Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism
Ashburton Itineraries
Theme: Self-drive (eg. touring routes)
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Days |
Suggested activity/attraction |
Suggested dining |
Suggested accommodation |
Special hints/tips |
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Day 1: AM/PM |
Travel the Inland Scenic Route (72). Stop at the Rakaia Gorge and take a ride on the Rakaia Gorge Scenic Jet which sits on the river |
Mt Hutt Homestead Inland 72 (Lunch) The Last Post (Dinner winter only) Brinkley (dinner year round) |
Abisko Lodge Brinkley Village Beluga Lodge Powederhouse lodge Snowdenn Lodge |
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Day 2: |
Ski Mt Hutt (June – October) or fish for Salmon with an experienced guide.(Four Seasons Guiding)(Summer) |
Brinkley Village (Summer) Eagle Rock (winter) |
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Day 3: |
Travel the Inland Scenic Route to stop at Staveley and take in the Sharplin Falls as a short walk |
Morning Tea or Lunch at the Stronechrubie on Inland Scenic Route 72 |
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Day 4: (if applicable) |
When travelling south travel down the spectacular Inland Scenic Route 72 through the mighty Rakaia Gorge, stop for the night in Methven - a resort for all seasons. The Mt Hutt Homestead is a historical homestead sited on a privately owned 800 ha deer farm, licensed, open for breakfast, lunch & dinner (venison a specialty). Accommodation in Methven offers a wide range of choice for all budgets. The properties listed are all top quality.
Rangiatea Garden & Agate mine is open by appointment, so don’t forget to call ahead. Rangiatea is a working farm from which volcanic agate is mined. Jewellery may also be purchased from the property. The stunning 5th generation garden features woodland walks, pond areas & scenic views.
Theme: Heritage/Culture
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Days |
Suggested activity/attraction |
Suggested dining |
Suggested accommodation |
Special hints/tips |
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Day 1:AM PM |
Ashburton Aviation Museum Ashburton Museum and Baring Sq Church spire & Art Gallery |
Tuscanys (Lunch) Hotel Ashburton |
Hotel Ashburton |
Aviation museum open by appointment |
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Day 2: |
Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum Ashfords Craft Village |
Ashfords (Lunch) Cactus Jacks (Dinner) |
As above |
Plains museum open by appointment |
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Day 3: (if applicable) PM |
Methven Historical Society & Museum Farm Haven The High Country Tour |
Café 131 |
Move out of district |
Open by appointment |
The aviation museum is housed in a purpose-built hangar. On display are 10 aircraft including NZ’s only Potterfield 35 & Cropmaster. Ashburton Museum presents a set reminder of the origins of the country. The Baring Square Church tower has a 360 degree view of the district from the Mountains to the sea. The Plains Vintage Railway & museum is a working vintage railway offering 15min excursions through the Ashburton District landscape, operating from a re-created rural period township with a prominent vintage farm machinery emphasis.
Methven Historical Society & Museum and the Farm Haven museum offer a glimpse into the past of this rural township with displays featuring the Rakaia River and other local interest. Farm haven is a car & farm museum on a mini farm of 6acres. The High Country Tour at Middle Rock in the Rakaia Gorge offers a tour of a working high country farm with 4 wheel drive tour of the area and a sumptuous afternoon tea served in the homestead. Demonstrations of sheep shearing can be arranged. The best way to experience rural culture first hand.
Theme: Soft adventure
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Days |
Suggested activity/attraction |
Suggested dining |
Suggested accommodation |
Special hints/tips |
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Day 1:AM
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Jet Boat the Rakaia River with Rakaia Gorge Alpine Jet Horsepower Experience |
Café 131 (lunch)
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Sovereign Resort Hotel Brinkley Village The Lodge |
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Day 2:AM |
Aoraki Balloon Safaris Planet Argo
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Lunch provided Ernie’s Cantina (Dinner) |
As above |
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Day 3: (if applicable) |
Mountain Biking – Back of Beyond Mountain Biking |
Meals Provided |
Accommodation provided if taking more than the one day option |
Day 1: Jetboat up the mighty Rakaia River with Rakaia Gorge Alpine Jet, stop for lunch at Café 131 in Methven before travelling out to Barhill for the Horsepower Experience. Here you will test your skills behind an ex champion pacer, in a uniquely designed tandem sulky, race around the all weather track at speed. This is pure adrenalin and nothing like you have ever tried before. Relax at Ski Time for dinner in front of the wonderful open fire.
