NEW ZEALAND · CANTERBURY TOURS
Distances here run longer than the map suggests, so a day out has to be worth the petrol. Below: 15 canterbury tours, what each costs and how long it takes door to door.
Review of Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools: 22 outdoor pools, slides, family fun, accessibility, dining, prices, timing, and practical tips.
“Great after a long day of travel. We came back for a 2nd relaxating treatment after our bungi jump and jet boat experience in Hanmer Springs. There is a great spinner in teh changing rooms to spin all teh water out of your clothes... use it!”
Review of Amuri Adventure Jet Boating near Hanmer Springs, with canyon runs, 360-degree spins, river views, pricing, access, and tips.
“The joking around lighthearted answers to big questions.walk down to the boat was hard on us with bad knees.ride was fast exhilarating.”
Review Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools, with hot pools, sulphur pools, lazy river, slides, prices, tips, and advice on who should book.
Review of the Methven Mt Hutt hot air balloon flight, with sunrise views, Southern Alps scenery, practical tips, pricing, and honest drawbacks.
“The whole experience was made super exciting by the flight crew and then all the people who flew with us Fully recommend it for anyone.”
Paddle Akaroa Harbour at sunrise, spot Hector dolphins and seals, and explore a marine reserve with a local guide for $92.
“Alex provided us with lots of knowledge about wildlife culture and history of Akaroa Bay. Timi passed much too fast!”
Review of Lyttelton’s Godley Head hike, with beach coffee, coastal views, WWII sites, picnic lunch, transport, and practical booking advice.
“Great experience with fantastic views. Nicole and Heidi were incredible hosts. Highly recommend this hike/walk!”
Review of Queenstown’s 12-hour Mount Cook heli-hike, scenic bus tour, Tasman Glacier flight, Lake Pukaki stops, and practical tips.
Cruise Akaroa Harbour on a small historic boat, spotting dolphins, penguins, seabirds, and volcanic coastlines with local guides.
“We loved it thank you. Super cruisey and loads of local knowledge shared with us. Really enjoyed the whole experiences thanks to the hosts”
Fly over Aoraki/Mt Cook and the full Tasman Glacier, then land on the ice during this 40-minute helicopter tour.
“It was too good, worth it totally! Special shout out to our captain Toby Morris - very humble and experienced navigator. Kudos”
Ride Akaroa’s Lava Loop by premium e-bike, climbing to the crater rim for harbor views, local stories, and a thrilling downhill return.
“Exhilarating! High intensity ride that paid big dividends in terms of views and sense of achievement. My guide, Lourn, guide was great. Kept me safe and shared heaps of local knowledge - history, culture, flora and fauna.”
Fly over Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tasman Terminal Lake, and snowy Southern Alps with an alpine landing on this 30-minute helicopter tour.
“Great experience and awesome pilot, Simon who gave us a fabulous trip and fantastic flight. Felt a little bit nervous when the helicopter was turbulent near Mount cook, we had a terrific landing and viewing afterwards. We are pretty satisfied for this trip, although the trip provider rearranged our time from 3pm to 1pm due to minimum customers, it is acceptable for email communication. The headset is a little bit of noisy, cannot hear pilot introduction during trip. Anyway, still a great trip and worth for it.”
Ride 4WD tracks across Mt Hay Station, meet a working Merino farm, spot wildlife, and enjoy big Lake Tekapo views in a four-person tour.
“Excellent experience with Steve. A great informative guide who told us all about life in Tekapo and on a farm. We learnt a lot about local and thoroughly enjoyed the drive with some out of this world views.”
Race through Hanmer Springs’ Waiau Gorge on a one-hour jet boat ride with white water, cliff-hugging turns, and a 360° spin.
“Great fun, fast driving, some good adrenaline, great views ans longer than you think :)”
Dine at The Moraine, sip wine in a cellar, and view Saturn, Jupiter, and Southern skies at Pukaki Observatory near Mount Cook.
“Really amazing, such a beautiful place. Everybody who we interacted with was so passionate and excited about their work. Highly recommend!”
Review of the $119 Christchurch to Mount Cook coach tour, with Lake Tekapo views, helpful commentary, practical stops, and honest value advice.
“This is a city bus fyi with commentary. I think this wasn’t clear from the description, but the stars are for the bus driver! Loved his commentary I learned a lot”
Sorted by what you actually want to do that morning.
