Picton - Christchurch

Wineries, Wildlife & Water

Get ready for Picton to Christchurch: Wineries, Wildlife and Water! Grab the whole family and hit the road for this two day trip taking you from one of New Zealands's premier wine-growing regions along the east coast of the South Island.

Swimming with dolphins is an experience worthy of many superlatives, but above all it has to rank as one of life's great privileges. Being in the water as inquisitive dolphins swim among your group is truly humbling.

Hector's dolphins, the smallest of them all, are extremely friendly. Unlike their cousins, the dusky dolphins, they approach humans easily.

Yet the dusky dolphins that inhabit the waters off Kaikoura year round are one of the most playful and acrobatic of all the species, and their mad antics are also extremely exciting when viewed from a boat.

Soon after the dolphins spot an audience, they leap out of the water and flash their luminous white bellies. As they become more excited, their tricks increase – there's side-slapping and spins, and somersaults both forwards and back.

They put on such an amazing display and seem to enjoy it so much that it's hard to believe that they're wild.

With snorkelling gear and wetsuits provided, there's no excuse not to take to the water for an experience to long remember.

Even better news, the Kaikoura coastline offers a wealth of other wildlife too. Eco-tourism activities abound, from albatross spotting to seal snorkelling and whale watching.

While Akaroa is a charming, laidback village, don't be fooled into thinking there's a shortage of activity here. Rather, this French-influenced town is a brilliant family destination.

A walk in the town centre reveals a generous number of quality restaurants, and boutique shops are in abundance. Much of this activity is along the foreshore, the ideal setting for a picnic.

The scenery is fantastic and there are countless vantage points to take in the beautiful views of Akaroa and its harbour, which is famous for its wildlife. Akaroa is the only place in the world where you can swim with Hector's dolphins – the world's smallest and rarest – and this is an experience you'll treasure for years to come.

If you would rather stay out of the water, you can watch dolphins from the boat or take a nature tour where fur seals, white-flippered and yellow-eyed penguins and other birds can also be spotted.

The likes of walking and tramping, swimming, surfing, sailing, horse trekking, fishing, kayaking and mountain biking should keep you busy.

At a more relaxed pace, the Akaroa Museum delves into the town's Maori history and its French connection. Or you could take an audio tour to learn about the past while enjoying a pleasant stroll around Akaroa.

If you're a food and wine devotee, then dining among the vines at a Marlborough winery is an absolute must. It's well known that the region produces amazing sauvignon blanc, but to really take advantage of Marlborough's tasty treats, you need to indulge in a meal at a picturesque winery. With around 50 wineries in Blenheim alone, there's plenty to choose from!

It's been said that no wine anywhere in the world tastes like the wine of Marlborough – the balance of extraordinary purity and intensity of flavours and aroma is superb. When you dine at a vineyard, an expert will be able to recommend one of these exquisite local wines to complement each dish, taking your meal to another level altogether.

And what can you expect in the way of cuisine? Seafood is definitely on the menu here – the region is known for producing delicious oysters, green-shell mussels and scallops, as well as fish. If you're not into seafood, don't worry – there's also an array of dishes available at vineyards to suit your tastes, whatever they may be.

If you've seen any of the Jurassic Park movies you've probably wondered what it would be like to live in the dinosaur age. Now, you won't see a T-Rex in Kaikoura, but you might see the closest thing to one! Giant sperm whales that usually patrol the deep seas are drawn in to the shallow sea shelf just off the east coast of the South Island by strong currents attracting marine life.

Opt to watch the whales from a tour boat at sea level, or gain a bird's-eye perspective of these ocean giants in a flightseeing plane. Whether by air or by sea, you have a 95% chance of sighting the majestic sperm whale. Operators even provide partial refunds if you don't see one at all! Not bad, considering this is a unique opportunity to witness a prehistoric species at large.

While the sperm whale is undeniably the star of the show in Kaikoura, there's a cast of other creatures that you're likely to see too. Dusky dolphins, fur seals, wandering albatross and other migrating whale species may also be cruising through Kaikoura on your tour – heading for Antarctica or simply playing in the South Pacific.

Bienvenue à Akaroa! If you're not up to speed on your French, what we're trying to say is that you'll be extended a warm welcome when you reach this charming Banks Peninsula town. So why the French greeting? Well Akaroa is the site of the only attempt to establish a French settlement in New Zealand, which is immediately evident upon your arrival.

Take a stroll down Rue Jolie or Rue Lavaud – these French-inspired street names are just the start; much of the architecture, shop names and restaurant cuisine have an obvious French, feel while the blue, red and white flag is not out of place here.

The town best celebrates this heritage with the standout Akaroa French Festival, held biennially in October (the next one is due to take place in 2011), when a host of French-themed events see the town come alive.

To learn more, make a beeline for the Akaroa Museum, which delves into the town's French connection. Or you could take an audio tour to learn about the past while enjoying a pleasant stroll around Akaroa.

Half an hour from The Square in Christchurch, Godley Head sits guard at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour. Built in 1939 as a coastal defence fort, Godley Head is one of the top ten coastal defence heritage sites in the country – Christchurch's answer to Devonport's North Head. You can explore this ancient defence zone on foot with two memorable walks.

From Godley Head, trek up the hill above Breeze Bay, along the saddle across Summit Road where the city stares back at you, and across the Heathcote and Avon estuaries and New Brighton Beach. The track then joins up with the Pilgrims Way walkway along which you can easily spot cave dwellings.

The Tunnel Walk takes an hour all up, and starts by joining an original Army zigzag track steeply sloping to Mechanics Bay. It then leads through a 120-metre tunnel illuminated by natural light. In ethereal style, the Godley Head Lighthouse can be seen at the end of the tunnel, a beacon of direction and history.