A short drive from Christchurch, Ashburton is the gateway to some of Canterbury and the South Island's best attractions and activities - from fly fishing in the Rakaia River, to hot air ballooning over the Canterbury Plains and skiing at Mt Hutt.

Ashburton’s magnificent parking facilities adjacent to State Highway One, make it easy to stop and appreciate the high quality shopping facilities, cafes & restaurants, craft shops, nationally recognised art gallery, museum and visitor information centre. 

Top class sporting facilities including an international-standard hockey pitch, superb tennis courts and challenging golf courses and accommodation including a hotel, motels and homestays support the visitors, sporting groups, and conferences regularly arriving in town.

Lake Hood is situated five minutes from Ashburton and boasts seven kilometres of shoreline, a water ski tournament park, international class rowing course and a residential subdivision, the perfect recreational area for all water lovers.

This rich agricultural region stretching from alps to the ocean, and bordered by impressive braided rivers, encompasses the Ashburton, Methven/Mt Hutt, Mt Somers high country and Rakaia areas.

Within an hour from Christchurch International Airport you can be Skiiing or snowboarding, white-water rafting, skydiving, enjoying a country golf course, visiting gardens of blazing blooms, uncovering relics of aviation and transport history, hiking nature trails or enjoying traditional rural hospitality.

A cluster of high country lakes and braided rivers are fantastic for fishing and the surrounding mountain foothills are perfect for recreational hunting, a hot air balloon or heli flight provides a bird’s eye view of a patchwork landscape, and a 4WD adventure can take you on a journey into the high country wilderness.

Heritage trails, ecotourism guides, craft markets, art galleries, farm tours and a calendar of events will fill your time with memorable New Zealand experiences.