Arthur's Pass Day Tour From Christchurch via Castle Hill (Small Group, Carbon Neutral)

Arthur’s pass – A National Park located deep in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. You
will be traveling on the Great Alpine Highway through the ever-changing
remarkable landscapes.  This tour highlights an example of great
engineering, spectacular waterfalls, and famous filming locations. 

The day will begin with a collection from your chosen accommodation before we hit the road towards Arthur’s pass, our knowledgeable and friendly guide will point out those stunning views along the way. While on this tour with us you will see a variety of green fields to rugged mountain ranges, lush forest and ice-fed lakes and rivers! 

There are plenty of stops along the route, so we won’t be spending all day in the van although it is pretty comfy. You can hop on a Jetboat and grab an action thrilled tour of where it all began or walk through the thick forest and check out a waterfall. Of course, we will also stop at those must-see Instagram worthy spots too!

We recommend checking out some of the add-ons available on this trip. There are so many great activities that can be done, and we are more than happy to help you make the most of your time with us.

You will be driven in comfort in our modern, comfortable Mercedes Sprinter or Similar vehicle packed with extras, just to make your journey that bit easier. Led by our fun and knowledgeable and passionate tour guides, this journey will come to life in a new way for you.

Memories made, hearts happy and photos a plenty in this tour!

 Highlights

• Castle Hill 
• Alpine Jets 
• Arthurs Pass/ Devils punch bowl 
• Cave stream
• Kea in the wild

Itinerary:

Christchurch – We start by leaving the Garden City/Christchurch and heading north towards our destination, while our knowledgeable driver points out some of the Garden City’s highlights.

Springfield/AlpineJet – As we make our way through the Selwyn District you will be greeted by the Gorgeous little western town of Springfield where we make our turn off towards Alpine Jets. Here you will spend time experiencing the wonders of the Waimakariri, it’s no wonder Jet Boating was developed here in Christchurch!  For those that have decided to not add this onto their tour, there are walks, views and sheep cuddles to enjoy.  

Castle Hill (1hour) – Once back in the van we head towards Castle Hill. These weathered limestone  rocks sit proudly on the tussocky hills and were once in the ocean! Over time they eroded away and started forming these amazing unique shapes you’ll see today. You might recognize this landscape from movies such as Lord of the Rings and Narnia! That’s right.  Not only that, but while you walk amongst the rocks you will also see climbers and boulderers! This place is a magnet for those types of hobbies. This is not a guided walk so you will be left to explore this piece of beauty on your own. 

Otira Gorge Lookout (15 min)  – Also known as Deaths Corner! The Otira Viaduct Lookout is an amazing spot to see the national park in all its glory. This bridge is the only reason driving Arthurs Pass is possible! It’s huge at 440 Meters long and is a great spot for a photo of the bridge and the surrounding landscape. A little bonus too, you might see a wee Cheeky Kea! The sneaky Alpine Parrot of NZ. 

Arthurs Pass Village (1hour) – We depart the lookout and head towards Arthur's Pass village. On the way you will be able to see the beautiful backdrop of the majestic Southern Alps up close.  Once we arrive you will have the opportunity to either walk the Devils Punch Bowl or spend this time walking around the local shop. 

• Devils Punch Bowl – This walking track is approx. 1 hour with a
  gradual incline including steps towards a ferocious 131-meter-tall
  waterfall. Fitness is low to moderate as you walk through the bush and
  forest. 
• Arthurs pass village – Grab a bite to eat, a
  coffee and shop some local goodies! This village is a great way to really
  get to know the area. 

Please note depending on time, our driver will let you know how long you have and will
assist you on the day in regard to departure time.

Cave Stream (15 min)– This is formed by the caves stream as it flows through an underground passage for 594 meters. This cave can be accessed by inexperienced cavers. Pretty incredible to look at. 

Christchurch – Sadly we get ready to make our way back to the Garden City! We then take you back to the accommodation where you started your journey from this Morning. All in a day's work aye! Here we officially say our goodbyes but send you off with some great photos and even better memories! 

As this tour operates in an alpine region the weather can be unpredictable. In the event of bad weather this tour will continue on to Greymouth and Lake Brunner.

Inclusions:

• Small Group
• Carbon Neutral
• Lunch 
• Bottled Water 
• Local kiwi snacks
• Commentary
• Wi-Fi
• USB charging 
• 100% Kiwi as experience

Add Ons: 

• Tranzalpine Train Journey one way
• Alpine Jet boat experience
• Helicopter one way 

We at Cheeky Kea Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and

all those little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife
viewings, specially designed vehicles, complimentary refreshments, and many
other fun surprises will ensure our tours are an experience to remember. 

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