Christchurch to Hanmer Springs to Christchurch in 3 days

Yippee!! A long weekend and a time to explore Christchurch and the surrounding areas. Christchurch is a great place to start any South Island adventure big or small and 3 days is plenty of time to get out and discover all that the Canterbury region has to offer. This trip is going to head north of Christchurch and check out the magnificent thermal springs at Hanmer and finish on a high with a trip to swim with dolphins up on the east coast. Sound like fun? Better get GOing then! If you’re still in the planning stage of your trip, make sure you check out the great deals on car hire in Christchurch – we’re not one of New Zealand’s favourite rental car companies for no reason!

Contents

1. Route map with key locations
2. Recommended vehicle for this trip
3. Trip itinerary
   • Christchurch
   • Hanmer Springs
   • Kaikoura

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Trip Itinerary

1Christchurch

Although you’ve just picked up your new GO Rentals car, don’t be in too big a hurry to leave Christchurch as there is plenty to see and do. Take the time on your first day to explore the ‘Garden City’, the largest city in the South Island where you can relax your way into your latest adventure.

Christchurch Complete Guide

Christchurch has unfortunately made headlines in recent times for a string of earthquakes that caused serious damage to the city – but its charm remains untouched and the city is rebuilding.

The tree-lined Avon River and Christchurch’s many parks and gardens give the city its reputation as the Garden City so make sure you check out the botanical gardens and the beautiful parks. Check out the several Gap Filler projects that volunteers have created to temporarily “activate” sites left empty by the earthquakes – you’ll be able to see some unique and really creative work that is proof of Christchurch’s charm and resilience.

If you are planning on sticking around Christchurch for a bit longer, make sure you check out our blog and discover some of the best things to do in Christchurch.

After a morning spent exploring Christchurch, it’s time to hit the road and head to your first destination on this trip – Hanmer Springs. It’s a 134km drive which will take you around 2 hours.

Hanmer Springs

Once you’ve arrived and checked into your accommodation, it’s probably going to be getting close to dinner time and Hanmer is a great place to grab some food and sample some of the local beverages.

Monteith’s Brewery Bar

If you’ve not managed to sample the delights of one of New Zealand’s favourite beers, fear not! Although it may not offer the full brewery tour experience, The Monteith’s brewpub in Hanmer is certainly a great place to go and try your favourite Monteith’s ale and relax and unwind. Situated right in the heart of the town, there is a great vibe to match the great beer so whatever you have been up to during the day, this is a great place to end your night. Our top tip is the Monteith’s Southern Pale Ale. When in Rome as they say!

2Hanmer Springs and around

You will be glad you made the drive up yesterday as now you have a full day to explore the delights of this great little village. Surrounded by the beautiful Southern Alps with crisp alpine air, relax and unwind in the award-winning thermal pools or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Hanmer Village and surrounding areas.

Wai Ariki Farm Park

If getting crinkly is not your thing, there are plenty of other attractions in Hanmer and one of the best is the Wai Ariki Farm Park. Offering a hands-on experience, Wai Ariki is home to some weird and wonderful animals which are sure to keep kids and adults amused for the morning. The Tibetan Yak are a particular favourite!

Shopping

Although you have only just headed off on this epic kiwi adventure, we know some of you love a bit of retail therapy. With a fantastic range of boutique outlets including the quirky ‘Up the Garden Path’ and ‘Wink’, we’re sure you’ll find the shopping as relaxing as a trip to the thermal pools.

After a full day of relaxing, it may be difficult to drag yourself away and head over to Kaikoura where you will spend your second night. If it’s all too much, you can always make the drive in the morning but we recommend heading over there tonight so you have a full day in Kaikoura on your last day of this trip.

If you do decide to stick around, make sure you check out our Hanmer Springs Trave Guide where you will find plenty of great ideas for things to do in Hanmer Springs.

It’s about 130kms to Kaikoura which will take you just over 2 hours.

3Kaikoura to Christchurch (181kms – 2 hours 21 mins)

See, we told you you’d be glad you came the night before! Kaikoura is a great place to spend the last day of your trip and a great opportunity to tick off one of the things that appear on so many wish lists – swim with dolphins! Kaikoura is not just about the dolphins though – this place is a whale watchers’ paradise and one of the best places in New Zealand to spot them at varying times of the year. There’s also a chance to sample some of the local vino as we’re not too far from the world-famous Marlborough wine region.

Cellar View Café and Restaurant

Kaikoura is one of New Zealand’s best locations for seeing marine life including whales and dolphins. It is also the home to the Cellar View Cafe and Restaurant. This place serves up some pretty amazing dishes matched only by the stunning views out to the pacific. It’s easy to let an afternoon drift by, enjoying the delicious food and admiring the endless view. Nice.

Swimming with dolphins

GO Play partner Encounter Kaikoura offers a brilliant opportunity to get in the water in the south Pacific and swim with these amazing animals with tours operating three times a day.

GO Snap Happy Photo Opportunity

It’s not just dolphins that pass through the waters around Kaikoura though and if you time things right, there is also the chance to see various species of whale as well as seals and birds.

After a full-on morning swimming with dolphins, watching the whales or simply relaxing with a glass of vino (not for the driver though please), it’s time to hit the road and head back to drop the car off in Christchurch. Hopefully, you will have managed to squeeze in everything you wanted – maybe you loved it so much in Hanmer that you stayed for two nights and headed straight back to Christchurch – it’s been known! However your trip worked out, why not send us your pics for our GO Snap Happy competition for the chance to win back the cost of your car rental – can’t say fairer than that!

If you are looking for more inspiration for a trip from Christchurch, make sure you check out our guide to the best destinations within three hours drive of Christchurch.

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