Top Canterbury Views

The Port Hills are one of the most popular and visited landscapes of Christchurch.  Their soft signature skyline provides the scenic backdrop for the city. Visitors can experience the Port Hills in many different ways, from scenic drives to picnic lookouts.  There are a number of scenic walking tracks with some of the best views of the city and surrounding region. Running, mountain...

Spend a day in the outdoors cycling, walking, or running. Enjoy the peace and listen to native birdcall. Victoria Park on the outskirts of Christchurch offers a wealth of outdoor activities from the gentlest of walks to thrilling mountain bike tracks. Panoramic views of the city, the Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, and Pegasus Bay add a picturesque element to any visit to the park and ...

A short, scenic drive from Lyttelton is the beautiful Governors Bay.  The views are stunning as you drive Governors Bay Road.  Along with a secluded, sandy beach which is safe for swimming, there are the picturesque Taunton Gardens and Ohinetahi Gardens close by.  Ōtoromiro Hotel, first established in 1870 is a chance to sip a drink or two or if you want to take a brea...

Offering 360-degree views over Christchurch, the gondola provides visitors with a spectacular vista and fantastic photo opportunities. The journey to 500 metres above sea level takes about 10 minutes in a fully enclosed cable car.  At the top visitors can stretch their legs with a walk on one of the many Port Hills tracks or simply sit and take in the view stretches to the Southern Alps in...

Akaroa meaning "long harbour" in Maori, is a charming, French-influenced harbour town in the heart of the Banks Peninsula.  Located in the middle of a volcanic crater, the harbour is home to seals, rare Hector’s dolphins, penguins, birds, and much further out to sea, whales.  The popularity of the town means there are plenty of wildlife cruises that journey out to the Canterbur...

700 square kilometres of awesome glaciers and snow-capped mountains, including 19 of the country's highest 20. Aoraki/Mount Cook is the crowning jewel, a must-see for any true nature lover. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park borders Westland Tai Poutini National Park, on the western side of the South Island, 4.5 hours from Christchurch, 6 hours from Greymouth, and is part of the Te Wahipounamu Sou...

A few minutes' drive from Kaikoura town centre brings you up close to a seal colony.  Park your car and view the seals in their natural habitat, with a backdrop of the Kaikoura mountains and coastline. The New Zealand Fur seal is a common sight  around Kaikoura throughout the year a small breeding colony scattered along the peninsula coastline. The seal population is predominantly mal...

Midway along highway 73, Castle Hill got it's name due to the large grey boulders of limestone resembling the ruins of an old castle. With boulders reaching over 50 metres in height, it's quite a sight The huge boulders have drawn both Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia films to capture this unique landscape on film. The impressive natural formations continue to attract climbers,...

Located in Arthur's Pass National Park, a spectacular fall of 131 metres that can accessed from the Devil's Punchbowl trail. The one hour return walk from Arthur's Pass Village includes footbridges, forest, impressive views of Arthur's Pass and of course a majestic waterfall. A turning a few hundred metres past the general store (heading towards Haast) is a carpark where you can pick up the ...

Enjoy the magic of Canterbury from high above in the tranquil early morning skies. Ballooning Canterbury will take you on a stunning trip across the Canterbury Plains in a top of the range hot air balloon. Experience the peace of early morning air and watch the sun come up across the plains before landing and enjoying a glass of champagne, fruit and muffins. Ballooning Canterbury is a family...

Lake Pukaki offers fabulous postcard views of eye-catching turquoise water and the snow capped mountains of Mount Cook National Park in the distance. The 178 square kilometre Lake is situated about 15 minutes drive from Twizel and 45 minutes from Mount Cook Village. There’s parking and toilets but little else. It’s a case of parking up and enjoying the views. Lake Pukaki's photogenic blu...

Situated about 3 hours drive from Queenstown and Christchurch, the turquoise water of Lake Tekapo is a welcoming sight at the foot of the Southern Alps.  The lake sprawls across 83 square kilometres, attracting visitors drawn by the setting and opportunities to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities.  Along with salmon and trout fishing, the landscape lends itself to mountain b...