New Zealand Tours from Christchurch
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10 best New Zealand tour packages from Christchurch
Compiled by
MelissaNew Zealand travel expert at TourRadar
- New Zealand: Ultimate 9-Day Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
- NZ Intro South
- New Zealand West Coast Adventure
- New Zealand's South to North Island Adventure
- New Zealand Amplified (Northbound)
- Southern Secrets - Small Group Tour
- New Zealand South Island Adventure
- Premium - South Island Escape
- Big South
- Southern Wonders (2025/2026)
Duration 9 days Destinations Christchurch, Dunedin, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Franz Josef Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Across Caribbean Excursions From $5,593
5% Off- NZ$5,313You save $280
NZ Intro South
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The NZ South Island tour was amazing. We visited some really beautiful destinations.”
Angela, traveled in April
The 580km South Island adventure from Christchurch heads south through stunning terrain. Highlights include Lake Tekapo's turquoise waters, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park's Hooker Valley track, Wanaka's landscapes, and Milford Sound's towering fjords.
Duration 9 days Destinations Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Milford Sound, Queenstown Age Range Ages 18-45 Operator INTRO Travel From $2,149
15% Off- NZ$1,827You save $322
New Zealand West Coast Adventure
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Had a great time during first visit to South Island, fantastic choice of places to see and experience.”
Agata, traveled in January
This 7-day South Island expedition connects 8 distinctive cities from Christchurch. The route through Lewis Pass to Westport follows the Tasman Sea coast via Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks to Queenstown, featuring the Nile River Rainforest Train and Cape Foulwind's seal colony.
Duration 7 days Destinations Christchurch, Westport, Punakaiki, Kumara, Hokitika, Okarito, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $3,460
10% Off- NZ$3,114You save $346
New Zealand's South to North Island Adventure
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Locations and activities chosen were ideal and the group a perfect size of 14. Highly recommend Haka tours!!”
Elizabeth, traveled in December
Duration 11 days Destinations Christchurch, Kaikoura, Marlborough, Wellington, Taupo, Murupara, Rotorua, Coromandel, Auckland Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $3,690
25% Off- NZ$2,768You save $923
Duration 19 days Destinations Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Marlborough, Wellington, TaupoSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $5,995
20% Off- NZ$4,796You save $1,199
The 8-day route from Hotel Give in Christchurch connects 4 major South Island destinations. The path leads north to Kaikoura (182km), continues to Abel Tasman National Park via Marlborough wine region, then southeast to Hanmer Springs thermal pools, before returning to Christchurch via Iron Ridge Quarry Sculpture Park.
Duration 8 days Destinations Christchurch, Kaikoura, Abel Tasman National Park, Hanmer Springs Age Range Ages 18-49 Operator Kiwi Experience From $1,749
20% Off- NZ$1,399You save $350
This South Island expedition connects 10 major cities from Christchurch to Queenstown. Private vehicle transport crosses Lewis Pass, Buller Gorge, and Crown Range, featuring a Foveaux Strait ferry trip to Stewart Island, with 3-4 hour daily drives.
Duration 12 days Destinations Christchurch, Westport, Punakaiki, Kumara, Hokitika, Fox Glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford SoundSee all destinations Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $6,795
10% Off- NZ$6,116You save $680
Premium - South Island Escape
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“We really enjoyed our tour of South Island. It was very well organised and we all had the best time.”
Helen, traveled in February
A 7-day, 850km South Island loop starts and ends in Christchurch. The route passes through Rakaia Gorge to Lake Tekapo, south to Te Anau and Milford Sound, then to Queenstown, returning via Franz Josef Glacier and Arthur's Pass, featuring Hokitika's jade galleries.
Duration 7 days Destinations Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Franz Josef Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Wild Kiwi From
10% Off- NZ$4,657+$698 upfront costs
Big South
12 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The South Island is beautiful. T made the trip by doing the things we wanted to do.”
Stephan, traveled in August
This 14-day South Island loop from Christchurch connects Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, and Franz Josef before heading to Punakaiki and Abel Tasman National Park. The route showcases Milford Sound's fiords and Marlborough's vineyards, with whale watching in Kaikoura.
