A Tiki tour of Canterbury
One of my goals during my trip around Canterbury was to keep the world as up-to-date as possible on everything I was doing. No …
About our blogger Kristin
In March 2012 the team at Wotif.com HQ launched a competition to find Australia’s most ridiculously entertaining travel blogger. Her mission? To cross the …
Tiki tour Itinerary
Wot is Kristin doing in Canterbury right now? Check out her itinerary below. Phew! Day 1: Brisbane – Christchurch – Kaikoura Arrive in Christchurch …
Tiki tour deals
Wotif you could do your own Tiki tour around New Zealand’s Canterbury? Check this page daily to see wot new deals Kristin has found …
A Tiki tour of Canterbury
One of my goals during my trip around Canterbury was to keep the world as up-to-date as possible on everything I was doing. No …
Looking back on my time in Canterbury
It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on the nine days I spent in Canterbury, New Zealand. Never before have I had such …
Day 9: The Inland Scenic Route
When I reached Geraldine on my drive back to Christchurch, I was struck by the change from a few days before. When I saw …
Day 9: The Church of the Good Shepherd
When many people think of Lake Tekapo, they think of a brilliantly azure lake that is unlike any other. The next thing they probably …
Day 9: Peppers Bluewater Resort
Everywhere I stayed on my trip around New Zealand was outstanding, but I was still pretty excited about staying at Peppers Bluewater Resort. It …
Day 8: Tekapo Springs
After following a jam-packed itinerary for eight days, I was excited about the prospect of spending a relaxing evening in the hot pools at …
Day 8: Boating the Tasman Glacier Lake with Glacier Explorers
One thing that really stuck out to me on my itinerary when I first saw it was the Glacier Explorers trip on the Tasman …
Day 7: Earth & Sky Tour
By day, the Mount John Observatory, which sits on a high hill above the town of Tekapo, gives tourists a great view of Lake …
Day 7: A Quick Stop in Geraldine
Day 7 was possibly the most packed of my entire trip. I took a scenic flight over the Southern Alps, went to the Church …
Day 7: The Giant Jersey and the Medieval Mosaic
Very obviously painted with “The Giant Jersey, 1066 – A Medieval Mosaic” from the outside, the most unique attraction in Geraldine looks like …
Day 7: Air Safaris – Grand Traverse Flight
On the drive to Tekapo, I was very concerned that my scenic flight with Air Safaris wouldn’t happen, or if it did, that …
Day 7: Akaroa Criterion Motel
After a hair-raising jetboat ride and a very filling salmon lunch at The Trading Rooms, I was ready to have somewhere to put my …
Day 6: Dinner at Ma Maison Restaurant and Bar
Despite the fact the guide on my sea kayaking trip, Kevin, said that Akaroa is not actually that French (and being a Frenchman, he …
Day 6: Sea Kayaking with Pohatu Adventures
Today was all about seeing the local wildlife — this morning saw me taking a trip out into the harbour to swim with …
Day 6: Attempting to swim with Dolphins
I woke up excited. In only a few hours, I would be swimming with the world’s smallest and most endangered ocean dolphin — the …
Day 5: An accidental drive through Christchurch
The drive from Hanmer Springs to Akaroa was supposed to take me around three hours; it ended up taking me nearly four. Surprisingly, this …
Day 5: Heritage Hanmer Springs
Set on large grounds with majestic trees and perfectly trimmed green lawns, the Heritage Hanmer Springs was a lovely place to call home for …
Day 5: Akaroa Jet Adventure
I thought that the Thrillseekers jetboat ride at the end of my rafting trip was good preparation for my Akaroa Jet ride in the …
Day 4: Hanmer Springs thermal pools
It’s not a real day in Hanmer Springs until you’ve visited the hot pools. That was true for my visit; I was in town …
Day 4: Mountain Biking without the Biking
As I’ve mentioned in a few other entries, I’m traveling around New Zealand with a not-quite-100% knee. I broke my tibial plateau on a …
Day 4: Thrillseekers Rafting
I went to sleep in Hanmer Springs and woke up in Scotland. As I drove out of town to the Waiau Bridge, where Thrillseekers …
Day 4: Powerhouse Cafe
You wouldn’t have guessed it from looking at the size of the Powerhouse Cafe, but it was originally a hydroelectric station that provided power …
Day 3: Hanmer Springs Spa & thermal pools
How many people get out of the car after a road trip clutching their neck or back, trying to massage out the aches and …
Day 3: The Alpine Pacific Triangle
All along the roads from Christchurch to Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs, there are signs stating you are driving on the “Alpine Pacific Triangle,” which …
Day 3: Pegasus Bay Winery
I am most definitely not a wine aficionado. I have difficulty identifying a dry wine, much less one that has oakey or honeysuckle flavours. …
Day 3: Kaikoura lookouts
This morning, I was completely struck by the beauty of Kaikoura. Even though the clouds had partially raised for sunset yesterday evening, that was …
Day 3: Cafe Encounter
The Encounter building in Kaikoura is well-known as being the starting point for the highly popular Dolphin Encounter, a tour where intrepid travelers can …
Day 2: White Morph Restaurant
The town of Kaikoura has a very unique location. It sits just to the north of the Kaikoura peninsula, which juts out five kilometers …
Day 2: stay at Kaikoura Waterfront Apartments
As I write this post, the sun is coming up over the Pacific Ocean and bringing an absolutely stunning day to Kaikoura. The clouds …
Day 2: Maurice’s Maori Tours Kaikoura
When someone mentions a Maori tour, it usually brings to mind thoughts of mass tours in Rotorua that consist of a performance following a …
Day 2: Whale Watch Kaikoura
Today got off to a very inauspicious start when I found out that a low mist had enveloped Kaikoura overnight, which caused all early-morning …
Day 1: dinner at Hislops Cafe
It’s not often that you walk into a restaurant and think “wow, this feels like home.” That’s how I felt when I walked into …
Day 1: arrival in Christchurch
Even though the Southern Alps block most of the rain coming across the Tasman Sea, giving Canterbury a reasonably dry climate, it was pouring …
