10 Best South Island Weekend Getaways from Christchurch

The South Island of New Zealand is perfect for a weekend getaway, offering jaw-dropping landscapes, rich wildlife, and activities to suit every traveller. While a 2-3 week trip is ideal to explore many of the best things to do and see, not everyone has that luxury. So, we have compiled a selection of 2-4 day trips to help you make the most of a quick escape. These South Island weekend getaways from Christchurch are convenient for visitors flying in or based in the area.

Although, if you’re a lucky Christchurch local, these South Island trips will give you plenty of reasons to escape for a weekend each month!

Akaroa

Time to get there: 1.5 hours drive

Highlights:

• Dolphin and wildlife cruises
• French-inspired cafes and shops
• Harbour views

One of the closest weekend trips from Christchurch, Canterbury’s oldest town, Akaroa, is a charming French-inspired village on the Banks Peninsula.

You can spend your days exploring the scenic harbour on a dolphin cruise, sampling French cuisine, and hiking the tracks in Akaroa and the Peninsula.

Our favourite things to do in Akaroa include a self-guided walking tour along the French-named streets to admire the heritage buildings and beach walks. Also, we absolutely love splurging at the fantastic waterfront restaurants and nearby wineries.

Akaroa is an ideal destination for a relaxing weekend getaway from Christchurch. The drive offers stunning scenery and captivating places to visit. Most importantly, Akaroa features excellent luxurious apartments with sea views, making it a perfect choice for accommodation.

READ NEXT – Romantic Things to do in Akaroa.

Arthurs Pass

Time to get there: 2 hours drive

Highlights:

• Stunning alpine hikes and trails to waterfalls
• Kea sightings
• The awe-inspiring mountain scenery of the Southern Alps

Arthurs Pass offers dramatic mountain landscapes and stunning hikes through lush forests. However, we believe that the true highlight of Arthurs Pass is the journey to get there.

A road trip from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass will see you passing some epic mountain scenery through the Southern Alps and driving alongside rivers and lakes.

You will pass a couple of small towns for stops, but the do-no-miss stop is the Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill Conservation area. This geological marvel will leave you spellbound.

At Arthurs Pass, you have excellent odds of seeing the cheeky kea, an iconic alpine parrot often loitering at the cafes in Arthurs Pass village.

To top it off, you can enjoy the short panoramic drive west of Arthurs Pass to the Otira Gorge Lookout and through the Otira Viaduct. The views are absolutely breathtaking!

Lake Tekapo

Time to get there: 3 hours drive

Highlights:

• Stargazing at Mt John Observatory
• Lakefront hot pools
• Church of the Good Shepherd

Lake Tekapo is famous for its stunning turquoise lake, stargazing the dark night skies, and the charming Church of the Good Shepherd.

Many visitors pop in for only a few hours and miss some of the awesome things to do in Tekapo.

Besides taking a soak in the hot pools at Tekapo Springs, Tekapo boasts stunning walking trails through the mountains and along the lakefront.

And if you stay the night, you can experience a unique activity at Mt John Observatory, stargazing in one of the world’s best dark sky reserves.

Read Next – The 14 Best Things to do in Lake Tekapo.

Kaikoura

Time to get there: 2 hours 20 minutes drive

Highlights:

• Whale and dolphin watching
• Coastal walkways with wildlife encounters
• Fresh seafood (crayfish!)

Kaikoura is a small coastal town known for its marine life; the whale-watching or dolphin-watching tours are a New Zealand highlight for most visitors.

However, if you prefer land, you can walk the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway for stunning coastal views, encounters with birdlife, and seals spotting at the carpark and along the rocky platforms on the beach.

We love doing both. Additionally, we love eating seafood at local restaurants, especially crayfish from the seafood stands along the waterfront.

To top it off, Kaikoura has some excellent accommodation offerings boasting sea views and is one of the best places to visit near Christchurch.

READ NEXT – The 9 Best South Island Beaches for Summer Fun

Hanmer Springs

Time to get there: 1 hour 45 minutes drive

Highlights:

• Thermal pools and spa treatments
• Forest walks and biking
• Jet boating and adventure activities

Hanmer Springs is famous for its thermal pools, but there is much more to enjoy.

You can relax in the spa, walk along a forest trail, or try thrilling activities like jet boating and quad biking.

The alpine village is perfect for families and couples alike, many choosing to visit on day trips from Christchurch or while passing through on the way to other South Island destinations.

