The beauty of New Zealand is you do not have to go very far to feel like you’ve gone far. Kind of nice right. I know when I want to get away it’s always more exciting when it feels like I’ve hoped countries and stepped into a whole new world. Well, these weekend trips from Christchurch do just that. They take you from coastal regions to mountains, lakes and jungles vibes. Whether you live here in New Zealand and want to make the most of your weekend or days off or are just visiting I have your next 2 months of weekend getaways covered!
Akaroa
Akaroa is a great pick for a weekend trip. The town still very much has a french flair after being found by French explorers in 1840. The main street is full of quaint cafes with croissants, fresh baking and sweet little shops to nosey in. It is a great place to relax and take your weekend at a leisurely pace.
Although the area is right on the water you don’t need a boat of your own, or even a kayak or paddle board to enjoy your time. There are plenty of opportunities to join a boat cruise, rent some water toys and more activities than just water-related!
The great thing about Akaroa too is the fact that there’s some cool spots to stop off before you even get to the village. Lake Ellesmere is a great stop for bird watching, you can stop for a very cool Alpaca Farm tour, stock up on some cheese for a few charcuterie boards at Barry’s Bay Cheese, and if the weather is right capture the ‘boat house’ image in Duchauvelle.
Here are some recommendations for when you are in Akaroa:
- Newton’s waterfall walk- approximately 40 minute return
- Children’s bay track – look out for cool animal sculptures on the way, approximately 3 hour return
- Drive out to the Akaroa heads- be very careful around the cliffs!
- Kayak or paddleboard in the bay (you can rent ones there if you don’t have one)
- Take a boat cruise with Black cat cruises and see the amazing hector’s dolphins, seals and sometimes penguins and whales
- Take a walk through town to the lighthouse- don’t miss the real fruit ice cream on the way!
- Swim with the dolphins!- There are a few places you can do this through like Eco Seeker, and Swimming with Dolphins
- Grab a bite at The Bach at 57 Rue Lavaud- they have excellent baked goods and pizza.
- If you’re looking for fish, chips and seafood, try Murphys on the corner at 7 Church Street
Accommodation
There are quite a few places to stay in Akaroa. I’ve stayed with a big group at the lodges at Akaroa Cottages in Takamatua which was fantastic. There was a short 10-minute trail right into town. Some other cool places are Te Wepu pods and the Akaroa Coastal Retreat.
How to get there
You can get to Akaroa by following Highway 75. This takes you right into the village in about 1 hour and 20 minutes
Kaikoura
The land of the most amazing marine life, Kaikoura is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and boasts beautiful coastal vibes and mountain landscapes. Pretty good introduction eh. It’s so true though! It’s also only 2.5 hours from Christchurch which is more than an acceptable amount of travel time for a weekend getaway.
Personally, I love Kaikoura for the amazing marine life but considering this area is known as the area where ‘the mountains meet the sea’, there are some pretty cool hikes around as well. It’s also a great spot if you want to get some good seafood and soak up the coastal air.
Here are some recommendations for when you are in Kaikoura:
- Get on an albatross, dolphin and whale watching tour with Whale watch Kaikoura
- Walk up to the Kaikoura Peninsula walkway– great views of the Point Kean seal colony but be very careful to stay out of their way!
- Walk the Puhi Puhi Reserve track and see trees over 1000 year old! About 15 minutes north of Kaikoura and a 30 minute loop track
- Hike up Mt Fyffe. Approximatley a 7-8 hour return hike. You can opt for an easier 45 minute loop track instead called the Hinau track
- Swim at Kaikoura beach. This a lovely beach that is safe to swim at. The last time i was there I saw a whole pod of dolphins!
- Fill up at Coopers Catch. I’m not a big seafood fan to be quite honest. If I do, you bet it has to be deep fried and I can say Cooper Catch did not dissapoint!
- Explore Kaikoura’s fabulous street art
- Take a kayaking tour and get amongst the seals and dolphins
Accommodation
There is plenty of choice for places to stay in Kaikoura. Some pretty cool spots and unique spots in Kaikoura include Wacky Stays, the Dusky Lodge and Hapuku lodges and tree houses.
How to get there:
Kaikoura is just under two and half hours from Christchurch on highway 1.
Aoraki/Mount Cook National park
If you’re looking for a weekend trip from Christchurch where you can get your hiking boots on and surround yourself with mountain goodness then Aoraki/Mount Cook is for you. I’d say this trip would be little less relaxation and a bit more adventure. However, the area has some pretty fancy options for you to be able to still pamper yourself!
The area is home to New Zealand’s tallest mountain and is filled with alpine wonders like glacial lakes, towering mountain ranges and glaciers. There are a handful of awesome walks to do from easy to difficult which you can find more about them here in my Aoraki/Mt Cook guide. They’re so good though and the scenery is so epic that if you’re like me, you have no problem going back time after time.
Here are some recommendations for when you are in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park:
- Stop at Peter’s lookout on the way in for the hero Mt Cook shot!
- Frolick in the NZ Alpine Lavender fields and try some lavender ice cream
- Try the easy walks in the area- Governors bush walk (amazing big song!) Kea point track (approx 1 hour return), Hooker Valley track (approx 3 hour return) and the Tasman glacier lookout (approx 40 minute return)
- Get hiking up the Red Tarns track (approx 2 hour return), Sealy tarns track (approx 3-4 hours return) or up to Mueller hut (can book to stay or is an approx 7-8 hour return)
- Book a scenic flight with Mt Cook Ski planes and helicopters– you can also do glacial landings as well!
- Try heli skiing/snowboarding
- Head out for sunrise and photograph Tasman Lake
- Check out the very cool Sir Edmund Hillary center
- Go kayaking or boating on the glacial Tasman Lake
- Just photograph- this area is so incredibly photogenic, just walking around the village you can get some pretty cool shots
Accommodation
Mt Cook has a good variety of accommodation for different budgets. I’ve stayed at YHA a few times and really like it. If you want to get a bit fancy though, the Hermitage is really popular and you can also camp at the Whitehorse hill campground. Because of the village is far from towns like Tekapo and Twizel accommodation can book out quickly especially in winter. There are a few restaurants but no place to get groceries.
omarama
It might not be the first place you’d think of getting away to for a weekend trip but Omarama is a pretty cool place to explore. The town itself is quite small being that it’s a junction town. It is a bit of a longer drive from Christchurch but the drive alone to get to Omarama can make for a pretty fun adventure in itself. Going the inland route, you get plenty of opportunities from some awesome scenic views, especially through Mackenzie country.
Here are some recommendations for what you can get up to:
- Explore the wonder of the Clay Cliffs
- Soak in the wood fire Omarama hot tubs
- Bike part of the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail- bring your own bike or hire one in Twizel.
- See the massive Lake Benmore dam- only 22 minute drive from Omarama
- Walk the Lake Benmore Peninsula- 4 km loop track
- Walk the Wairepo Kettleholes Track– a 2-3 hour return track
- Grab a bite to eat at The Wrinkly Ram– the have a great breakfast, lunch and cafe menu
- Finding lupins by Ahuriri River- there is a chance that the plants may have been sprayed out
Accommodation
There are a few hotel/motels in the area like Big Sky Motel and the Top 10 Holiday Park. Air bnb also has some beautiful cosy properties for your visit.
I hope I’ve inspired you to get out on the weekend to one of these great spots in the south island! If you’re looking for some inspo a bit further away or additional about any of these spots try these other blog posts: