Darfield

Viewing points

Leaving Christchurch via the "Great Alpine Highway", you'll cross the flat farmland of the Canterbury Plains towards the mountains. Halfway across the plains you will discover the small rural town of Darfield, where you will enjoy a short stop which will allow you to sample some of the local delicacies from the famous Darfield Bakery. Your next stop is Springfield, just 20 minutes down the road. Complete with its giant doughnut statue it's well worth a photo, and your guide will explain just how the town ended up with this giant doughnut. From Springfield, the road winds its way up over Porter's Pass at 900 meters before continuing to Lake Lyndon, where we will stop for morning tea. From here, it's only a 10-minute drive to Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti. This area is an amazing labyrinth of giant limestone boulders in the Craigieburn Basin, surrounded by mountains. The area is rich with cultural and recreational significance and has a Tōpuni status of a "symbolic cloak of protection”. It is also known internationally as a world-class climbing, bouldering, photography, and film-making destination. Your guide will show you around and explain the geography and cultural significance of the area before finding the perfect spot to sit down for a picnic lunch. Following lunch, you will have free time to explore the boulder fields in your own time before meeting back at the car park at 2:00PM. From there, your return journey back to Christchurch takes approximately 1.5-2 hours.

Your tour starts by following the "Great Alpine Highway" west of Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains. After 45 minutes, it will be time for a short break in the small rural town of Darfield. The Darfield Bakery is an excellent example of New Zealand cuisine. We will pick up some freshly made food for a picnic lunch. Leaving Darfield and continuing west towards the Southern Alps, we will make a short stop for morning tea next to Lake Lyndon and then make our way to Cave Stream Scenic Reserve. Once arriving at Cave Stream, your guide will kit you out with caving gear and provide you with a safety briefing before you head down to the cave entrance. The 600-meter limestone cave follows an underground river and takes most groups 45-60 minutes to complete. Inside the limestone cave, the crystal clear water flows through large chambers and over small waterfall steps. The cave gets as narrow as a standard hallway, and you can always stand up inside. Back at the car park, hot drinks and a picnic lunch will be provided while you enjoy the mountain views. From here it's a short drive to Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti. Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti is one of New Zealand's most spectacular natural wonders. While there, your guide will show you around and explain why the area holds so much spiritual, recreational, and geological significance. If time allows, you will have some free time to explore the boulders, meeting your guide back at the car park. On the way back, a short break in Springfield allows for a photo with the giant doughnut, the history of which your guide will explain. Back in Christchurch, you will be dropped off at either your hotel or the meeting point at the Canterbury Museum in the city centre.