My Favourite Day Trips from Christchurch

Christchurch is a lovely city in its own right, but it also makes a fantastic base for some beautiful day trips in the South Island.

In any direction from Christchurch, you can set out to discover coastline, hikes, waterfalls, or hot pools within 2.5 hours or less from the city.

I don’t know about you, but my idea of a perfect day trip involves good food, a walk or hike, and nice scenery. 

If that sounds like you, too, then I hope you enjoy this list of my favourite day trips from Christchurch!

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Need wheels?

Most of these day trips are easiest to access with your own set of wheels (although I’ll also share some car-free options).

🚗 If you need to hire a car, try comparing prices on Discover Cars. For a specific recommendation, I like Apex Rentals—they’re usually my go-to when I need a car rental in New Zealand!

🚐 And if you’re starting a longer New Zealand itinerary in Christchurch, consider hiring a campervan for your trip. I like using Motorhome Republic to compare campervan prices.

The Best Day Trips From Christchurch

1. Sumner & Godley Head

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre:  approx. 17 km | 30 minutes
• How to get there: by car

Sumner is a lovely seaside suburb located a short drive from the Christchurch city centre.

Combined with a day hike at nearby Godley Head, it makes for a fabulous day out in Christchurch!

Start your day with a walk around Sumner, and check out the beach. It’s fun to watch the surfers in action here. 

If you’re keen on some breakfast, I recommend Niche Coffee & Eatery (one of my favourite cafes in Christchurch!).

Bohemian Bakery is also well worth visiting—they make delicious bread, pastries, and sandwiches. It’s the perfect place to pick up some baked goods to take with you on your hike.

From Sumner, drive to Taylor’s Mistake Beach, where you’ll start your hike. 

The Awaroa-Godley Head Loop is a stunning hike, covering 9.3 km and usually taking around 2.5-3 hours to complete. You’ll get sweeping coastal views the entire way. 

Make sure to wear sunscreen, a hat, and layers, because this trail is exposed to the elements.

This is one of my absolute top day hikes in the South Island and I really can’t recommend it enough!

If you’d like a treat after your hike, stop in Sumner again on the drive back into the city. 

An ice cream from Utopia Ice is never a bad idea, or you could opt for a craft beer and snack at the Sumner Post Office.

2. Lyttelton & Diamond Harbour

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 37 km | 50 minutes to Diamond Harbour via Lyttelton (or less if you take the ferry!)
• How to get there: by car or public bus & ferry

For an easy yet super-scenic day trip from Christchurch, head to the seaside port suburb of Lyttelton.

Lyttelton is such a charming place, with a seafaring history and very cool vibe.

To get to Lyttelton from the Christchurch city centre, you can either drive yourself or take the public bus (#8).

Once you arrive in Lyttelton, it’s nice to just have a stroll around town and pop into the shops and cafes. 

The Lyttelton Coffee Co. is a great spot for a coffee (as the name might suggest). Spooky Boogie is another nice cafe for a coffee, with a fun and funky atmosphere.

There are some great shops to check out in Lyttelton. Harbour Co-op is a wonderful organic food shop, and Henry Trading is a lovely little gift shop with lots of locally-made goodies to admire.

After you’ve explored Lyttelton, hop on the ferry to Diamond Harbour (or you could also drive around the bays to reach Diamond Harbour instead). 

The ferry will whisk you across the Lyttelton Harbour and it takes about 10 minutes to reach Diamond Harbour. 

At Diamond Harbour, I highly recommend visiting the cutest cafe ever, Soulful Coffee Shop. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Diamond Harbour Wharf to this cafe. They make great coffee and chai, and have delicious cabinet items (try the chilli cheese scroll!).

After your cafe visit, go for a nice little walk along the Coastal Cliffs Walkway. You can walk in either direction from the wharf—towards Purau Bay or Church Bay. You don’t have to walk for long, but it’s nice to enjoy the coastal scenery from the trail.

When you return to Lyttelton on the ferry, you might want to have a drink and snack at Civil and Naval before heading back to the city. 

3. Akaroa & the Banks Peninsula

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 87 km | 1.5 hours
• How to get there: by car or tour

Akaroa is a beautiful coastal village on the Banks Peninsula. 

