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3 cities
Region · Canterbury and the West Coast
Canterbury
Canterbury stretches from the Pacific to the Southern Alps: Christchurch, Akaroa, the whales of Kaikōura, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook, the country’s highest mountain.
In the photo: Akaroa lighthouse in Canterbury
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The region
Get to know Canterbury
Canterbury (Waitaha) is New Zealand’s largest region by area. It occupies the central-east of the South Island, from the Canterbury plains to the Pacific coast and the slopes of the Southern Alps. Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city, is the regional seat and the main air gateway to the country’s south.
Christchurch (Ōtautahi) was rebuilt after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes; the city centre mixes new buildings, street art and restored stone structures. The Avon River (Ōtākaro) runs through the city and the Botanic Gardens and is navigated by punt boats. The Transitional Cathedral (the Cardboard Cathedral) is one symbol of the rebuild.
To the southeast, the Banks Peninsula shelters Akaroa, a village founded by French settlers in 1840, with streets bearing French names and boat tours around the bay, where Hector’s dolphins live — one of the world’s smallest dolphin species.
To the north, Kaikōura sits between the sea and the snow-capped mountains of the Seaward Kaikōura range. A deep submarine canyon near the coast attracts sperm whales, and boat and scenic flights to see them operate year-round; the region also hosts seals and dolphins. Inland, Hanmer Springs is a village with mountain thermal pools.
In the southern interior, the Mackenzie Basin contains Lake Tekapo, with the Church of the Good Shepherd on its shore, Lake Pukaki and Twizel, all within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. At the valley’s head, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has the country’s highest mountain, at 3,724 meters, and tracks such as the Hooker Valley Track. Via Arthur's Pass the road and the TranzAlpine train cross the Alps to the West Coast.
Destinations
3 destinations in Canterbury
Cities
6 cities in Canterbury in the guide
Canterbury
Capital
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island and the seat of Canterbury, rebuilt after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens occupy the west side of the city centre, cut by the Avon River; in the centre are the Christchurch Art Gallery and the Cardboard Cathedral. The Port Hills gondola and the International Antarctic Centre complete the visit, and the city is a gateway to the Alps and the West Coast.
Canterbury
Akaroa
Akaroa is a village of about 600 people on the Banks Peninsula, beside a natural harbour formed in the crater of an ancient volcano. Founded by French settlers in 1840, it retains streets with French names, wooden houses and the peninsula museum. Boats depart from the wharf for harbour trips, where Hector’s dolphin, the world’s smallest dolphin, lives.
Canterbury
Aoraki / Mount Cook
The village of Aoraki/Mount Cook sits at 750 meters altitude, at the end of the Hooker Valley, inside the national park, at the foot of New Zealand’s highest mountain. It is small, with the park visitor centre and few accommodations, and the Hooker Valley, Kea Point and Lake Tasman trails depart from there, as well as scenic flights over the glaciers.
Canterbury
Kaikōura
Kaikōura is the town from which trips depart to see sperm whales, dolphins and albatrosses in the waters of the Kaikōura Canyon. The small town center runs along the Esplanade, facing the sea and the snow-capped range. On the peninsula are the cliff track, seal colonies and Fyffe House from the whaling era.
Canterbury
Tekapo
Tekapo (Takapō) is a village of about 600 people on the shore of the lake of the same name, on the Mackenzie Plateau. The Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935, and the shepherd dog statue sit on the shore, with the turquoise-blue lake and the Alps in the background. Above the village, Mount John has an observatory, and the area is an international dark-sky reserve.
Canterbury
Twizel
Twizel is the largest town on the Mackenzie Plateau, with about 1,800 residents, established in 1968 to house workers for the upper Waitaki hydroelectric schemes. It lies about 7 km from Lake Pukaki and is a lower-cost base for Aoraki/Mount Cook, with a market, service stations and accommodation. To the south are the Omarama clay cliffs.
When to go
From December to March, long dry days favour tracks in Aoraki/Mount Cook, the lakes and Akaroa; lupins usually bloom on the shores of Tekapo and Pukaki between November and December. Winter, from June to August, brings snow to the mountains and ski fields, and the long nights help stargazing. Whale-watching trips in Kaikōura are dependent on sea conditions in any month.
Getting there
Christchurch Airport (CHC) has domestic flights across the country and international services to Australia, the Pacific and Asia. By road, Akaroa is about 85 km from Christchurch; Kaikōura about 180 km to the north; Tekapo about 225 km; and Aoraki/Mount Cook Village about 330 km. Trains depart Christchurch too: the TranzAlpine to Greymouth and the Coastal Pacific to Picton.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Canterbury
How many days to stay in Christchurch?
One or two days for the city centre, the Botanic Gardens and the Avon River, and another day for Akaroa. Christchurch is often the starting point for road trips around the South Island.
How to see whales in Kaikōura?
Boat trips and scenic flights by plane or helicopter depart Kaikōura year-round and depend on sea and weather conditions. Book in advance and, if possible, allow a spare day in case of cancellation.
Where to see stars in the Mackenzie Basin?
In Tekapo there are guided tours at the Mount John Observatory and telescope sessions. Away from lights, any spot in the basin will do on moonless, cloudless nights.
Which trail to do in Aoraki/Mount Cook?
The Hooker Valley Track is about 10 km return, almost flat, with three suspension bridges, and finishes at Hooker Lake, facing the mountain. It takes roughly 3 hours.
Do you need a car in Canterbury?
For Akaroa, Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook a car gives more freedom, but there are buses and day tours from Christchurch. Kaikōura is served by buses and, part of the year, by the Coastal Pacific train.