Canterbury Region tours, things to do and tickets

Enjoy a unique whale watching experience off the South Island of New Zealand. Experience an up-close encounter with the world’s largest toothed predator, the giant sperm whale. Look out for other wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and birds.

Welcome aboard the Christchurch Tram! Travel on our newly extended track & enjoy this unique and historic way to view the inner city. Drivers provide a live and entertaining commentary. A full circuit takes 50 minutes, includes 18 stops and there are up to four Trams operating. Trams run approximately every 15 minutes (season dependent) and your ticket lasts all day as a hop on and off pass.
Once booked, please collect your tickets with your booking reference number from the booking office located in Cathedral Junction 109 Worcester St.
Please note our attractions do get very busy sometimes, especially if a cruise ship is in port and there may be a wait time at the Tram entry due to increased demand

Take to the skies for a unique view on a whale-watching flight over Kaikoura. With a guaranteed window seat, all passengers get great views of the coastline and its marine life below.

Enjoy an afternoon Wine Trail tour exploring three of North Canterbury's boutique vineyards including Waipara Springs, Torlesse, Pegasus Bay, Waipara Hills or Georges Road, all producing a fine selection of both white and red wines for tastings. Also included are at least 15 wine tastings at the vineyards of wines from of numerous grape varieties.
Should the afternoon tour option with lunch be selected the Plattered lunch has been arranged at the first winery you visit on the day of travel.

Discover the heritage city of Christchurch and its surroundings from a different perspective with a full-day pass for a hop-on-and-off tram and a roundtrip ticket for a gondola cable car ride.

Fly by helicopter above the incredible Franz Josef Glacier taking in its ice pinnacles and crevasses, then fly into the impressive Southern Alps and take stunning photos on the snow landing site.

Enjoy an astronomy experience with a group of night sky enthusiasts at Lake Tekapo. Learn fascinating information about the night sky and view deep-sky objects through telescopes.

Immerse yourself in the magic of the Lord of the Rings trilogy on this 9-hour adventure to Edoras (Mount Sunday) from Christchurch. Explore with your guide and soak up breathtaking views from the peak of Edoras. Look over exclusive behind-the-scenes photographs of Edoras under construction. Pose for photographs with movie replicas such as Aragorn’s sword, Gimli’s axe and the flag of Rohan. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch with a glass of New Zealand sparkling wine. See for yourself how this tranquil mountainside was transformed into mysterious Edoras — the capital city of the Rohan people.

Experience the South Island's remarkable natural landscapes by taking a journey on the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass, which is considered one of the world's greatest train journeys for the scenery through which it passes. Enjoy breathtaking views of Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, ice-fed Waimakariri River, lush beech forests and stunning landscapes. Explore walking tracks in Arthur's Pass National Park with spectacular mountain views & pristine waterfalls. Capture mirror images at Lake Pearson & wander through the majestic limestone boulders at Castle Hill. A perfect day trip for nature lovers, hikers & adventure seekers.

The International Antarctic Centre transports a slice of this astounding continent to Christchurch, with a range of immersive experiences that allow everyday visitors to see, touch, feel and fall in love with Antarctica.

Brave an Antarctic storm, go off-road in a Hägglund, mingle with the penguins, experience Antarctica from all four dimensions and leave with a head full of knowledge, a heart full of love and an inspiration to take action. Just like the explorers before you.

Travel in a small group from Christchurch, on a day trip to Aoraki Mount Cook – the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Visit the picturesque Church of Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo and admire stunning alpine views from turquoise colored Lake Pukaki. Savor a scrumptious lunch at the Hermitage Hotel (POA) located in Mt. Cook National Park and enjoy a scenic walk to see the Tasman Glacier. Visit the turquoise coloured lakes of glacial melt and snow capped mountains.

Take a magical journey into Middle Earth and explore the Lord of the Rings film locations from Queenstown to Glenorchy and beyond. Visit the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Aspiring N.P.

In the heart of the Southern Alps, Arthur's Pass National Park has an incredible diversity of flora and landscape. Experience a breathtaking journey aboard the TranzAlpine Train winding it's way through the magnificent Waimakariri Gorge. Join short guided walks to rainforests, rivers and mountain vistas. Traveling in a small group, maximum ten participants, allows for an intimate and informative experience.

Head off on a kayak through the beautiful coastal waters with guaranteed seal viewing and breathtaking views of the rugged coastline. Enjoy chance encounters with dolphins and blue penguins.

Experience the South Island’s striking natural landscape by taking a train one way between Christchurch and Greymouth. Along this journey you’ll see epic vistas, travel the edges of the ice-fed Waimakariri River, traverse the Southern Alps, and see miles of native beech forest.

Join us on our two hour Rivertrail trek. See the spectacular mountain views of the Torlesse basin as you trek through the valley to the Otarama lookout point over the magnificent snow fed Waimakariri Canyon whilst riding through on our high country farm.
Stop for a fantastic photo opportunities overlooking the Canyon before we ride down the terraces, following a musterers’ trail through the farmland.
This ride is suitable for all riding abilities and fitness but caters also for the more experienced riders with some opportunities for faster paced riding.
Please note riders must weigh less than 120kilos (2641bs), be a minimum of 12 years old and wear sturdy closed shoes(running shoes are ok).
All riders are required to sign a waiver prior to departing on the ride.
We provide safety helmets and they must be worn at all times when riding

Experience one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass. Meet your guide for a full day of exploration through the South Island's remarkable natural landscapes.

Fly by helicopter above 2 of New Zealand's biggest glaciers – the Franz Josef and then either the Fox or Tasman Glaciers. Fly past Mount Cook and into the Southern Alps for a 10-minute snow landing.

Fly high above Christchurch on New Zealand's longest & highest Zipline.

Set on 358 private hectares in Christchurch’s stunning Port Hills, the Christchurch Adventure Park Zipline Tour is approx 2.5 hours and has series of four thrilling dual ­ziplines, including one that is over 1.1 kilometres long (NZ’s longest!), and another that is over 150 metres above the valley floor (NZ’s highest!).

Embark on a half-day sightseeing tour of Christchurch while your ship is at port in Lyttelton. This tour highlights both the damage to the city inflicted by several large earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 and the rebuild which is currently in progress, paired with the surviving beauty of the city and historical landmarks.