Day 2: To Maximise your experience of the district why not see it from the air in a balloon ride with Aoraki Balloon Safaris.Then when you come down to earth enjoy a ½ day on the ARGO a rollercoaster ride in the wild. Lunch is provided on this day of excitement. The vehicles are all weather, all tension & amphibious. What a way to experience the district to the max. Dinner is another relaxed affair at Ernie’s Cantina in the centre of Methven.
Theme: Gardens
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Days |
Suggested activity/attraction |
Suggested dining |
Suggested accommodation |
Special hints/tips |
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Day 1:AM/PM |
Visit 6 Rural Country Gardens at Dorie in Rakaia |
Lunch Suzette Gardens Dinner Hotel Ashburton |
Hotel Ashburton |
Includes JK’s Woolshed |
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Day 2: AM PM |
Trotts Garden & Nursery Ashfords Craft Village |
Lunch Ashfords Craft Village Dinner Tuscanys |
Hotel Ashburton |
Try your hand at spinning and wool dyeing |
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Day 3: (if applicable) |
Day 1: The rural gardens at Dorie in Rakaia is a complete day trip starting at 10am. JK’s Woolshed for sheep show & morning tea and garden tour. Lunch at Suzette Rural Garden, then Riversea Rambles will take you on a trip in an Argo to the Rakaia River Mouth and serve you a mouthwatering afternoon tea. Your day will finish at 4.30pm.
Day 2: Visit Trotts Garden & nursery. Trotts is one of the most inspiring & extensive private gardens in NZ. 3ha of woodland planting & a dramatic formal garden and church. Many times this garden has been featured on TV. Lunch is at Ashfords Craft Village, try your hand at spinning and wool dyeing and absorb the world of craft & wool. Ashfords also has a craft village, which has a number of local artists in residence.
Theme: Non-guided walks
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Days |
Suggested activity/attraction |
Suggested dining |
Suggested accommodation |
Special hints/tips |
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Day 1:AM PM |
Staveley to Sharplin Falls Walking Track (Mt Somers Walkway) |
Packed Lunch Supplied Korobahn |
Stronechrubie Chalets |
Walk duration can be 1 – 4 hours |
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Day 2:AM PM |
Awa Awa Rata Reserve at Mt Hutt Methven Walkway |
Packed lunch by The Lodge Ernie’s Cantina (dinner) |
The Lodge or Snowdenn Lodge |
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Day 3: AM (if applicable) PM |
Rakaia Gorge Walkway Full Day Walk |
Packed lunch (The Lodge) Riverside BBQ Dinner – Ric Geogeson – Rakia Gorge Alpine Jet |
Option of jetboat ride to or from midway on walking track |
The Mt Somers Walkway is among the top ten walks in NZ. Stronechrubie Chalets and Restaurant is a wonderful Swiss chalet style lodge on Inland Scenic Route 72 at Staveley. The Methven Walkway and Rakaia walkways are used as part of the NZ Walking Festival and take in the spectacular scenery that the district provides. The riverside BBQ is supplied by Rakaia Gorge Alpine Jet who can also provide the boat ride in or out for those who are not so inclined to walk the whole track.
Theme: Eco Tourism - Tussock & Beech Eco Tour 3 day
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Days |
Suggested activity/attraction |
Suggested dining |
Suggested accommodation |
Special hints/tips |
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Day 1: |
Plains & Braided Rivers |
All meals included in Tour |
Purpose built lodge on site |
Max Group size 6 pax |
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Day 2: |
Tussock & grasslands, lakes & wetlands |
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Day 3: (if applicable) |
Mountain Beech Forest |
Warren Jowett is an experienced environmental educator with a M.Sc degree in botany. Tussock & Beech Ecotours operates in 3 outstanding conservation areas of forest, lakes & mountains in the Ashburton District. The tour is fully escorted by Warren Jowett - all meals are provided and accommodation is provided in a purpose-built lodge. Transport is provided in a comfortable 4wd minivan.
