When you pick up a rental car in Christchurch, the first thing that you will want to do is go for a drive.
The New Zealand countryside is well worth a look, and taking a driving tour with your rental car in Christchurch is a great way to see everything that the region has to offer.
There are so many great places to drive in this area, but you do have to be mindful of the seasons and road conditions when you come to New Zealand so that you can choose the safest self-drive tours and vehicle types available.
Here are the top 5 drives to consider taking with your rental car in Christchurch.
- Christchurch to Kaikoura, where you can drive up the coast and see some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
When you get close to Kaikoura, you will likely notice the marine life that is abundant in this region, giving you even more beauty to appreciate.
From here, you can head up to Nelson, Westport, and then to Queenstown and Milford Sound before heading back to Christchurch.
The drive from Christchurch to Kaikoura takes about 3 hours to fully appreciate, but might only require 2.
5 hours of driving on SH 1 if you don't plan to stop along the way.
- Drive south on SH 75 from Christchurch, where you will go through Motukarara, past Lake Forsyth, and around Barry's and Robinson's Bay to Akaroa, which is a beautiful settlement on a peninsula just southeast of the Christchurch area.
This winding road can be difficult to traverse at times, but offers a beautifully scenic drive.
Give yourself about 1.
5 to 2 hours for this drive, one way.
- Take a drive south down SH 1 to Ashburton, Timaru and Waimate.
Here, you'll pass through many small towns and villages along the coast and see some beautiful landscapes, including water, farmlands, and the great plains of New Zealand.
This drive takes about 3 to 3.
5 hours one way.
- Spice up the drive to Waimate by taking Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road, also known as SH 77.
The drive takes about 4 hours one way, but takes you past some of the most beautiful scenery on the inland part of the South Island.
Road conditions are not always perfect, so be wary of weather and seasonal closures.
- Take a drive around the city itself.
While it might not be as breathtaking as a country drive tour of the region, you can get a feel for the layout of the city and see what life is like here from a first-person perspective.