Castle Hill is the perfect day trip from Lyttelton/Christchurch for visitors looking for unique and awe-inspiring natural rock formations while in New Zealand (especially if you don't have enough time to drive further out to Mount Sunday/Somers or other parts of the Southern Alps). And "Adventure by Nature" was the only tour company that could fit in a solo traveler like me (had to join a group of other guests, of course) without breaking my budget. (Other tours required a booking of at least 4 people or an exorbitant private guide fee.) Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti) is about a 2-hour drive outside of the main city, but we had short stops at Darfield (for a bathroom break) at Lake Lyndon (for a picnic lunch) and Springfield (to visit a giant donut statue donated by The Simpsons cartoon). The drive through Canterbury was also pretty scenic, passing by farmland and sheep grazing areas. Credit to our extremely fit tour guide/driver Sophie, who carried all of our lunches and desserts while climbing the limestone cliffs of Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti) along with us. (My only suggestion here: supply individual water bottles for each person--that each can carry themselves--instead of asking everyone to drink from the same thermos.) It also got pretty hot and sunny fairly quickly in Canterbury, despite the chilly morning in Lyttelton/Christchurch. A warning to wear sunscreen and protective hats/umbrellas before starting the hike would have been advisable. Sophie allowed us a good 2 hours to explore Castle Hill, which I greatly appreciated. (Most other day tours would only afford you 30-45 minutes tops to explore a site like this.) The limestone rock formations of Kura Tawhiti are definitely worth spending as much time to admire as possible; the YouTube videos do not do them justice! Transportation from/to the Norwich Quay (just outside the Lyttelton cruise berth) was also appreciated, so that guests like us wouldn't have to waste time finding our way into Christchurch.

Super enjoyed this tour, saw some wildlife, and many sights. Going to the beaches and seeing the natural rock formations, sea weed and seals resting there were great. Our guide was awesome in spotting wildlife and taking us to see different highlights in the area

Booked my trip two months in advance and it was cancelled at the last minute by the operator leaving me no time to make alternate arrangements. 8 days later still waiting for a refund.

Fantastic day kayaking. Sarah was so well organised - clear instructions, plenty of tea and cakes, interesting route. Very easy for us as we were picked up (even though I gave the wrong address), kitted up and dropped off at end of day. My husband is experienced but this was new to me but couldn’t have gone better. Sarah is a great guide and instructor which made this an outstanding day for us. Amazing scenery and history.

Perfect day spent with Anna! Easy pick up at the port of Lyttleton and headed out of town to Darfield Bakery. Best meat pies ever! And nice selection of GF baked goods. Highlight was visiting the limestone boulders in Castle Hill with a delicious picnic lunch and tour of site. Quick trip thru Christchurch and back to ship with time to grab a pint at Eruption brewery. More than 5 stars are appropriate for this day!

What an amazing gift from nature. Please do not drive past. It's an easy walk, and it is all so different close up than what you see from the carpark. Absolutely stunning. Around every corner the view changes completely.

Amazing climbing adventure!! We got a full day of climbing and got to learn new techniques. The views were amazing and our guide gave us so many good insights about the place!

We had wonderful kayaking day with our guide Ned. The water a little bit wavy and Ned taught us how to handle it. It was really fun.

Great way to experience your first cave. Weather was great especially given the amount of water to trek though. Guide was knowledgeable and flexible. The rock garden was also great for the looking for a place to explore and even boulder.

Everything was just perfect. This is not an exaggeration. The sunny weather, huge rocks on the hill(I kept saying “WOW”), the kind, informative guide, and the delicious lunch, so what else do you need other than these? It was one of “the best” tours I’ve ever had :)

Nathaniel was a splendid guide, a fount of knowledge, a provider of delicious food and a careful driver. The highlight of my trip to Christchurch was Castle Hill and the spectacular rock formations. If you have the chance, put this tour at the top of your list.

This was an absolutely wonderful experience, easily the best of our trip to Christchurch. During our vacations we always like to get out and do some more adventurous experiences that have a physical component, hiking, paddling, etc. and this 100% fit the bill. The views were wonderful and our guide Nate was just a wealth of information about the area, wildlife, and history. Everything about the experience was so professional and just made us want to explore more of what they have to offer. I highly recommend reaching out on you next trip to Christchurch.

Nathaniel was a great guide for my boys and I. We all had a good and challenging time climbing. The weather was great for us, we couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Alan was completely prepared and organized! Safety and mini training for first timers like us were very well explained. Voyage was beautiful! Food, snacks, & beverages were great! Historical info along the way was very informative. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone!

We had an amazing day, with fabulous views of the mountains and local scenery. We thoroughly enjoyed the rocks at castle hill and the beautiful cave stream. Our guide, Alan was fantastic and made our time exploring around Christchurch so much more enjoyable and educational. We've come out with way more knowledge of the local area and such a fun and enjoyable experience. The pick up and drop off to our hotel really topped off the day. Thanks so much Adventure by nature we had an awesome time!