Kia ora, spring in Christchurch - The Garden City
- Jesse Holmes
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 23
There is a reason we are known as New Zealand’s Garden City. With extensive public gardens currently blooming with Daffodils and Cherry Blossoms, Spring is the most colourful season to stay in our picturesque city. And what better way to spend your time here than exploring some of our neighbouring locations that make Ōtautahi a hub for adventurers and relaxers alike.
To excite you for what's to come this spring, here are some key highlights and tips on what you can look forward to on our tours. Lake Tekapo’s lakefront lupins are always a popular attraction for both locals and tourists. These generally begin blossoming in mid November, before finishing early January. This is our busiest season, so if seeing these dramatic flowers is on your Kiwi bucket list, we recommend booking now to secure your chance to visit this iconic location. The lupins are best seen on our tours from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mt Cook, or Queenstown.
Another exciting aspect of spring is the arrival of daylight savings in Aotearoa. For those who aren’t familiar, we will be moving our clocks forward an hour to better match the sun’s schedule. This allows us to have more time in the evening for outdoor activities. Daylight savings this year is happening September 28th, so if you’re travelling our shores at this time… don’t forget to change your clocks! While your phone should automatically note the change, it always pays to double check as you don’t want to get caught unaware, particularly if you have reservations for this date!
What does this mean for tours with Cheeky Kea Travel? For day tour guests, this means more opportunities to see the spectacular sights on the return journey to Ōtautahi. Travellers booked on our Arthur’s Pass tour with TranzAlpine experience from Arthur’s to Christchurch will also enjoy riding the return train in full daylight - something not always possible mid-winter with the early setting of the sun. It also means there’s more light for you to try and catch a sneaky snapshot of Kevin the Kea and friends. For those transferring to Franz Josef or Queenstown, you’ll also have more daylight to see and experience these incredible destinations.
Lastly, but certainly not least, we can’t forget about Kaikōura’s abundance of migratory wildlife. While it is possible to spot Sperm Whales year round with our partners at Whale Watch Kaikōura and Wings over Whales, spring brings additional opportunities to see Humpback Whales and Orcas. Hector’s Dolphins will also be returning to the waters, and Kaikōura’s special Dusky Dolphin population will begin to move inshore. Combined with the resident New Zealand Fur Seal colony and seabirds (including Albatross), the migration of the great variety of marine mammals that call this unique coast home sees all of our tour partners up and running. Whether you want to kayak with seals, swim with dolphins, or zipline from above, there is sure to be a tour for you.
Spring is definitely the season for new life and new beginnings in Aotearoa. Although there’s still snow capping the mountains that border Ōtautahi, Aoraki, Arthur’s Pass, and Queenstown, the farms that dot the Canterbury Plains and Mackenzie high country are brimming with lambs, calves, and foals. With flowers blooming, longer days, and the beginning of warmer weather, spring - in our opinion - is one of the best times to explore Te Waipounamu, New Zealand’s South Island. There is plenty to be excited about and we’d love for you to explore it with us!
Over the next month and half we will begin to focus on our region of the world and what we here at Cheeky Kea Tours have to offer for your trip here.
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