The largest wildlife reserve in New Zealand houses animals in their natural habitats with few barriers or fences, permitting visitors to see them up close and feed the gentler species.

This 945-meter ride will lift you about 1500 feet above sea level for a breathtaking view of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbor.

This garden is home to the best collection of exotic and indigenous plants in New Zealand.

A unique part of the city, the Avon River sustains a diverse plant and animal life and is a source of many recreational activities.

View the entire city from the platforms atop the neo-gothic cathedral that has survived many earthquakes.

Tekapo now has star gazing tours! There's been an observatory on top of Mount John for a long time, run by the University of Canterbury, and that still continues, but there's a company called Earth...

Our tours are aimed at independent travelers who want to get off the main tourist trails to experience the real back country New Zealand, an area that even those of us living here rarely get to see. We prefer to travel with individual groups so we can tailor the tour to your interests (Tolkein, Lord of the Rings, alpine ecology, photography, history of settlement) and stop whenever you want. Andre & Kirsty Russell