Summer Christchurch Day Trip Destinations

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

Read about 'Summer Christchurch Day Trip Destinations' on USAVE, the place for all things car rental.

8 Seater MinivanWhen planning a day trip, the rule of the more the merrier holds true and you can hire a rental van to help you put this into practice. Christchurch has a number of excellent destinations that suit a full day out during the summer, with fun activities for all ages and amazing scenery to see. Going as a group means you can save money on vehicle rental and petrol costs, as well as share the burden of driving.

If you’re planning a Christchurch summer road trip pick up a rental van from our handy Christchurch depot and head for one of these absolutely unmissable locations:

Christchurch Road Trip Destinations

Though busy during summer, the alpine village of Hanmer Springs is a great destination for a summer day trip. At just 90 minutes drive north of Christchurch you won’t be too tired to enjoy the adventure activities such as mountain biking, rafting, jetboating and even bungy jumping. Those looking for relaxation can enjoy a relaxing soak in the famous hot pools and a stroll through the village to one of the cafes. Since accommodation prices in Hanmer reach a peak over summer, head there for a day trip.

Mt Somers is a couple of hours drive inland from Christchurch, and takes you up to the Mt Hutt area. Of course there won’t be much in the way of snow this time of year, but what you’ll find instead are verdant hiking trails and stunning panoramic views of the Canterbury plains. Enjoy the shaded bush walks as well as plenty of places to stop and have a picnic.

Located on the Banks Peninsula, Okains Bay is a fantastic summer playground for families, with a wide beach including a shallow lagoon that’s safe for kids to splash around in. The pine forest houses a campground, but it’s just as good as shelter for a day trip. There’s lots of walks and a small museum to explore too. Throughout the summer there may be attraction operators such as kayak and canoe hire to properly explore the bay. Be careful though – the drive back up to the Summit Road is quite steep and underpowered vehicles with a lot of weight behind them will struggle. Ensure the rental vehicle you take is up to the task.

Also on the Banks Peninsula roughly 90 minutes drive from Christchurch, the old French settlement of Akaroa is set on a beautiful harbour, surrounded by spectacular volcanic hills. In summer you can enjoy boat cruises, dolphin watching, 4WD safaris, walking tracks and plenty of wonderful cafes and restaurants to sample, many with a French flavour.

Christchurch offers a number of fantastic escapes for a summer rental van trip, allowing you to bring all your friends and relatives to join in the fun. It also means you can bring all the equipment and food you need for a full day out, as well as splitting the costs of petrol and burden of driving. USAVE offer a range of spacious and affordable van and minibus rental vehicles ranging from 8 seater people carriers to luxury 12 seater coaches.

Tags: , , ,