The Canterbury plains stretch down the east side of the South Island and are home to the small town of Kaikoura, famous for its abundant marine life. In the Maori language, ’kai’ means ’to eat’ and ’koura’ means ’crayfish’ – enjoy some of New Zealand’s frshest seafood whilst gazing out to sea, looking out for giant Sperm Whales, pods of dolphins and seal colonies that frequent these shores.
From here you can continue on to Christchurch, the Garden City, with its many beautiful parks, country gardens and English architecture. Meanwhile, the west coast is home to the stunning Glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox – here you can explore incredible ice caves and dramatic seracs.