Top Christchurch Day Trips

A great trip with an excellent, knowledgeable guide. The advantage of taking the Trans Alpine to Arthur's Pass and returning by coach on a guided tour is that you experience so much more on the return journey. Would very highly recommend this wonderful trip.

Our tour guide John was engaging, informative and entertaining. Travelling through the Alps at the end of the summer was pretty, but I kept imagining how dramatic this scenery would be during the spring with the mountains snow capped and the rivers running full. It was nice to be able to take in the changing landscapes and not having to worry about the driving. The jet boat ride, offered for a fee, was fun and a nice addition to the trip. The return train ride was a relaxing, slow and scenic way to end the day.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the incredible day trip to Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook! Words can't describe how beautiful those places are. The lake is like a gem, and Mount Cook looked so majestic. It was the perfect day, thanks in large part to your fantastic guiding. You made the tour so much fun and shared so many interesting facts that made the experience even more special. I had the best time ever.

Our family very much enjoyed this tour. The views of the lakes and mountains were stunning. It was a long drive but the driver provided snacks and water throughout the day and made plenty of stops. Travelers should be aware that this tour does not actually take you to Mount Cook or the Tasman Glacier themselves but rather viewpoints for each in Mount Cook National Park. We had great weather so enjoyed wonderful views of Mount Cook, but Tasman Glacier is pretty far from the viewpoint and appears as just a sliver of white between mountains. The views of the Blue Lakes were much more spectacular. The hike requiring "moderate fitness" is a 12 minute walk up a well-maintained path with stairs to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, and there is a separate trail to the Tasman River, which is more flat and easy. It was easy to do both within the allotted 80 minutes. We were warned that it is cold at the Tasman Glacier viewpoint and to bring a jacket, but on a warm day in the summer, the hike up was enough of a workout that we had to take off our outer layers. The bus had working WiFi, which was helpful given the remote destinations. We would very much recommend this tour for travelers who don't mind a long bus ride to get to the beautiful mountain scenery.

This was a fabulous tour. Be ready for a long day but it is so worth it! The views were amazing. Loved the additional stops , especially at Fairly Bakery. You must try the meat pies! Our guide Jess made the entire day so enjoyable! The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. The roads aren’t perfect but doable. Our van was a bit old but the seats were very comfortable, except they need new seatbelts. You will love this tour.

We did the combination Avon River punting, and the gondola to the top of that mountain. Both experiences are very good our river punting captain, Jack, was very friendly, informative, and comical. On the gondola you get to have a nice panoramic view of the whole area. I recommend.

The hike up Mt. Sunday isn’t super easy but two pudgy fifty-something’s like me and my husband managed it! It helped that Cheryl, our awesome guide, provided walking poles. My husband opted for a replica LOTR sword, though, which made for great pictures. Be warned, it can get very windy up there! If you have long hair, bring something to tie it back. Cheryl was knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. Definitely recommend her and the tour.

Two operators that switch after Mt. Cook. The first part was great. We thought Nick was great and the van was comfortable. Nick provided a lot of interesting commentary, spoke loudly so everyone could hear, and was great with my child. I can’t seem to remember the name of the tour operator at the moment…. The switch off happened at the Hermitage hotel which was a nice surprise to get some time there. The second part was run by cheeky kiwi but less great. The van seats were less comfortable. I couldn’t hear the guide. The stops didn’t seem as spectacular (which isn’t the tour operators fault) and we skipped the suspension bridge but added an orchard stop, and I would’ve preferred the bridge. The high country salmon stop was kind of a waste too especially because we did a salmon stop on Lake Pukaki, which I loved. It was a long day, I think 13h in total, but it was the only way to get everything done so I am grateful!