All Christchurch Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

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

10 hoursFree Cancellation

4.8

(491)

from $240

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

(352)

from $144

Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram

1 dayFree Cancellation

(965)

from $25

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

4.6

(301)

from $162

Visit three top attractions in the "Garden City" with a Christchurch sightseeing pass. Explore at your leisure and see the city from above on a 10-minute Christchurch Gondola ride, including the Discovery Ride exhibit. Enjoy a 30-minute ride in a flat-bottomed punt on the serene Avon River, or discover 18 stops during a hop-on hop-off Christchurch Tram tour all day pass—what you do first is totally up to you.

Christchurch Sightseeing Pass

2 daysFree Cancellation

(79)

from $73

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

4.3

(52)

from $57

Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch

Aerial views of Kaikoura Sperm Whales & Boat

11 hoursFree Cancellation

4.4

(192)

from $223

Lord of the Rings - Journey to Edoras Tour

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

4.8

(378)

from $195

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

14 hoursFree Cancellation

4.7

(109)

from $240

Special Offer

Enjoy unobstructed views of New Zealand’s tallest mountain—Aoraki Mt. Cook—as well as some of the South Island’s most beautiful natural landscapes without having to drive yourself. Join an easy guided full-day tour from Christchurch that takes you past Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, fields of lavender (summer season only), and to hiking trails in Mt. Cook National Park to see the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s longest. End back in Christchurch.

Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo and Tasman Glacier Tour from Christchurch

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Special Offer

Mt Cook & Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch (lunch included)

13 hoursFree Cancellation

Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket

2 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

(330)

from $27

TranzAlpine Train & Small Group Tour to Arthurs Pass with Lunch

TranzAlpine Train & Small Group Tour to Arthurs Pass with Lunch

10 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(40)

from $270

Coastal Pacific Train Journey from Christchurch to Picton

5 hours 40 minutes

4.7

(98)

from $144

Explore Christchurch in style with the all-day ticket for the iconic Christchurch Trams and the breathtaking Gondola. Hop on and off the restored heritage trams for a delightful city tour, enriched by live commentary from local drivers. Enjoy the ticket as a hop on and off tour or just complete the 50 minute circuit. Then, ascend the Gondola for stunning views over the city, Lyttelton Harbour, and the Pacific Ocean. At the summit station, enjoy walking tracks, the Christchurch Discovery Ride, and a café offering local fare. The 852 horizonal metre trip to the summit takes around 10 minutes and offers stunning views in all directions. This experience is perfect for families and those seeking a memorable sightseeing adventure in Christchurch. Customers can do the attractions on different days if they wish.

Christchurch Tram and Gondola Combo

1 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

4.0

(1)

from $49

Learn about Antarctic landscapes, wildlife, and explorers with convenient pre-purchased tickets to the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. Brave a harsh Antarctic storm, learn about life on remote Scott Base, and check out adorable little blue penguins. Enjoy Hägglund rides (height restrictions apply) and 4D shows, and enter the “cuddle zone,” where you can meet fluffy huskies that explorers historically used to pull their Antarctic dog sleds.

International Antarctic Centre General Admission Ticket

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

4.4

(549)

from $45

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

(505)

from $114

Be enchanted by Kaikoura’s marine life on this full-day dolphin-swimming tour from Christchurch without having to drive yourself there and back along winding coastal roads. In Kaikoura, a whale-watching paradise, board a sightseeing boat and jump into the Pacific Ocean with the provided wetsuit and snorkel. Swim alongside dusky dolphins in their natural habitat and enjoy the company of these graceful, curious sea mammals with help from your guides.

Kaikoura Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch

Kaikoura Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch

12 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.

(29)

from $247

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

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

13 hoursFree Cancellation

4.7

(67)

from $226

Christchurch to Queenstown 2 Day Tour via Franz Josef (One Way)

Embark on an unforgettable journey through some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes with Cheeky Kiwi Travel. This two-day tour from Christchurch to Queenstown via Franz Josef offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes and hidden gems. You’ll enjoy personalized service, small group sizes, and expert local guides who will ensure your journey is as informative as it is exhilarating. Book your adventure today and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Christchurch to Queenstown 2 Day Tour via Franz Josef (One Way)

2 daysFree Cancellation

5.0

(12)

from $349

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.

Otira Viaduct—engineering marvel spanning the gorge

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

10 hoursFree Cancellation

4.4

(121)

from $256

Lyttelton Shore Excursion City Highlights with 3 best Attractions

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

from $141

Experience South Island of New Zealand on this seven day independent coach tour. Travelling by coach and train through the specular South Island of New Zealand. Your journey commences in Christchurch travelling on day one to Greymouth on the world famous TranzAlpine Train and then by road to Franz Josef. Then by road up the rugged West Coast, via Haast Pass and Wanaka to Queenstown. You will have three nights in Queenstown and during your stay there you will visit Milford Sound and enjoy a nature cruise on the sound. You will also have a full free day to explore the township on your own or partake in one of the many activities that are on offer. From Queenstown you will travel by road to Dunedin where you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city plus a day tour out onto the Otago Peninsula for a visit to Larnach Castle and for a wildlife cruise on the harbour during your two night stay. On your final day you will return to Christchurch by road where your 7 day tour will conclude.