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Attractions/activities contacts (includes email/website) |
Dining contacts (includes opening hrs) |
Accommodation contacts (includes email/website) |
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Dorie Corner - Suzanne Rollinson Phone: 03 302 0864 Fax 03 302 0864 |
Café 131 Main St Methven open 7-7pm Phone 03 302 9131 Fax 03 302 9131 |
Hotel Ashburton – Gavin Snowball Phone 03 308 3059 Fax 03 308 3059 |
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JK’s Woolshed – Janet Kingsbury Phone 03 302 0890 Fax 03 302 0765 Email hamishk@voyager.co.nz |
Cactus Jacks 207 Willis St Ashburton Phone 03 308 0495 Fax 03 308 0494 |
Abisko Lodge – Evan Glass Phone 03 302 8795 Fax 03 302 8795 |
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Rakaia Gorge Scenic Jet – Murray McDonald Phone 03 318 6515 Fax 03 3186512
Rakaia Gorge Alpine Jet – Ric Georgeson Phone 03 318 6574 Fax 03 318 6573 |
Ski Time – Pete Wood Phone 03 302 8398 Fax 03 302 8394 Ernie’s Cantina – Butch Stern Phone 03 302 9192 Fax 03 308 9163 Korobahn Lodge – Bruce Taylor Phone 03 303 0828 Fax 03 303 0876 |
Beluga Lodge – Di Harris Phone 03 302 8290 Fax 03 302 9290 Powderhouse Lodge – Shane & Vanessa Johnson Phone 03 302 9105 Fax 03 302 9105 Sovereign Resort Hotel – Angela Brooks Phone 03 302 8724 Fax 03 302 8870 |
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The High Country Tour – Lynn Nell Phone 03 318 6889 Fax 03 318 6806 Methven Historical Soc - Qwen Goodwin Phone 03 302 9126 Aoraki Balloons – George Currie Phone 03 302 8172 Fax 03 302 8162 Horsepower Experience – Lindsay & Jan Kerslake Phone 03 302 4800 Fax 03 302 4822 Planet Argo – Leo Corry Phone 03 302 8464 Fax 03 302 8409 Four Seasons Guiding – Shane Johnston Phone 03 302 9105 Fax 03 302 9105 Ashfords Craft Village – Fiona Dupree Phone 03 308 9085 Fax 03 3083159 Farm Haven – Angus McKay Phone 03 308 8035 Ashburton Aviation Museum – Murray Perkins Phone 03 308 3129 |
Stronechrubie – Rob Koller Phone 03 303 9814 Fax 03 303 9814 Mt Hutt Homestead – Brian Shultze Phone 03 302 8130 Fax 03 302 8102 The Last Post – Jude Holzer (winter only) Phone 03 302 8259 Fax 302 9359 Brinkley Village – Jim Lancaster Phone 03 302 8885 Fax 03 302 8862 Tuscanys – Lois Sparrow Phone 03 308 5039 Fax 308 8960
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Korobahn Lodge – Bruce Taylor Phone 03 303 0828 Fax 03 303 0876 Snowdenn Lodge – Allan Thompson Phone 03 302 8999 Fax 03 302 8997
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Ashburton Museum – Rita Wright Phone 03 308 316 Plains Vintage Railway – SJ French Phone 03 308 3669 Fax 03 308 1746 Mt Somers Walkway – Jan Crozier (committee) Phone 03 303 0853 Fax 03 303 0851 Tussock & Beech Ecotours – Warren Jowett Phone 03 303 0880 Fax 03 303 0980 Email tbeech@xtra.co.nz
Trotts Garden – Allan Trott Phone 03 308 9530 Fax 03 308 8568 |
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