Duration 14 days Destinations Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef, Punakaiki, Abel Tasman National Park, Marlborough, Kaikoura Age Range Ages 18-39 Operator Wild Kiwi From
10% Off- NZ$3,816+$572 upfront costs
A 9-day, 540km odyssey across New Zealand's South Island departs Christchurch via TranzAlpine train through Arthur's Pass. The itinerary links six major cities including Franz Josef, Queenstown, and Te Anau, circling back to Christchurch via Dunedin and Omarama.
Duration 9 days Destinations Christchurch, Franz Josef, Hokitika, Queenstown, Haast, Lake Hawea, Arrowtown, Walter Peak, Te Anau, Milford SoundSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From $5,520
20% Off- NZ$4,416You save $1,104
What people love about New Zealand Tours from Christchurch
- New Zealand's South to North Island Adventure
Meeting with local wariers and dining with them. All nature is beautiful.
- New Zealand: Sweet As South (Westbound)
Such a great tour! The tour guide (Damo) and bus driver (Ollie) were such an amazing team and together they provided such an amazing experience of NZ. Highly recommend!
Great itinerary, fantastic tour leaders, wonderful food, and overall terrific experience. Not only were the tour leaders friendly, the trip was very well organized and ran very smoothly. It was very apparent that Flying Kiwi has worked hard to refine the workings of their tours to provide a terrific experience (custom trailer setup for cooking and storage, amazing meals, well selected camping sights in wonderful locations, and well organized schedules). I have been on many camping trips with other tour companies in other countries, but none compare with the excellent organization and often unique camping sites Flying Kiwi provided.
Summer Blast from Christchurch - Top rated by National Geographic
What our customers ask about New Zealand Tours from Christchurch
What is the typical duration of tours starting in Christchurch?
Tours from Christchurch span from 6 to 18 days with most travelers choosing 9-14 day trips. The Southern Spotlight tour takes 9 days through South Island highlights while the Spirit of New Zealand extends to a 16-day adventure. A recent TourRadar traveler shared: "The 14-day Big South tour was the perfect length to really experience everything the South Island has to offer with Ben and Daisy as fantastic tour guides."
What's the best season to start a tour from Christchurch?
Summer months from December to February draw the most visitors with pleasant 72°F temperatures and extended daylight. Spring between September and November brings flowering gardens to Christchurch with smaller crowds at spots like Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook. A TourRadar traveler noted: "We started our tour in October and got perfect weather for experiencing Christchurch's famous gardens plus amazing snow-capped mountain views."
What are the most common next destinations after Christchurch?
Most tours head to the Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook area (3 hours by road) or take the scenic TranzAlpine railway to Franz Josef Glacier (5 hours). Some routes pass through quieter towns like Omarama or Twizel on the way to Queenstown. According to a TourRadar review: "The drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo was stunning with stops at beautiful viewpoints and the Church of the Good Shepherd - it was the perfect way to start our South Island adventure."
What are the common departure points for tours starting in Christchurch?
Tours typically leave from the Central Railway Station for TranzAlpine train journeys the Distinction Christchurch Hotel in Cathedral Square or the Crowne Plaza on Armagh Street. Morning pickups run from 7:00-9:00 AM at these central spots. Some tours offer 4:00 PM airport departures to match incoming flights.
What accommodation options are available for tours starting in Christchurch?
Lodging ranges from 3-star motels to 4-star hotels including popular choices like the Novotel Christchurch Rydges Latimer and Heritage Hotel Christchurch. In Queenstown properties such as Blue Peaks Lodge are common stops. A TourRadar guest mentioned: "Our accommodations were very clean and comfortable. The blue peaks had been freshly renovated and was very close to Queenstown shopping."
What happens if weather affects the planned route when departing from Christchurch?
Tour companies maintain backup routes and activities for weather-related changes. A TourRadar traveler shared their experience: "We were diverted from seeing the Franz Josef glacier and going on the TranzAlpine train due to weather and road conditions. We were rerouted to Dunedin and we had an enjoyable time there visiting the Botanic garden and museums."
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