Canterbury Plains to Southern Alps: Luxury Arthur's Pass Day Tour from Christchurch

Arthur's Pass Village•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

10–12 hours

Fitness Level

Comfortable with extended periods of sitting and short steep walks; basic cardiovascular fitness for 20–90 minute trails.

Overview

A private, chauffeur-driven day tour from Christchurch that moves from the wide, agricultural Canterbury Plains into the sharp, glacier-sculpted Southern Alps. Short alpine walks, a gourmet pie stop, and the Otira Viaduct lookout combine comfort with real mountain scenery.

Canterbury Plains to Southern Alps: Luxury Arthur's Pass Day Tour from Christchurch

Bus Tour

Sightseeing Tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

You feel the engine settle into a quiet hum as the European chauffeured vehicle eases off the motorway and onto State Highway 73. The Canterbury Plains open like a flat green page—farms, irrigation canals, and crop lines—then the road lifts into a sharper geometry of gullies and river-cut terraces. By the time you crest the pass the Southern Alps have taken on mass: grey rock faces, snow pockets, and the vertical teeth of ridgelines that dare you to look closer.

Adventure Photos

Canterbury Plains to Southern Alps: Luxury Arthur's Pass Day Tour from Christchurch photo 1

Adventure Tips

Dress in layers

Alpine weather changes rapidly—carry a windproof shell and a warm mid-layer even in summer.

Footwear matters

Choose grippy, waterproof hiking shoes for short tracks like Devil's Punchbowl and Bridal Veil Falls—mud and river spray are common.

Hydrate and snack

Carry 1.5–2 liters of water and energy snacks; the tour includes a picnic but active mid-morning energy helps on trails.

Camera ready at lookouts

Plan to stop at the Otira Viaduct Lookout and several roadside viewpoints—arrange extra time with your guide if photography is a priority.

Local Insights

Wildlife

kea (alpine parrot)
fantail (pīwakawaka)

History

Arthur's Pass grew up around the transalpine railway and highway construction in the late 1800s; the area has long been a corridor connecting east and west coasts.

Conservation

The park is managed for both recreation and habitat protection—stay on marked tracks to protect fragile alpine plants and avoid feeding wildlife like kea.