Ashburton is located in South Canterbury and is within one hour’s easy driving from Christchurch International Airport in the South Island of New Zealand.

If you are planning a self-drive journey we suggest you take advantage of the district’s two highway’s – State Highway One and the Inland Scenic Route 72. This means you can travel down one way and back the other, providing a fabulous opportunity to experience the entire district.

If you decide to drive to Ashburton, the following drive times are a guide only. Drive time to Ashburton…

  • From Christchurch: 1.15 hours
  • From Dunedin: 4 hours
  • From Queenstown: 5.45 hours
  • From Te Anau: 8 hours
  • From Franz Josef: 6.45 hours
  • From Methven: 40 minutes
  • From Picton: 6 hours

For visitors that prefer to leave the driving to someone else while they sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic highlights, there are plenty of shuttle bus services between Christchurch and Ashburton. Coach lines (such as Newmans and Intercity) have set arrivals and departures on a daily basis from the Ashburton Information Centre on route to/from Christchurch, Invercargill, Queenstown and Dunedin.

Ski bunnies will not be disappointed as there is a reliable shuttle service that operates between Ashburton and Mt Hutt.

While the heart of Ashburton is well positioned for easy walking to the majority of shops, cafes, restaurants and visitor information, however if you want to enjoy the entire Ashburton district then you will need to be mobile! Thankfully there are a good variety of options for getting yourself around the Ashburton district.

If you are looking for something that little bit special, or perhaps just a chauffeur service, Limousines For You is a local Ashburton limo service that offers personalised sightseeing tours. They can even arrange your local events, such as golf, hot air ballooning, jet boating and much more. There are also a couple of rental car operators within the district to suit your budget and requirements, including compact cars, 4WD’s and mini-vans.

If you prefer to travel via air, Central Canterbury Helicopters and Mt Hutt Helicopters can take you where you need to go, or you could always take the more tranquil option of a hot air balloon ride!