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Canterbury Trails luxury Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at the Akaroa harbour lookout, Banks Peninsula

Inside the Fleet: What a Luxury Sprinter Journey Feels Like

By hour six of a day through the alps, the vehicle is most of the experience. What our Mercedes-Benz Sprinters...

New Zealand fur seals on the rocks along the Kaikoura coast

Christchurch to Kaikoura: The Coast Road, Done Properly

State Highway 1 runs north from Christchurch to a coast where whales feed within sight of snow. The route, the...

A Canterbury Trails guide talking with two guests on a guided walk at Arthur's Pass

One Guide, the Whole Journey: Why We Never Hand You Over

Many multi-day South Island operators pass guests between regional drivers. We do not. Here is what one guide for the...

Guests walking among the limestone tors of Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill in Canterbury

Kura Tāwhiti and Castle Hill: The Story Behind the Stones

Ninety minutes west of Christchurch, a field of limestone boulders sits in open tussock. Here is how they formed, what...

Snow on the Canterbury high country hills above the road to Arthur's Pass in winter

Christchurch in Winter: What Is Open and Worth Doing

Almost nothing closes in a Christchurch winter, and several things get better. What the weather really does between June and...

A Canterbury Trails guide talking with two guests on a guided South Island walk

Private or Small Group Tours in Christchurch: Which Suits You?

Small group day tours and private touring suit genuinely different travellers, and private is not always the better answer. An...

Punting on the Avon River past Curator's House in central Christchurch

Things to Do in Christchurch: A Local Guide's Complete List

The Botanic Gardens, punting, the Port Hills, Lyttelton and the rebuild story. A working guide’s complete list of things to...

A chef serving guests at the Flock Hill fire kitchen, a Canterbury Trails high country gourmet experience

What Makes a Tour Luxury in New Zealand? An Honest Definition

Luxury gets attached to anything with a high price tag. Here is an honest definition from three decades of touring:...

The Garden City: Christchurch's Gardens, and the Tour That Does Them Justice

The Garden City: Christchurch's Gardens, and the Tour That Does Them Justice

Christchurch did not get its nickname by accident. The gardens that earned it, the seasons that suit them, and how...

When to Visit the South Island: A Canterbury Guide's Honest Calendar

When to Visit the South Island: A Canterbury Guide's Honest Calendar

Summer crowds, autumn gold, winter snow or spring gardens? An honest season-by-season guide to timing your South Island trip, from...

Why We Cap Every Tour at 8 Guests

Why We Cap Every Tour at 8 Guests

Eight guests is not a marketing line, it is the number everything else depends on. Here is what changes when...

Hector's Dolphins: Where to See New Zealand's Rarest Dolphin

Hector's Dolphins: Where to See New Zealand's Rarest Dolphin

The Hector's dolphin is found nowhere else on earth, and Akaroa Harbour is one of the best places in the...

Whale Watching at Kaikoura: When to Go and What to Expect

Whale Watching at Kaikoura: When to Go and What to Expect

Why Kaikoura offers whale encounters almost nowhere else can, the best seasons, boat versus plane, and how a guided day...

Christchurch to Queenstown: Every Route Compared

Christchurch to Queenstown: Every Route Compared

One day direct, two days via Aoraki/Mt Cook, or the long way through the glaciers: an honest comparison of every...

Arthur's Pass from Christchurch: A Local's Day Trip Guide

Arthur's Pass from Christchurch: A Local's Day Trip Guide

Everything worth knowing before a day trip to Arthur's Pass: the route, the stops that matter, the kea, the weather,...

One Day in Christchurch: A Local Guide's Perfect Itinerary

One Day in Christchurch: A Local Guide's Perfect Itinerary

How to spend one day in Christchurch properly, from the Botanic Gardens to the Port Hills, written by the locals...

TranzAlpine: Guided Tour or Do It Yourself?

TranzAlpine: Guided Tour or Do It Yourself?

The TranzAlpine is one of the world's great rail journeys. Here is an honest look at riding it independently versus...

The Best Day Trips from Christchurch, Ranked by a Local Guide

The Best Day Trips from Christchurch, Ranked by a Local Guide

After 25 years of guiding, here is our honest ranking of the day trips from Christchurch, and how to choose...

Akaroa or Kaikoura: Which Day Trip from Christchurch?

Akaroa or Kaikoura: Which Day Trip from Christchurch?

Two of New Zealand's best day trips sit either side of Christchurch. Here is an honest local guide to choosing...

Christchurch Wine Tours: The Waipara Valley, Explained

Christchurch Wine Tours: The Waipara Valley, Explained

Looking for a wine tour from Christchurch? The answer is the Waipara Valley, an hour north. Here is what makes...

Why Choose a Guided Tour in Christchurch?

Why Choose a Guided Tour in Christchurch?

Christchurch - From its English-inspired gardens to its dramatic mountain and coastal backdrops, there’s much to discover — and the...

Mercedes Benz fleet

Your Perfect Landing: Why Choose Luxury Guided Tours Christchurch

For the sophisticated traveler, the journey through New Zealand's South Island begins not just at an airport, but at a...

punting on the avon river

Christchurch Tours: From City Highlights to Natural Wonders

Christchurch, known as the "Garden City," is a vibrant destination with a rich history, stunning natural beauty, and a thriving...

Waimakariri river flats

Unveiling the Enchantment of Arthur's Pass

Nestled amidst the majestic Southern Alps of New Zealand, Arthur's Pass is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers...

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