Christchurch: Cave Stream & Castle Hill Tour

Highlights

• Spend an hour underground exploring 600 meters of limestone cave with your guide
• Capture stunning photos of giant limestone boulders at Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti
• Pose with the Giant Donut in the small town of Springfield
• Choose between a shared group or private tour
• Choose to take a bush or coastal walk or simply relax and enjoy the scenery

Description

Your tour starts by following the 'Great Alpine Highway' west of Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains. After 45 minutes, it will be time for a short break in the small rural town of Darfield. The Darfield Bakery is an excellent example of New Zealand cuisine. We will pick up some freshly made food for a picnic lunch. Leaving Darfield and continuing west towards the Southern Alps, we will make a short stop for morning tea next to Lake Lyndon and then make our way to Cave Stream Scenic Reserve. Once arriving at Cave Stream, your guide will kit you out with caving gear and provide you with a safety briefing before you head down to the cave entrance. The 600-meter limestone cave follows an underground river and takes most groups 45-60 minutes to complete. Inside the limestone cave, the crystal clear water flows through large chambers and over small waterfall steps. The cave gets as narrow as a standard hallway, and you can always stand up inside. Back at the car park, hot drinks and a picnic lunch will be provided while you enjoy the mountain views. From here it's a short drive to Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti. Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti is one of New Zealand's most spectacular natural wonders. While there, your guide will show you around and explain why the area holds so much spiritual, recreational, and geological significance. If time allows, you will have some free time to explore the boulders, meeting your guide back at the car park. On the way back, a short break in Springfield allows for a photo with the giant doughnut, the history of which your guide will explain. Back in Christchurch, you will be dropped off at either your hotel or the meeting point at the Citizens' War Memorial in Cathedral Square in the city centre.

Includes

Hotel pickup/drop-off Qualified local guide Caving gear and safety equipment Food

Important Information

• This tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility
• Completing the Cave Stream is weather dependent, sometimes it is not suitable to go all the way through the cave (your guide will make the final decision on the day)
• If the weather is terrible in the Castle Hill area and the tour cannot go ahead, you can choose to change your booking to another day, change the date of your tour or, or receive a full refund

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund