| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
mt cook - christchurch MOUNT COOK VILLAGE - LAKE TEKAPO - CHRISTCHURCH Driver Information Take the time to enjoy the scenic highlights on the last day of your self-drive South Island trip as you head back to Christchurch city. Prepare for a day of lovely road-side scenery such as the stunning turquoise colour of Lake Pukaki, golden tussock land, picturesque lakes, winding rivers and the impressive Canterbury Plains as you follow State Highway 79 from Lake Tekapo before hitting the main route of State Highway 1. Some notable stops along the route to Christchurch include: LAKE TEKAPO LAKE TEKAPO ICE SKATING ALPINE SPRINGS & SPA THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD FAIRLIE HERITAGE MUSEUM RAKAIA CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch is very visitor friendly and it is easy to navigate around the inner city and botanical gardens on foot, or else hop on the historic Tram which runs a circuit throughout the day past the inner city and popular Arts Centre, Gallery, etc. Accommodation is plentiful in the city and surrounds, from swanky inner city furnished apartments to motels, quaint B&B's, luxury hotels and the typical hotel chains. You wont go hungry when in Christchurch! The Strip and South Of Lichfield (SOL) are both popular areas, which are just restaurants, cafes and bars, while there are many seriously fabulous restaurants boasting an international flavour, from Italian to Mexican, to Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian and Cajun to name just a few. Highly recommended Christchurch tourist attractions include... The Arts Centre - During the weekends you can sample all the international flavours from the different food stalls, including popular and some rarer ethnic culinary delights while strolling amidst the markets, bustling with the sights and sounds of artists, craftspeople, musicians, buskers and more. Situated in the historic buildings of the original Canterbury University College, the Arts Centre is one of Christchurch's most significant cultural attractions. Christchurch Gondola - Enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Lyttelton Harbour and Pacific Ocean. Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Established back in 1863, today the gardens are a haven for roller blading, walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog walkers! 30 hectares of park-like gardens surrounded by the Avon River and a diverse range of gardens and flowers throughout… and it’s free! Christchurch Tramway - The ultimate inner city tour that lets you experience the magic of the central city onboard a beautifully restored tram. The 2.5 kilometer track takes about 25 minutes to complete and allows you to take in many of the "must see' attractions. These include Cathedral Square, Aquarium of Discovery, The Arts Centre, The Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Punting on the Avon, New Regent Street and Cathedral Junction. Punting On The Avon - Sit back and relax custom built punt as your friendly boatman guides you past the sights of the central city as you meander along the Avon River. Cathedral Square - Located in the heart of the city, the Visitor Information Centre is located in ‘the square’. A multi-cultural feeling exists in this exciting part of town, always popular with tourists and lunch time dwellers. Be entertained by buskers, grab a coffee from Starbucks, or just watch life colourfully go by! |
Travel distance is approximately 334kms (209 miles).
The artificial ice rink at Lake Tekapo Winter Park is available for public skating, ice hockey and curling from April until mid September. Hire a pair of ice skates and enjoy skating under the crisp winter blue sky.