Christchurch to Greymouth Road Trip

Before heading for the mountains, it would be a mistake not to take some time to explore Christchurch. This vibrant city is an effortless blend of history, art, and modern culture that you don’t want to miss out on.

You can start your day at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū or wander through The Arts Centre to browse local crafts and galleries. Grab a coffee from Child Sister or Grizzly Baked Goods, then head to Riverside Market for lunch and a wander through its food stalls.

For something a little more relaxing, you can unwind at the He Puna Taimoana Hot Pools by the beach in New Brighton. Here you can enjoy the view of the ocean while soaking in one of the hot pools, the plunge pool, or just sitting in the sauna.

When you’re ready to get going, spend your first night outside the city at Spencer Park. It’s a peaceful freedom camping area surrounded by pine forest and close to the beach. With walking trails, toilets, and picnic areas, it’s the perfect base before you head into the Southern Alps.

After you’ve experienced Christchurch, you’ll enter the Castle Hill Conservation area and leave the Canterbury plains behind you. This landscape is nothing short of surreal! It’s surrounded by massive limestone boulders scattered across lush greenery. Known in Māori as Kura Tāwhiti, this area makes you feel like you’ve been transported to another world.

It’s a super popular stop for climbers and walkers alike. Simply meandering amongst the giant limestone boulders and soaking in the views of the surrounding peaks is an unforgettable experience. There’s not much to do here but simply enjoy the spectacular sight.

From the Conservation Area, head straight on over to Lake Pearson where you will also find your next campsite!

In another 60 km, or about an hour from Castle Hill, you’ll arrive at Lake Pearson, a calm alpine lake tucked away between the mountains. Here you can stop off and enjoy your time in the water, although it may be cold depending on the time of year you intend to travel.

Lake Pearson is a peaceful stop where you can go for short walks, try your hand at fishing, or simply relax by the water with a coffee. The best part is that you don’t have to leave on the same day, you can stay there overnight. We recommend Lake Pearson (Moana Rua) Campsite. It is one of the best spots to camp, and it’s situated right on the lake’s edge, giving you out-of-this-world views. The camp has bathrooms and 20 non-power sites for you to park at and enjoy.

As you continue, you’ll head up into Arthur’s Pass National Park, one of the South Island’s highest alps. The roads here climb steeply, winding up the mountain valleys and forests. Aside from the beautiful scenery, you’ll eventually get to Arthur’s Pass Village, a unique little town. Stop over and enjoy a coffee or some food at one of the local cafes or even stretch your legs with one of the walking trails available, like the Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall track or the Temple Basin track if you want something more challenging.

For a place to stay the night in this stunning area to get an early morning hike, Klondyke Corner Campsite is great. It’s got everything you need, including toilets and some cooking facilities. It’s also situated right beside the Bealey and Waimakariri Rivers, so that you can wake up right in the middle of all this spectacular pass has to offer.

A very short drive away is Otira. The highlight here is the Otira Viaduct Lookout, one of the best viewpoints on the entire drive. The viaduct is an engineering marvel, bridging a steep and rugged stretch of the pass, but the scenery is what really steals the show. From the lookout, you’ll see the Otira River carving its way through the gorge below. We recommend heading on from here, with the next stop being Hokitika Gorge.

Now, the descent begins as you leave the alpine region and make your way back to the coast. One of the highlights on the West Coast is the stunning views offered by Hokitika Gorge, located in Hokitika, south of Greymouth.

There are many walks around the gorge, but one short walk, in particular, leads to a swing bridge that crosses the gorge and offers you spectacular photo opportunities. A short loop walk gives you different perspectives of the gorge, so bring your camera, some snacks, and take your time. It’s one of the most beautiful, natural stops in the South Island.

When you’re done exploring, pull into Hokitika Holiday Park for a genuine Hokitika experience. The Park has excellent facilities, including bathrooms, equipped kitchens, and an entertainment area. It’s centred around family and is a great place to rest easy before the final leg of your journey.

Your final stop is Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast, and what a great place it is! It’s a town with a rich history in gold mining. To get a feel of the old gold rush era, you have to stop at Shantytown Heritage Park, a recreated 19th-century mining village complete with steam train rides and gold panning.

For an activity where you can take in more of the wonders of Greymouth, you can walk part of the Point Elizabeth Track. This beautiful, well-surfaced walkway winds 5.5km (one-way) through coastal forest and opens up to breathtaking, panoramic views of the Tasman Sea. It’s the perfect outing to get the family outdoors and experience the beauty of nature.

Greymouth is also known for its local craft beer. Stop by Monteith’s Brewery for a lager tasting and a hearty meal to celebrate the end of your trip. If you timed it just right, you can finish the day by watching the sunset over the wild West Coast; the skies here put on quite a show.

To end your journey in authentic West Coast style, pull up at Greymouth Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park. This family-friendly location is a brilliant spot if you’re looking for a place with all the facilities you could want, like a playground, basketball court, jumping pillow and more for the kids to enjoy. It also features communal kitchens, BBQ facilities, a dump station, showers and toilets, Sky TV Lounge and even a private spa.

For a more affordable spot to park that offers only the basics, look at Central Park Camping in Greymouth. It may only be a simple camping spot, but it still offers coin-operated showers, a washing machine and dryer, and even unlimited WiFi. It is also one of the most central locations in Greymouth.

Travelling around the South Island doesn’t have to be a challenge; you just need a reliable and comfortable campervan to get you around, and you should have an epic time. At Travellers Autobarn, our campers tick both boxes and more, offering you unlimited kilometres as you road trip around the Southern Island.

Looking to expand your itinerary, here are some other road trip ideas for you to try:

• Christchurch to Blenheim Road Trip
• Christchurch to Mount Cook Road Trip
• Christchurch to Hokitika Road Trip
• Christchurch to Marlborough Road Trip

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