Christchurch, Hanmer and Kaikōura: A 4-Day Campervan Jet Boat Loop

Quick summary: This four-day campervan loop from Christchurch combines Canterbury’s jet boat rivers with hot pools and whales. Ride the Waimakariri Gorge on the way north, spend two nights at Hanmer Springs with a jet boat through the Waiau Uwha gorge, take the quiet inland road to Kaikōura for its rivers and whale watching, and return down the coast. It’s around 550 km, a perfect short trip in a campervan or motorhome.

At a glance
Length	4 days
Start and finish	Christchurch loop
Total driving	Around 550 km
Jet boat rides	Waimakariri Gorge, Waiau Uwha gorge, Kaikōura
Other highlights	Hanmer’s thermal pools, whale watching, the Peninsula Walkway
Longest day	Around 210 km

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Day 1: Christchurch to Hanmer Springs via the Waimakariri Gorge (around 210 km)

Collect the campervan and drive north-west across the plains to the Waimakariri Gorge for a jet boat ride through its turquoise canyon. Continue north to Hanmer Springs, arriving in time for a soak in the thermal pools. See jet boating near Christchurch.

Day 2: Hanmer Springs (local driving only)

Drive the short distance back to the Waiau Ferry Bridge for a jet boat through the Waiau Uwha gorge, and perhaps a bungy jump. In the afternoon, walk or ride in the Hanmer Forest Park. See Hanmer Springs.

Day 3: Hanmer Springs to Kaikōura (around 130 km)

Take the inland road to Kaikōura, a quiet, winding route through high-country farmland and river valleys, emerging at the coast beneath the Seaward Kaikōura Range. Spend the afternoon on the Peninsula Walkway with its seal colony, or on a jet boat trip. See Kaikōura.

Day 4: Kaikōura to Christchurch (around 180 km)

Take a morning whale-watching trip, then drive south down the coast on State Highway 1 to Christchurch, with a stop in the Waipara Valley wine country.

Is the inland Kaikōura road suitable for an RV?

Yes. The inland road from Waiau to Kaikōura is sealed, but it’s narrow and winding in places, with one-lane bridges and some steep sections. Take it slowly, and allow around 2 hours. It’s much quieter than the coastal highway, with beautiful high-country scenery.

How can you change the loop?

• Reverse the direction, starting with Kaikōura and the coast.
• Add a night in Kaikōura for more flexibility with whale-watching weather.
• Add the Rakaia Gorge, around 90 km west of Christchurch, at the start or end.

For local campervan guides to Canterbury, see christchurchtours.co.nz.

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Frequently Asked Questions