Wellington - Mt Cook - Queenstown

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Day 3: Christchurch to Mt Cook Village

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel Time	Km	(Miles)
Christchurch - Ashburton	1.25 hrs	89	56
Ashburton - Timaru	1 hr	77	48
Timaru - Lake Tekapo	1.25 hrs	105	66
Lake Tekapo - Mt Cook Village	1.25 hrs	104	65
Totals for Day	4.75 hrs	375	234

Christchurch - Ashburton

89 km (56 miles)
Approximately 1.25 hours
Road Conditions: Motorway/State Highway

The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is an entertaining mixture of refined lifestyle and cultural excitement. The tranquil Avon River meanders through the city and adjacent Hagley Park, historic buildings house a lively arts community and restored trams make it easy for visitors to get around. Visit heritage sites, museums and art galleries, and enjoy the highly developed restaurant scene.

The route to Christchurch is about as straight and flat as roads get in New Zealand. On a clear day, the Southern Alps provide outstanding scenery. The town of Rakaia sits on the southern side of the Rakaia River, and it's 'the salmon capital of New Zealand'. The Rakaia bridge spans 1.8 kilometres of one of the world's best examples of a 'braided' river system.

Ashburton, which sits between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, is a large town that serves the local rural community. It has about six museums and some excellent craft galleries. Trout fishing is the local obsession, and the skifields of Mt Hutt are an easy drive away.

Ashburton - Timaru

77 km (48 miles)
Approximately 1 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

Ashburton is a large town that serves the local rural community. It sits between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, so fly fishing is the local obsession. Ashburton also has about six museums and some excellent craft galleries. The skifields of Mt Hutt are an easy drive from here.

Your trip south is straight and flat. It's worth taking the loop road to Geraldine to visit the gourmet cheese factory and vintage car museum. Rafting in the Rangitata Gorge is another possibility. Just before Timaru you'll drive into Temuka, a town that produces high quality pottery - look for the factory shop if you'd like a useful souvenir.

Timaru is a small but beautifully formed city. The historic walk will introduce you to many of the heritage buildings. Enjoy the boutique brewery, botanic gardens and the park at Caroline Bay, which has an aviary and a maze. Timaru also has the third largest public art gallery in the South Island and an excellent museum - the Richard Pearse (kiwi pioneer aviator) exhibit is particularly good.

Timaru - Lake Tekapo

105 km (66 miles)
Approximately 1.25 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

Timaru is a small but beautifully formed city. The historic walk will introduce you to many heritage buildings. Enjoy the boutique brewery, botanic gardens and the park at Caroline Bay. Timaru also has the third largest public art gallery in the South Island and an excellent museum.

Your journey west will take you to Pleasant Point, a town known for its custard squares (custard sandwiched between layers of iced pastry) and its interesting railway museum. There are historic sights to see in the town of Fairlie before you ascend to the region known as the Mackenzie Country, named after the legendary Scottish sheep rustler who once roamed the area.

The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. The exquisite opaque turquoise colour of the lake is caused by fine rock particles held in suspension. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities.

Lake Tekapo - Mt Cook Village

104 km (65 miles) Approximately 1.25 hours Road Conditions: State Highway

The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. The opaque turquoise colour of this lake and others in the area is caused by fine, glacier-ground rock particles held in suspension. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities.

The road to Mt Cook takes you through high country tussock to beautiful Lake Pukaki. You'll hug the edge of the lake for most of the way up the Tasman Valley to Mount Cook Village.

The Aoraki Mount Cook National Park includes the highest peak in Australasia (Mt Cook - 3755m). The region attracts mountain climbers, hikers and scenery fanatics. Heli skiing, heli hiking and aerial sightseeing provide visitors with amazing memories. A variety of walking trails begin in or near Mount Cook Village - most take only a couple of hours. In the bar of the local hotel, huge windows provide a perfect view of Mt Cook. Scenic Highlights

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