However, if you spend the night, you can enjoy accommodation nestled in the lush surroundings, dine in the quaint village, and experience the many outdoor adventures on a funfilled South Island weekend getaway. Hanmer Springs thermal pools even have a 2-day pass!

READ NEXT: The Best Things To Do In Canterbury.

Maruia Springs

Time to get there: 2 hours 30 minutes drive

Highlights:

• Japanese-style hot pools and wellness retreat
• Secluded mountain trails

Maruia Springs offers a tranquil retreat in the Southern Alps.

Stay at Maruia Hot Springs if you’re after a South Island weekend getaway where you can truly unwind. With natural hot pools surrounded by forests, massages, saunas, and nearby mountain trails, you can rejuvenate and immerse yourself in the lush alpine forest experience.

Also, if you are a fan of hot springs like us, you will be delighted to know that Maruia Hot Springs is just an hour away from Hanmer Springs. This makes it convenient to enjoy both locations during a weekend trip.

Sumner Beach

Time to get there: 30 minutes drive

Highlights:

• Scenic beach strolls
• Cave Rock
• Cafes and boutique shops

Sumner Beach offers sandy shores and laid-back vibes just outside of Christchurch City.

One of Christchurch’s best beaches, Sumner Beach, is an excellent option for those wanting a nearby escape and a quick beach getaway.

Spend your weekend walking along the beach, catching waves, and enjoying local cafes.

There is the cool Cave Rock to explore and some of the best beachside dining in Christchurch at The Beach Sumner. But our highlight by far is staying at Cave Rock Guesthouse. The self-contained apartment offers sea views and is a short stroll to Sumner’s highlights and the best things to do.

READ NEXT – Best Beach in Christchurch -Things to do in Sumner.

Oamaru

Time to get there: 3 hours drive

Highlights:

• Victorian architecture
• Steampunk HQ
• Penguin colony

Oamaru is a quirky historic town known for its Victorian buildings and art galleries.

New Zealand’s most charming old town, the heritage precinct includes carved limestone buildings now used for galleries, cafes and shops.

The historic area extends to the port and waterfront, where you can see an abundance of birdlife, as well as the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony.

Oamaru is known for its excellent galleries. However, the standout attraction is the unique and offbeat Steampunk HQ, which offers interactive fun for both young and old. Do not miss visiting the coolest museum in New Zealand; we love it!

West Coast

Time to get there: 3 hours drive

Highlights:

• The road trip through the Southern Alps
• The Great Coast Road drive
• Coastal rainforest walks

A drive to the West Coast offers wild, rugged beauty. The epic drive through the Southern Alps and the Great Coast Road drive, once you reach the West Coast, delivers some of New Zealand’s grandest views.

With its dramatic coastline and rich history, the West Coast is perfect for your long weekend road trips from Christchurch.

However, to give you time to visit some of the natural wonders of the West Coast, such as the iconic Pancake Rocks, the rainforest walk on the Truman Track, the Cape Foulwind walkway to the seal colony and the magnificent Hokitika Gorge, you really need 4 days to fit it all in!

READ NEXT: The Best Attractions on the West Coast.

Mt Cook

Time to get there: 4 hours drive

Highlights:

• Hooker Valley Track
• Icebergs on Tasman Glacier Lake
• Fine dining at The Hermitage

Though it is a longer drive than the other South Island weekend getaways on this list, this iconic destination is worth the journey.

As you drive through farmland and rolling plains and travel through towering mountains and along lakes, the scenery from Christchurch to Mt Cook is spectacular!

At your destination, enjoy the stunning Hooker Valley Track, spot icebergs in Tasman Glacier Lake, and treat yourself to fine dining and a stay at The Hermitage with mountain views that will take your breath away.

A trip to Mt Cook is the perfect South Island weekend getaway for those who love driving, crossing off things on their New Zealand travel bucket list and adore epic nature views. We recommend you go for at least 3 nights to give you time at the destination.

Our Favourite Pick of the South Island Weekend Getaways

This is a difficult question to answer as we love all these destinations; however, among our favourites are Tekapo, Kaikoura and the West Coast.

When you are short on time, go to Hanmer Springs or Akaroa.

Go to Kaikoura or Akaroa if you love the beach and wildlife.

If you have more time, especially 5 to 6 days, consider visiting Arthurs Pass and the West Coast, or embark on an epic South Island road trip to Tekapo and then onto Mt Cook.

And if you have only one night, go to Sumner Beach, the best of the Christchurch weekend getaways.

Regardless, wherever you go, just go a South Island getaway this weekend!

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