Christchurch Tours for Campervan Pickup and Drop-Off Days

Quick summary: The days either side of a campervan or motorhome hire are perfect for tours. Before you collect the vehicle, you can join a day tour without worrying about driving. On pickup or return day, half-day experiences near the airport and around the city fill the hours around the depot. This guide matches the best Christchurch tours to each point in your trip.

When	Best fit	Examples
The day before pickup	Full-day tours, no driving needed	TranzAlpine train, Akaroa day tour, Kaikōura day tour
Pickup day	Short experiences near the airport or on the way out	Antarctic Centre, wildlife parks, gondola
The last day before return	Half-day tours close to the depot	Punting, trams, city tours, wildlife parks
After drop-off	Short city experiences before a flight	Antarctic Centre, gardens, punting

What tours suit the day before you collect your campervan?

The day before pickup is your chance to see places you might not drive to yourself, while recovering from the flight.

• The TranzAlpine train. One of the world’s great train journeys runs from Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps to the West Coast. Many travellers ride it as a full day trip, crossing viaducts and passing through river gorges and beech forest. If you plan to drive Arthur’s Pass later, it shows the same mountains from a completely different angle.
• Akaroa day tours. Coach tours to Akaroa combine the scenic peninsula drive with a harbour cruise to see Hector’s dolphins, useful if you would rather not tackle the hill road in a large vehicle.
• Kaikōura day tours. A long but rewarding day, with whale watching or dolphin encounters on the coast north of the city.
• Wine tours. Small-group tours to the Waipara Valley take care of the driving between cellar doors.
• Hot-air ballooning. Dawn balloon flights over the Canterbury Plains, with views to the Southern Alps, are a memorable start to a trip.
• Private and multi-day tours. Private tours can be built around your interests, including chauffeured days in electric vehicles on Tesla tours, while multi-day tours suit anyone arriving well before their hire begins.

For more ideas, browse our featured tours.

What tours fit around pickup day?

Pickup day is usually built around the depot’s hours and the vehicle walkthrough, so short, flexible experiences work best:

• International Antarctic Centre, right beside the airport.
• Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, both a short drive from the airport depots, with kiwi and native wildlife.
• The Christchurch Gondola, on the way out of the city if you are heading towards Akaroa.

What can you do on the last day before returning the vehicle?

If you stay near the airport the night before returning, the morning is free for a final experience. Wildlife parks and the Antarctic Centre are close to the depots. Alternatively, return the vehicle earlier in the day and spend the afternoon on foot in the central city.

What can you do after returning the vehicle?

If your flight is late in the day, take a taxi, bus or pre-booked transfer from the depot and spend a few hours in the city, on your own or on one of the Christchurch city tours:

• Punting on the Avon River, a relaxing hour on the water.
• A heritage tram loop around the central city.
• A city walking tour, covering the rebuild, the street art and the river.
• The Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park.

How do you combine a TranzAlpine trip with an RV hire?

The simplest way is to ride the TranzAlpine as a day trip from Christchurch the day before you collect the vehicle. Another option is a one-way hire: some companies offer drop-offs in Greymouth on the West Coast, so you could drive one way across Arthur’s Pass and take the train back, or the reverse. Check one-way options and any minimum hire period when you search.

Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Greymouth

How should you plan tours around depot hours?

• Check branch hours for pickup and return before booking any tour.
• Allow a buffer of at least an hour either side of the depot visit.
• Book full-day tours for days when you don’t have the vehicle.
• Keep return day light, so a delayed tour doesn’t put the return or your flight at risk.

See our guides to airport and city depots and returning your campervan.

Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Christchurch

Frequently Asked Questions