It’s known for its French heritage, gorgeous harbour, and wildlife-spotting opportunities.

The drive from Christchurch to Akaroa is breathtaking, with a winding route leading you over epic views across the Banks Peninsula. 

There are some nice stops to make along the drive to Akaroa, including Little River, the Barry’s Bay cheese shop, and the Ōnawe Track.

Once you arrive in Akaroa, you’ll be spoilt for choice on how to spend the day. 

You could simply walk around the village and enjoy some fish & chips by the sea, or hop on an Akaroa nature cruise to look for dolphins, seals, and marine birds. 

Not far from Akaroa is the Hinewai Reserve, a nature reserve with nice walking tracks to choose from.

On your return to Christchurch, I recommend heading up to Summit Road to stop at the scenic viewpoints, then driving back to the city from there.

4. Methven 

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 103 km | 1.5 hours
• How to get there: by car

If a nice bush walk and hot pool combination appeals to you, then Methven might just be your perfect day trip from Christchurch!

Methven is an alpine town located close to Mount Hutt, the largest ski field near Christchurch. Skiing or snowboarding at Mount Hutt is a popular option for a day trip from Christchurch in winter.

That said, I actually love visiting Methven year-round—it’s close to some really lovely day walks, and home to the glorious Opuke Thermal Pools.

On the drive from Christchurch to Methven, stop for a walk at either Washpen Falls or the Rakaia Gorge. 

Washpen Falls is a 2-hour loop trail that leads you through pine forest and native bush to a picturesque waterfall. It’s located on private land, so there’s a small fee to do the walk (it’s worth it!).

The Rakaia Gorge Walkway is a bit of a longer walk, taking 3-4 hours over 10.4 km. It follows the rim of the gorge and offers nice views over the river and surrounding mountains. I think this walk is best on a sunny day when the milky-blue colour of the water really pops.

After your walk of choice, head into Methven for a soak at the fantastic Opuke Thermal Pools, which are such a treat! 

If you’d like to grab some food in Methven, I recommend Aqua for delicious Japanese food, or the Dubliner for a hearty Irish pub meal.

5. Arthur’s Pass

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 156 km | 2 hours 10 minutes to Arthur’s Pass Village
• How to get there: by car or tour

Arthur’s Pass is an iconic South Island road trip, and for good reason. 

This alpine pass connects the Canterbury Plains to the West Coast, and is jam-packed with scenic lookouts, walks, and waterfalls.

Driving a section of Arthur’s Pass makes for an excellent day trip from Christchurch. 

Arthur’s Pass Village makes a good turnaround point, with lots to see and do along the way.

Pack snacks and drinking water, because you’ll be doing a lot of exploring today.

For starters, stop by the Sheffield Pie Shop just before you start making your way over Arthur’s Pass. This bakery makes some of the best pies in the South Island, in my opinion!

After sufficiently fuelling up with pastry, begin your journey over Arthur’s Pass. 

One stop I highly recommend is Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill, where you can walk among impressive boulders in a very scenic setting. It’s a lovely short walk that’s suitable for all ages.

And if you’re up for an adventure, another cool location is Cave Stream, where you can hike up a river in a cave—this one’s best saved for a hot day with no rain, and a head torch and the right gear are essential!

For a longer day hike on Arthur’s Pass, I really love the Bealey Spur Track, which gives you great views over the mountains and valley.

Near Arthur’s Pass Village is one of the best walks on Arthur’s Pass: the Devil’s Punchbowl Track, which leads you to an epic waterfall. 

The Devil’s Punchbowl Track only takes about an hour, but it involves quite a lot of stairs and is steep in sections, so it’s a bit of a workout (but well worth the effort!).

Once you’ve hiked to your heart’s content, it’ll be time to turn back and return to the city after a day well-spent!

6. Mount Sunday

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 158 km | 2 hours 15 minutes
• How to get there: by car or tour

Located in the Hakatere Conservation Park, Mount Sunday is a bit of a journey from Christchurch, but it’s so worth it. 