7Day/6Nights Coastal Splendour Tour

7 daysFree Cancellation

3.7

(6)

from $1,681

Catering exclusively for cruise ship passengers, this half-day all-inclusive coach tour of Christchurch fits in more than most visitors can see or do in a weekend on their own. Combine a visit to the renowned International Antarctic Centre with a narrated, air-conditioned excursion around several of the Garden City’s most historic and picturesque sites, plus learn about the devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes as you travel. Food and drinks are not included.

Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Antarctic Center

6 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

4.6

(217)

from $117

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What are people saying about Christchurch

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.

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

YueIda_Z, Aug 2026

Great way to travel from Christchurch to Queenstown!

A great way to get from Christchurch to Queenstown while getting a quick look at the sights along the way. Our guide Rosie was lovely and very knowledgeable, giving us interesting insights about the towns and sights we passed by, and about conservation in NZ. I definitely felt like this added to the experience and made it a lot more worthwhile. It felt like I learned a lot about the places we passed by, info that I wouldn’t have known if I was self-driving. We had many stops at viewpoints (lake tekapo & pukaki) and could do two short but very scenic walks at Aoraki Mt Cook (45mins +1hr). It was a long day but we were never in the van for more than about 1.5 hours at a time, with plenty of opportunities for bathroom breaks and to stretch our legs. We made a stop at a lovely cafe to get breakfast in the morning about 2hrs out, and a packed lunch with delicious hot soup was provided midday. We changed coaches at Aoraki Mt Cook and continued with another driver. In Queenstown, we got dropped off at our accomodations. We made good time, about 12.5 hrs in total.

Mt Cook & Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch (lunch included)

glennperry, Aug 2026

Spectacular South Alps, NZ

We had a wonderful day exploring the spectacular New Zealand Alps and Mount Cook. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, made even more memorable by the beautiful weather and clear views of the mountains. Our guide and driver Grant was very knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining, providing fascinating information throughout the journey and making the day both enjoyable and informative. There was plenty to see and do, with the full day packed with beautiful scenery, interesting stops and memorable experiences. A fantastic way to experience the incredible beauty of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps. Highly recommended!

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!

Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch

Jill_E, Jul 2026

Loved this tour- Don’t miss out on Akaroa

This tour is about Akaroa, getting there through beautiful mountains and valleys, the township itself so quaint and tranquil, the lunch of your choosing, the dolphin cruise, the cheese factory, and return. This tour is a stunning countryside, mountain, seaside and ocean experience (whether the dolphins are found, or not). Jude was a wonderful and kind guide for the day. She was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to accommodate special requests! I can’t wait to return in the summer. We were so lucky to have been gifted a bright, sunny day in mid-winter and I returned home with loads of beautiful photos of the Canterbury hills, harborside views, and the spectacular scenic ocean cliffs and rocks on the cruise. Cathedral Cove was a beautiful place to see-watercolor was amazing. This was a fantastic introduction to the Banks Peninsula, its terrain, and the picturesque, quaint French town of Akaroa.

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

Peter_G, Jun 2026

Amazing Day - Loved the Train!

It was a fabulous experience. The train was gorgeous and the views were unbeatable. Plus, the staff was incredibly kind. The driver was great with fun facts and lots of yummy snacks. I really enjoyed the hike and other walks included - lots of stops and viewpoints, which was great. Really great tour - I recommend it, especially the train!

Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch

Amanda_S, May 2026

Amazing Adventure

To do this trip on our own would have been exhausting. Terry made the trip amazing. We stopped at a halfway point to get coffee and go to the bathroom and then got to Kaikoura just before noon and had nearly an hour to find a spot to eat lunch in this quaint town. Whale watching was such an adventure and Terry capped it off by stopping to see the seals. What a treat! Thanks to Terry for all the information and stories on the way up!

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.

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

G_C, Apr 2026

Great way to enjoy The diversity of the Southern Island

This trip gives you time to enjoy some of the tremendous beauties that span the southern island from Christchurch to Queenstown. Frequent stops made the trip much more manageable and the views are exceptional on the trip. Plus the ability to hike at some of these sites really make it enjoyable.

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

Alyssa_R, Mar 2026

Fantastic!

Fantastic experience, we enjoyed every moment of it! Our guide Paul was knowledgeable and recommended multiple things for us to do in our free time. The views are spectacular and you spend the right amount of time at each stop. Jet Alpine Thrills has a beautiful bush walk you can do if you choose to not to the Jet Boat (we saw multiple Fantails who flew around us it was incredible!) Castle Hill was stunning, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Then later in Arthurs Pass, my friend and I attempted the Devils Punch Bowl and the others on our trip encouraged us to keep going when we thought about turning around. This experience was the best on my trip yet and I’m so thankful we chose this!

TranzAlpine Train Journey: Christchurch to Greymouth

Sharon_A, Jan 2026

Amazing experience!!

What an amazing experience !! Worked like clock work 😊 with easy to board, staff were great! We did the lunch and train ride and were fortunate enough to have a lovely UK couple share the table we were on. The food was fantastic!! We thought it was just lunch but you get a lovely A la carte menu which also includes a light breakfast which was totally delicious with drinks being alcohol and juices or cool drinks and coffee and teas. We would definitely do it again! You won’t be disappointed!! 😊😊