Christchurch is New Zealand's "Garden City," a place of willow-lined riverbanks and sweeping lawns set against the Canterbury Plains, with the Southern Alps rising on the horizon. Cruises to Christchurch arrive at the port of Lyttelton, and from there a single day ashore can feel like several trips in one. Christchurch excursions range from a leisurely tram ride and garden tour to an alpine train climb to a journey through Middle Earth.

This guide covers the full range of confirmed excursion options centered on the city and the wider Canterbury region. Whether you want a gentle morning or a day packed with scenery, these are the best things to do in Christchurch for your time in port.

Key takeaways

Christchurch's historic tram and Botanic Gardens offer an easy, leisurely introduction to the city.

Guided excursions reach as far as Arthur's Pass and the Lord of the Rings filming locations for guests with a full day to spend.

Hanmer Springs and the Waimakariri River offer thermal relaxation or high-speed adventure beyond the city.

Ride the historic tram and tour Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens

The Christchurch Tram, Tea and Botanic Gardens excursion is the gentlest way to meet the city. A guided Heritage Tram tour rattles through the center with tea service on board, and, depending on the route, the windows may frame Cathedral Junction, the Gothic-style Arts Centre, Canterbury Museum and New Regent Street. The museum's historic building is closed for a major renovation, so this is a pass-by view rather than an entry.

Next comes the "Caterpillar," an open-air trolley that glides through the Botanic Gardens. The Avon River loops past rose beds and towering trees, and you finish with independent time to wander at your own pace. Few places show off the Garden City nickname like the botanic gardens Christchurch has tended since 1863. If you have extra time ashore, the Christchurch Gondola climbs Mt. Cavendish for views over Lyttelton Harbour.

Rose garden with red, pink, yellow and white blooms surrounding a stone sundial and flagstone plaza, leading to a glass-domed conservatory framed by tall trees under a soft blue sky.
Stop and smell the roses at Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Step into Middle Earth

Many people travel to New Zealand for one reason: to step into the world of the Lord of the Rings. If that’s you, Princess provides the perfect access to this fantastical realm. The Journey to Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings) excursion takes film fans straight into the landscapes of the trilogy. A guided tour begins with a scenic drive across the Canterbury Plains to Mt. Somers Village, where a traditional Kiwi morning tea awaits before the road climbs toward the mountains.

The highlights are Mt. Potts Station and Mt. Sunday, known to fans as Edoras. An isolated hill rises from a wide valley ringed by peaks, and you will have time to explore independently and take photos with replica swords. Back at Mt. Somers, you’ll enjoy lunch while admiring the rugged rocky outcrops, with Southern Alps scenery stretching across the horizon all day. Even the plains feel cinematic, with long views of tussock grass and distant ridgelines. For fans, no Lord of the Rings New Zealand tour is complete without this stop.

Rugged golden-brown highlands dotted with shrubs and a rocky outcrop in the foreground, backed by a ridge of snow-capped mountains under a clear deep blue sky.
Edoras, the Rohan stronghold, sat atop Mount Sunday.

Start your Christchurch adventure

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Ride the rails to Arthur's Pass

Ultimate Southern Alps: The Mountaineer Train Tour turns a day ashore into a scenic rail journey. The train departs Ferrymead Heritage Park near Lyttelton and crosses the flat, patchwork Canterbury Plains before climbing into the Southern Alps.

Along the way you will cross the Staircase Viaduct, which rises 236 feet (72 meters) above the valley floor, with the winding, vividly blue Waimakariri River far below. The journey ends at Arthur's Pass Village, home to the South Island’s highest railway station at 2,400 feet (732 meters). Keep an eye out for a native kea, the curious alpine parrot that is known for investigating visitors. Expect the scenery to shift from farmland to beech forest to snow-dusted peaks as the track climbs.

Aerial view of a small alpine village in a deep green mountain valley, with a passenger train crossing a bridge over a braided river, a road lined with trees and snow-dusted peaks in the distance under a blue sky.
Arthur’s Pass Village is a scenic alpine stop in the heart of the Southern Alps.

Soak in Hanmer Springs' thermal pools

The Hanmer Springs Resort and Thermal Pools excursion pairs a country drive with a long, warm soak. The route winds through the Waipara wine region and into the Hurunui district, past vineyards and sheep-dotted hills, before arriving at the alpine village of Hanmer Springs.

Here naturally heated thermal mineral pools sit beside forest hiking trails, and steam drifts up on cool mornings. Families can head to the AquaPlay area while thrill-seekers tackle the SuperBowl waterslide. The pools range from warm to hot, so you can choose your own comfort level. Afterward the main street offers boutique shops and cafes for a coffee and a browse.

Turquoise river winding through a rocky canyon beneath an iron truss bridge, with green trees, a gravel riverbank and rugged brown mountains rising under a clear blue sky.
Chase adventure at Hanmer Springs, where a turquoise river carves through the canyon.

Jet boat the Waimakariri River

The Waimakariri Jet Boat Experience is the adrenaline option of the bunch. The Waimakariri is one of Canterbury's braided rivers, where the water splits into an intricate network of shallow channels across a wide bed of gravel.

That is exactly why the Hamilton jet boat was built. Purpose-designed for shallow waterways, it skims over the water at high speed past the river’s scenery. The fast ride is the thrill-seeking highlight, and it is the moment most guests remember long after they are back on board. Expect cold spray, sharp turns and a rush of speed over water that looks far too shallow to float a boat.

Braided river with sunlit, glittering turquoise water flowing between gravel bars in a wide valley, with green mountains and a golden grassy plain beneath a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Waimakariri River weaves a sparkling path through the Southern Alps.

Plan your Christchurch day ashore

Christchurch and the Canterbury region reward a simple approach: pair a leisurely look at the city with one guided excursion further afield, whether alpine, historic or adventure-focused. With so many memorable things to do in Christchurch, the hardest part is choosing. When you are ready to see it for yourself, book a New Zealand cruise with a stop in Christchurch and start planning your day ashore.

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