Mount Sunday was the filming location for Edoras in the Lord of the Rings films, and it’s my favourite LOTR site in all of New Zealand. That said, even if you’re not a fan of the movies, the scenery here is stunning and sure to impress.

Once you enter the Hakatere Conservation Park, you’ll drive on a gravel road to reach Mount Sunday. It’s not a difficult road to drive, though, and 2WD vehicles should be just fine unless it’s a snowy or icy winter’s day.

The walk up to Mount Sunday is mostly easy, with a short uphill section to reach the summit. The views from the top are incredible—pack some snacks to enjoy while you take it all in!

After visiting Mount Sunday and leaving the Hakatere Conservation Park, you could tack on another adventure if you have the time and energy. 

Nearby in the foothills of Mount Somers is the Sharplin Falls Track, a lovely bush walk to reach a peaceful waterfall. 

On the way to or from Sharplin Falls, stop by the charming Staveley Store for a coffee and some home baking.

7. Hanmer Springs

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 133 km | 1 hour 45 minutes
• How to get there: by car

Hanmer Springs is best known for its awesome hot pool complex. 

While the hot pools are the main draw here, there are some beautiful walks and hikes as well.

The Forest Amble Sculpture Walk is nice and easy, or you could tackle a longer and more challenging trail like Conical Hill or the Dog Stream Waterfall.

For breakfast or lunch in Hanmer Springs, I like the Powerhouse Cafe for a home-cooked, filling meal. 

After a good walk and some food, it’ll be time to hit the hot pools!

The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools are great for all ages, with thermal mineral water and a range of hot pools providing such a nice experience. 

You’ll head back to the city feeling relaxed and rejuvenated after visiting Hanmer Springs!

8. Peel Forest & Geraldine 

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 163 km | 2 hours 15 minutes
• How to get there: by car

Peel Forest is a bit of a hidden gem in New Zealand. 

While much of the surrounding Canterbury Plains is devoid of native bush, Peel Forest is a nature lover’s sanctuary filled with abundant flora and fauna. 

With beautiful podocarp forest and a range of nice walking tracks, it’s a great destination if you’re keen on some time in the bush.

Before heading into Peel Forest, stop by the quaint town of Geraldine to have some coffee and food and pick up picnic supplies. 

Barker’s of Geraldine is a great cafe for breakfast or a tea and scone, and you can also shop from their wide range of chutneys, jams and sauces. Nearby is the Geraldine Cheese Company, the perfect spot to grab some cheeses to take away with you.

Then head into Peel Forest for a nice bush walk or two. 

The Big Tree Walk is a great little walk to get your legs warmed up, leading to some impressive mataī, kahikatea and tōtara trees on a gentle trail.

For a longer walk, try Emily Falls, the Dennistoun Bush Walk, or the aptly named Fern Walk (and these are just a few of the many trails on offer!).

9. Kaikoura

• Distance from the Christchurch city centre: approx. 180 km | 2 hours 35 minutes
• How to get there: by car or tour

Kaikoura is a big day trip from Christchurch, but it’s doable if you get an early start.

Known for its abundance of wildlife and snow-capped mountains that meet the sea, Kaikoura is one of the best beach towns in New Zealand.

My favourite thing to do in Kaikoura is to hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, an incredible coastal walk with clifftop views and opportunities to spot NZ fur seals.

Another great thing to do here is to go on a whale watch cruise. 

In the town of Kaikoura itself, there are some good places to eat. I love Bus Stop Cafe for a bagel sandwich (they are seriously so good), or the Middlehurst Station farm shop for a pie. 

Seafood is also a speciality here—I like Coopers Catch for fresh fish and chips!

After a day of coastal views, wildlife-watching, and good local food, it’ll be time to head back to Christchurch knowing you’ve spent the day to its fullest.

Thanks for reading my guide to the best day trips from Christchurch!

I truly hope this has helped you plan a fun day out of the city.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback for me, please leave a comment—I really love hearing from you (it makes my day, truly!).

Further Reading

If you’re planning to visit Christchurch, you might also like these guides:

• Weekend trips from Christchurch
• How to spend one day in Christchurch
• Christchurch to Queenstown road trip (7 days)