NZ Road Trip: What to do between Christchurch and Hokitika
Last updated on November 18th, 2025 at 08:41 am
Make at least a day of the trip from Christchurch to Hokitika, if not more. There are plenty of scenic short walks and other points of interest en-route.
The distance is 248kms and a straight-through trip with maybe a short stop is about 3-3.5 hours. But you will miss a lot of good stuff! In fact, to do all these things you will need a two-day journey, or you can pick and choose for a long one-day trip!
Some of these walks and stops have got very popular, so leave early or late, avoid the weekend and maybe January if possible – just to have fewer people to share it with!
First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!
Plan for your trip
Insurance – Click here for travel cover with SafetyWing. Almost any nationality, its ok if you are already traveling, up to 64 years old. Or click here for cover with EKTA – any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling!
Accommodation – book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor, or, a hostel with Hostelworld
Internet – get a highly rated yesim eSim before you go – click here for yours
Tours and Activities – book with Viator, Eatwith, or GetYourGuide. Top recommendations if you don’t have a car, but want to see it anyway are:
1. Private Day Trip from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass with Castle Hill
2. Day Tour From Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass via Castle Hill
And my top recommendation, if you want to do a day trip with the best of both worlds, is this GYG day trip which goes on the train, or a similar trip with Viator – do book well ahead as the train gets really booked out!
Buses, trains, ferries and Flights – 12Go is now my first option for this, but for flights you can also find a good deal through Kiwi.com
Car rental – compare prices and get the best deals with Rentalcars.com
Hiking – use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – know where you are on the trail!
Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!!
Stop 1. Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area / Castle Hill
The first place that is absolutely worth a stop for an hour or more between Christchurch and Hokitika is Castle Hill. It doesn’t look so great from the highway, but start walking around them and you get to appreciate these majestic limestone rocks. There is a very obvious path from the carpark and once you at the rocks it becomes more free-range – although there are well worn tracks through the rocks. The reserve also has the the Castle Hill buttercup which is only found in the reserve, and falcons can nest here – added bonuses!
Stop 2. Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
A bit further along the road is the Cave Stream Scenic Reserve. You can just walk for 45mins to an hour in this reserve on an easy pathway, through limestone karsts and interesting sculptured rocks.
Or, you can go to the big drawcard – the cave. The cave has two entry / exit points with a 594m passage between. However you should have some experience to go along the passage as it involves walking through the current of a river, some waterfalls to climb, and its pitch black. So its not for a casual walker, but you can at least go in a little way.
If you do go through the passage make sure you have the right equipment, including proper head torches – not just your phone. The water might get quite deep in parts.
Stop 3. Bealey Spur Track and Hut
2.5 hours, 6km one way
Just near the entrance to Arthurs Pass National Park is the next stop between Christchurch and Hokitika – the Bealey Spur Track.
I loved this walk many years ago, but stayed the night in the historic hut (very basic) and made an afternoon of it – and given its not far to walk and pretty easy you can carry a lot of goodies up with you! But even as a day walk its a good one on a fine day. You do want a fine day for the views. Walk up through beech forest into tussock above the bush line. Pass tarns (little lakes) on the way and enjoy the great views of the Waimakariri River and mountains on the other side of the valley.
Stop 4. Old Coach Road Track
30 mins, 1km loop
Next, a short forest walk along an old coach road where you can still see some of the rock walls from the road. At the end is a bit of fun as there is a rope you can hold onto and close your eyes as you walk along the rope.
Stop 5. Arthurs Pass Village
Then you come to the very popular stopping place for food and a drink – Arthurs Pass village. Visit the DoC Visitor Center, and as you walk around the village, read about the cheeky kea. You will most likely see them near the cafes, but will also hear them in the hills. As all the signs tell you, do not feed the keas!
You could easily spend a night here, spotting kea and doing a few of the walks in the area, and for hikers there are a number of 2-3 day walks. There is a DoC camp area in the village. If you don’t spend the night you will have to pick and choose what you do 🙂
Stop 6A. Bridal Veil Falls Viewpoint & Arthurs Pass Walking Track
40 mins return to the Falls lookout, 2.5 hours, 6.8km return to Arthurs Pass
At the Hokitika end of the village, from the same car park and starting point as the Devils Punchbowl walk, you can take the Arthurs Pass Walk. This walk goes through beautiful beech forest, first to the Bridal Veil Falls Lookout (complete with picnic table to enjoy the view). It then goes on into shrubland and wetland, and more beech forest until you reach the Dobson Memorial (Arthur Dudley Dobson, the surveyor Arthur’s Pass is named after.) Don’t walk back along the road – its not safe with no walking path.
Stop 6B: Devils Punchbowl Track
1 hour, 2km return
While at Arthurs Pass almost everyone does the Devils Punchbowl Track to the falls. Park just as you leave the village (its signposted) and walk over two bridges before heading up a series of steps and finally to the viewing platform. Lovely falls and nice views on the way. Its very popular but never seems too crowded.
