Canterbury Trails

Small, personal guided tours of the South Island, including day tours and multi-day treks, wilderness tours and custom-made trips to suit you. Professional, friendly and knowledgeable.

Canterbury Trails offer all-inclusive tours of the New Zealand, taking you to places other tourists just wouldn't get to see. Go 'off the beaten track' and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge on offer from your Head Guide, John Holton, as you travel in a well-equipped 4WD vehicle in maximum groups sizes of 8. All mini-coaches have luxury high-backed seats, panoramic windows, refreshments, and a fridge and trips include pick ups and drop offs from Christchurch accommodation.

Day trips: Take a scenic drive to Akaroa on the stunning Banks Peninsula, and swim with dolphins or go on a harbour cruise. You'll also visit a cheese factory and enjoy a delicious cafe lunch on this very picturesque trip. If you're after bigger fish, try the Kaikoura Whale Watch, including either a cruise or flight out to find the whales, plus lunch and a wine tasting at Wairapa Winery. Alternatively, go to Arthur's Pass National Park, either by road, or on the famous TranzAlpine Express, a beautiful train journey through gorges and mountain valleys. You'll get lunch in a country hotel and there's a guided nature walk, too. All day trips include morning and afternoon teas.

Multi day tours include the 9-day Wilderness South Expedition, over the Canterbury Plains to Arthur's Pass National Park, then down the Otira Gorge to the West Coast glaciers of Fox and Franz Josef. Go walking around Lake Matheson and some remote beaches, and marvel at the sight of the Southern Alps before you, as well as spotting penguins, fur seals and dolphins. Over the Haast Pass into the gold mining town of Arrowtown, you'll then go on to Queenstown, where you can try bungy jumping, jetboating, kayaking, or simply relax up on Milford Sound. You'll be flown back to Christchurch at the end of your tour.

Natural North'South is a 14-day whistle stop tour of New Zealand, taking in Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, a flight to Christchurch, one of the Canterbury Trails day tours, Arthur's Pass National Park, Wanaka, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and Queenstown. Both multi-day tours include superior accommodation and all travel, meals and refreshments.