The travel route Alpine Pacific Triangle is a circuit in the region Canterbury and leads from Amberley to Hanmer Springs and after Kaikoura and back.
background
The travel route Alpine Pacific Triangle connects three major tourist destinations on the South Island
- the Waipara Valley, one of the main growing areas of New Zealand wine
- the resort Hanmer Springs, known as a thermal bath and as a ski area
- the coastal city Kaikoura, known for whale watching and ecotourism
preparation
You can drive through the 350 km of the route in one or two days in one go, sections are also suitable as stages of a larger tour through the South Island. There is enough accommodation along the tourist route, be it campsites or motels, which must be reserved in good time.
getting there
Drive / let's go / ...
Whether you go through the tour clockwise or the other way around is a matter of taste. In this article, the counterclockwise and Kaikoura chosen as the starting point.
Kaikoura - Hanmer Springs (130 km)
- Kaikoura is located on the coast of the Pacific and is known for its lobster. From here you drive on the SH1 towards the south. After a few kilometers you will come to a junction to Inland Kaikoura Road or SH70 and follow this in the direction Waiau. (83 km)
- Of Waiau it continues on the SH70. After about 20 km you will meet the SH7, one continues in the direction Lewis Pass and Hanmer Springs. At Thrillseekers Adventure you leave the SH7 and drive on the SH7A further to Hanmer Springs (47 km)
Hanmer Springs - Amberley (87 km)
- Of Hanmer Springs it goes back on the SH7A to the Waiau river, there you meet again SH7. On it you could go west over the Lewis Pass to Reefton and Greymouth drive, but the tour leads to the south Culverden (36 km)
- Of Culverden leads the SH7 about the small place Hurunui and further after Waikari (27 km). Maori rock carvings can be found at the Weka Pass near Waikari, and this is also where the Weka Pass Railway terminates.
- Of Waikari one arrives in the wine-growing region of the Waipara Valley after Waipara, from there it goes on the SH1 continue after Amberley (24 km)
Amberley - Kaikoura (134 km)
- Amberley is on SH1 about 47 km north of Christchurch. The place is located in the Waipara Valley, which is known as a wine-growing region. Amberley is also on Canterbury Pacific Highway and at the Inland Scenic Route. The tour continues on the SH1 initially Waipara And then to cheviot, known for its sheep farming. (66 km)
- Of cheviot you drive on the SH1 near the coast to Kaikoura (68 km).
- In Kaikoura you have a connection to the Top of the South Wine Trail