Stop 8. Bealey Chasm & Bealey Valley Track
10 mins return to Bealey Chasm / 50 mins, 2.4 km to track end return
Heading toward Hokitika, the Bealey Chasm is a pretty spot with a narrow channel – rocks, boulders and water! Walk on a couple of minutes further for a great view of Mt Rolleston. The rest of the track takes you through lovely beech forest to the Bealey River.
Stop 9. Temple Basin Track
3 hours, 4.2km return
As you head to the pass, this track is on your right. Zig zag track up into tussock country with great views over the valley and of Mt Rolleston as a reward. You are also likely to spot kea and other birds as you go.
Stop 10. Otira Valley Track – summer only
2hours, 3.4km return
If you are passing through in the summer, this is another easy walk on the way, and is good for seeing alpine wildflowers. It goes over an old glacial moraine rockpile and through tussock and ends at a footbridge. Walk part or all of the way on a sunny summer day!
Stop 11. Otira Viaduct Lookout
Definitely worth a stop to look out over the viaduct and the view toward the West Coast. Even on a grey and misty day (pic below) its a good view!
Stop 12. Otira Gorge Rock Shelter Lookout
This lookout, a short distance on from the viaduct lookout, is interesting for a quick stop. Its great, especially when its been raining, to see the engineering of the road below and the big ‘water shute’ taking water over the road above the trucks and cars.
Stop 13: Otira Stagecoach Hotel
After coming down from the pass toward Hokitika, this is a pub, on your right, that is actually classed as a museum! It has antiques, stagecoaches, horse wagons and all sorts of paraphernalia from the days of the Stage Coach. It also has a giant Gollum on the roof. You can poke around for quite some time while having a meal or a coffee – its worth a stop!
Stop 14. The Morrison Footbridge.
You cant miss it on the side of the highway about 6km after Otira – its the start of some serious hikes but its fun just to walk across the bridge and watch the usually blue water of the Otira River below, with nice views thrown in. There’s a fun swing bridge style exit on the other side and you can walk a few mins into the forest.
Stop 15. Londonderry Rock Walk
Just before Kumara is the Londonderry Rock walk – a quick 10 minutes through an old gold mining area with bush and large piles of tailing stones. The track takes you to a rather large 8m tall glacial rock that was dislodged by sluicing around 1880. It landed where it is today and is still there because the miners couldn’t move or break up. Kind of interesting!
Stop 16. Kumara Theatre Royal Hotel
You’re almost at the coast now! If you’re arriving late at night – in the dark, stop at the pub and check it out, and ask them how to get to the glow worms. they are behind the pub in old mine shafts.
During the day, Kumara is one of the last gold rush mining towns and has a few interesting plaques around town – including the home of “King Dick” – Richard Seddon, a very successful politician in NZ and the man that was leading the country in 1893 when it became the first in the world to give ALL women the vote. (The next country to give all women the vote was Finland in 1906.)
There are also a couple of short walks – Taylor’s Hill (15 minute loop walk) and the Payn Track (an old tram track through regenerating bush).
Stop 17. Arahura Bridge Heritage Park
On the side of the road not long after taking the left hand turn to Hokitika at the Greymouth / Hokitika junction, you will see an old timber bridge to the side of the road. There is a handy carpark just off the main road. This park has very good informative boards about the history of the area and the bridge that you see. It is a rare example of a Howe timber Truss construction.
Stop 18. Hokitika Glow-worm Dell
Finally, if you are arriving at night, just on the edge of Hokitika is the glow-worm dell. Definitely worth a look at the small but very pretty dell and all the glow-worm fairy lights. Its also worth a quick stop during the day to see the dell before you return at night.
I hope you enjoyed the trip. As you can see a couple of days is a good idea if you want to take in most of these places.
And if you don’t have a car, then get the best of both worlds with this GYG day trip which goes on the train, or a similar trip with Viator – do book well ahead as the train gets really booked out!
Tell me how your trip went in the comments below – or let me know if you think I missed anything. Happy driving!
Where to stay
In Hokitika
A firm favorite is the Beachfront Hotel – book an ocean view room! Note – the bar has a view in case you miss out!
Stopforths Motel is not beachfront but has the top reviews – but you do need to book for two nights!
If you are on a tighter budget try the Hokitika Pioneer Hotel which is also popular.
For backpackers, try the Hokitika Holiday Park!
For good value for a group – there is the The Black Bach on Bealey. Its highly rated and good value!
Nearby at Lake Mahinapua you can stay at the Lake Mahinapua Hotel – it has rooms, family rooms, and a dorm for backpackers!
In Arthur’s Pass
Try the wonderful Arthur’s Pass Ecolodge or the friendly and comfy Rata Lodge Accommodation
For budget and backpackers book a triple room at Mountain House!
In Christchurch
Top end – try the Hotel Montreal or The Mayfair – you cant really go wrong with either.
Mid range – The Elmwood Motel or The Adelphi
Budget – Try Abella Lodge Motel. or more central, Hotel Give (also good for backpackers)
Backpackers – you are spoilt for choice! These are my top few:
Drifter Christchurch – 9.5 rating, Hotel Give – a full on 10/10 with over 1000 reviews, and finally The Jailhouse – yes it was a prison so pretty cool!
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The best things to do in Hokitika
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The 7 best places to see kiwis in the wild in New Zealand