Why go from Christchurch to Queenstown or Wanaka by bus?

Dorothy - 09/06/06

Travelling from Christchurch to Queenstown or Wanaka by road is a wonderful investment of your time. Someone may tell you that flying from Christchurch to the Lakes seems like a worthwhile saving in time, but if you have come to see the South Island then this road trip is a wonderful sight-seeing opportunity. Who wants to save time by not visiting Lake Tekapo or Lake Pukaki or Mount Cook/Aorangi (or Aoraki), by not travelling through the farmland on the Canterbury Plains or through the unique Mackenzie Country, the Lindis Pass or the Kawarau Gorge or through country towns like Methven, Geraldine, Fairlie or Twizel? I would never hesitate about choosing to travel by road as I believe that the trip from Christchurch to Queenstown is a scenic feast. An added feature of the trip if you travel with Newmans is the extended lunch break at Aoraki/Mt Cook village.

Looking across Lake Pukaki towards Mount Cook Photo source: Bron Freeman, Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing Click here to view a larger version

Advantages of bus travel
You could drive your own car or hire one, but then you would have the responsibility of driving and finding the way, whereas in a Newmans coach you can shed responsibility, sit in comfort, enjoy extended views from well above the road, give full attention to the driver's detailed commentary and take photos at the key stopping places. You don't even have to decide where to stop for a tea or coffee break or a meal, or wonder where you will find the nearest toilet. There is a restroom on the bus.

Rural towns
Passing through country towns gives you a glimpse into New Zealand rural life. The agricultural centre Methven is best known for the facilities it offers for skiing on Mt Hutt, but the people who live there have worked hard to build up summer attractions so that it now attracts visitors year-round.

Geraldine, a sheltered rural centre at the foot of the Downs, is a pleasant town with interesting shops.

Fairlie, at the eastern end of Burke's Pass, is the gateway to the Mackenzie Country. It serves not only the farming community but also the tourists who come to ski on Mount Dobson, fish in the local rivers or enjoy water sports at the newly created Lake Ohupa. Do watch out in the main street for Sam Mahon's statue of James Mackenzie, who in the 1850s took stolen sheep through the pass previously known only to Maori into the Mackenzie Country and grazed them there until he was caught. He was jailed for the thieving but the region was named “The Mackenzie Country” after this enterprising rustler. Mackenzie was pardoned 12 years into his jail sentence.

Twizel was constructed as the base for the Upper Waitaki Power Development - the largest hydro project undertaken in New Zealand. Begun in 1968 the construction took eighteen years. The Government's plan was to raze the town, but they encountered strong resistance and now the town has a core of permanent inhabitants and a huge influx of visitors in the summer. Many people are attracted by nearby Lake Ruataniwha, a completely man-made lake developed during the construction works for the power scheme. It is popular for water sports and has a international-standard rowing course used for secondary school rowing championships.

If you are wondering what is the difference between Aoraki and Aorangi the answer is that Maori speakers in the South Island in the Kai Kahu tribe use Aoraki, Maori in the North Island use Aorangi. As Mount Cook is in the Kai Tahu tribal area I am calling it Aoraki/Mt Cook. New Zealand luxury motor coach sightseeing company, Newmans Coach Lines, has upgraded its sightseeing tour, "The Mount Cook Wanderer", between Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown and Wanaka, to include a one and a half hour stopover at Mount Cook. This allows time for a scenic flight around Mount Cook National Park or onto the Tasman Glacier, or a leisurely lunch at the Hermitage Hotel and exploration of Aoraki/Mt Cook village.

Mount Cook taken from the road to the village Photo source Peter Hunt Click here to view a larger version

Whether you are travelling from Christchurch or Queenstown/Wanaka, the spectacular sight of Mount Cook will be a lasting memory. At 3,764m, Mount Cook, or Aorangi "cloud in the sky" towers over the 70,000 hectares of alpine wilderness and the other massive mountain peaks. As with all mountain areas there is no guarantee of fine weather and a good view of the mountain, but at least on this trip there is a wealth of other remarkable scenery as you travel.

In winter the coach leaves Christchurch at 7.30 am, crosses the Canterbury Plains before going through Burkes Pass to the MacKenzie Basin for a stop at Lake Tekapo.

Looking from the road as you approach Lake Tekapo Photo source Peter Hunt Click here to view a larger version

The bronze sculpture of the sheep dog was commissioned to honour the hard working Collie dogs of the Mackenzie Country.

Bronze sculpture of the sheep dog Photo source Peter Hunt Click here to view a larger version

The coach makes the extended stop at Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook National Park. During the break at Aoraki Mt Cook you could take a spectacular flight over and around Mount Cook, a scenic feast in good weather. Mount Cook Ski Planes offers flights over the Southern Alps, around Mount Cook and Mount Tasman as well as over the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers. The length of the flight ranges from 25 minutes, to longer flights which land on the glaciers. The Helicopter Line also offers a similar service around Mount Cook and the glaciers.

You can enjoy the journey, sit back and relax as your motor coach leaves Mount Cook crossing the Lindis Pass and on through the rugged Kawarau Gorge to arrive in Queenstown at 6.10 pm.

Lake Wakatipu, The Queenstown Gardens, and Kelvin Heights with the Remarkables in the background. Click here to view a larger version

The service is on a new 50-seat coach with daily departures. The trip departs from the Christchurch Travel Centre, 123 Worcester Street and concludes at the Queenstown coach stop on Athol Street, Queenstown. Free hotel pick up and drop offs are available from hotels in the Central Business District.

A recorded multi-lingual commentary is available in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and German.

For information about fares and reservations go to the Newmans Coach Lines website.

While you are exploring the site note all the other trips you could make if you explore New Zealand in a Newmans coach - and note the current specials like the Extreme Saver fares on some routes for those who make their reservations early.

In fact, Newmans Coach Lines operates one of New Zealand's largest tourist focused transport networks offering daily services in both directions between Auckland & Wellington, Waitomo Caves ex Auckland & Rotorua, Rotorua Sightseeing, Rotorua & Napier, Rotorua & Wellington, Christchurch & Queenstown via Mt Cook, Milford Sound and Queenstown & the West Coast Glaciers.