, where the warm water provide the perfect way to relax and recharge. Your experience also includes a delicious lunch at Ōpuke, followed by a complimentary drink at the iconic Blue Pub in Methven before we make our comfortable journey back to Christchurch. With return transport, personal hosting and every detail taken care of by Pete, this is the ideal Canterbury escape for those seeking a little adventure, a little indulgence and a whole lot of fun!

Jet Boat and Hot Pools Day Tour from Christchurch

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Get out of Christchurch for half a day on a North Canterbury boutique wineries tour with a platter lunch. After a short drive from Christchurch, stop at three wineries, where you taste a selection of quality wines in the up-and-coming Waipara wine region. Possible stops include Pegasus Bay, Waipara Hills, Torlesse Wines, and Waipara Springs. Learn about Waipara’s unique terroir as you sip a range of superior reds and whites.

Waipara Wine Tour from Christchurch - including Lunch & Tastings

5 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in Christchurch

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What are people saying about Christchurch

Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch

Lucille_R, Oct 2026

Great day out.

Great day out. Very easy pick ups and drop offs. Our driver Scotty was very knowledgeable and friendly. He pointed out places of interest and stopped at good photo vantage points. He couldn’t have been more helpful. While the included lunch was nice there were plenty of other options to choose from if not going for the included lunch package.

Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour from Christchurch with lunch

Chris_H, Sep 2026

This was a spectacular...

This was a spectacular experience; we got very lucky with the weather, with barely a cloud in the sky. I planned the trip well, and our knowledgeable, flexible driver made it clear there were opportunities on the way back to stop in places like Fairlie to check out the award-winning bakery. Cheeky Kiwi felt like an excellent operator, and I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again if I were back in the country.

Christchurch to Arthur's Pass Tours + TranzAlpine Train & Lunch

Andrew_B, Sep 2026

Great trainrdie

Train ride was great. Beautiful scenery with spectacular views and very smooth. Unfortunately when we got to Arthur’s pass it was raining. The tour guide improvised and drove us to some nice waterfalls. Obviously a nice hike to the waterfalls would have been better but we made the most ofnit

Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram

Anna_U, Sep 2026

Beautiful City

The tram actually goes farther around the city centre than was expected. It’s a good idea to do the tram in the beginning of your holidays in Christchurch so you don’t miss more of what this beautiful city has to offer. Also, the tram operators (we had 2 because of shift change) had such great characters. They were very funny. Very entertaining of their stories about the different sites the city has to offer. You cannot visit Christchurch without riding the tram.

TranzAlpine Train, Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill Day Trip

Karen_T, Aug 2026

Fantastic from start to...

Fantastic from start to finish. Great guide who explained everything clearly and thoroughly. Options for hiking, dining walking, sightseeing. Amazing views from the train and bus, and all transport very comfortable. No bathroom on bus, but plenty of stops so not an issue. Two thumbs up!

Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier Tour from Christchurch

Anthony_P, Aug 2026

Must-do tour in Christchurch!

This tour was amazing & we had so much fun! Our tour size was only 12 people so it wasn’t too big nor small. Our tour guide AJ was phenomenal! He would share so much knowledge and facts with us when we get to each landmark yet allow some quiet and rest time while driving alongside some relaxing music. We got picked up and then drove around 90 mins from Christchurch before getting to Geraldine for a 30-mins breakfast stop and bathroom break. Then we drove another 90 mins before reaching Lake Tepako where we stayed for 20 minutes. Then we drove for 30 minutes before reaching reaching Lake Pukaki and stayed there for 20 minutes. We then drove 30 minutes and reached the Heritage Hotel for a 45-mins lunch break. Good options and plenty of seating space at that location. Then we reached Mount Cooked. According to our tour guide AJ, we had 90 minutes there and there are two hikes (one is a bit elevated but doable and one is flat & easy) which combined takes only 80 minutes so we did both. We first did the Tasman Glacier View hike which is the elevated hike. From start to top and back to start takes about 35 minutes (this also included phototaking and short breaks) The views from up top is stunning. Once we got back to the bottom, we did the other hike (Tasman River) where we got to see the floating glaciers. If you do the Tasman Lake Jetty, it’s not very good nor recommended so stick with the “Tasman River” path! This hike is flat but long so start to river and back is about 45 minutes including phototaking. Once we finished it was about 2:30pm so we started driving back to Christchurch and got dropped off at our original pick up locations. Again, our tour guide AJ was super knowledgeable, friendly, caring and super nice. He was always smiling and also provided us with plenty of snacks from chips to chocolates to bites during the entire van ride along with water. Our van also had free wifi so that was super helpful and useful too. All in all, I’m so happy we booked this tour and got AJ as our tour guide. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Christchurch and has a whole day free for this tour to get some amazing photos and views.

Lord of the Rings, Journey to Edoras Day Tour from Christchurch

Shahla_S, Jul 2026

Amazing Day in Edoras!

We had an amazing time visiting Edoras- the views were spectacular (maybe the best of our New Zealand trip, which is really saying something)! Tammy was a wonderful guide- she was kind and so patient and never hurried us even though we were a bit slow to climb. She provided a great commentary on our drive and we felt very safe with her as our driver. Lunch was good and we couldn't have asked for a better day. Thank you so much!

TranzAlpine, Castle Hill & Arthur's Pass Small-Group Tour + Lunch

Jackie_B, Jun 2026

Almost Train Trip

We boarded the train in Christchurch and headed off to Arthur's Pass. Unfortunately, due to the train breaking down we didn't get to our intended destination. We rejoined our tour at Springfield and traveled to Castle Hill. The walk at Castle Hill was great with fabulous views. We then traveled back to Christchurch. Will definitely book the tour again on our next trip to Christchurch.

Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch with Lunch

Natasha_L, Apr 2026

Fantastic experience -...

Fantastic experience - especially for someone that would like to explore South Island that's unable to drive. Simon, the tour guide, was knowledgeable and offered a wonderful commentary through the tour! The views were simply stunning, and I would recommend this tour.

Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch

Hongfei_L, Apr 2026

Nice tour guide and view,but think twice before Kaikoura Whale Watch

The tour guide is very nice. He is empathetic,considerate as well as humorous and professional. The views are good. Just please that think twice before Kaikoura Whale Watch, it will cause seasickness.You can choose this after bring some protective things or choose not to go depending on your health condition.

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights

Susan_J, Mar 2026

An extremely interesting...

An extremely interesting day. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and showed us how much Christchurch has changed since the 2 earthquakes in 2010/11. It was very sad to see the Cathedral still under repair as we had seen it pre-earthquake in 2007. It's a lovely city to visit and to see how much has been rebuilt so far. Hope the good work continues 🙏

Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket

Angela_C, Feb 2026

Spectacular 360 degree views, worth the wait

Wow, the views were stunning on the way up and down the gondola. The views from the gondola top station were amazing! As we walked around the top we were presented with spectacular panoramic views of Lyttelton harbour, the Christchurch cityscape, across the plains to the southern alps and very long beaches. 360 degree views! Follow the map provided and do the discovery ride at the bottom of the top station! It was a highlight of our experience. It was a busy day when we visited and worth the wait.