For a good overview of Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, call Canterbury Trails (tel. 03/337-1185), which offers comprehensive day tours to the area that include a nature harbor cruise or an opportunity to swim with dolphins. If mountain scenery is more your thing, take the trip to Arthurs Pass National Park, which can also include a ride on the TranzAlpine train (one-way). Prices begin around NZ$265 (US$188/£96).

One Night Outdoors (tel. 03/942-2230) is a 2-day guided wilderness walk, complete with a night out under the stars -- and you'll be amazed at how many stars are visible in the southern skies! It's a perfect trip if you're short on time, or if you want an introduction to walking in New Zealand's mountain wilderness. The informed guides will teach you how to ensure safety. Prices start at about NZ$265 (US$188/£96) per person.

In the food and drink line, Taste Canterbury (tel. 03/326-6753) offers a terrific set of personalized gourmet food and wine tours of the greater Canterbury region. Mavis Airey is a knowledgeable guide and food writer, and her half-day tours cost NZ$160 (US$113/£58) per person for two (less if there are more of you), or NZ$240 (US$170/£87) per person for a full day. You'll get a lovely overview of rural Canterbury on the Akaroa and Ellesmere tours. I strongly recommend them -- and all the goodies you get to sample and buy.

Canterbury Brewery Heritage Tour, 36 St. Asaph St., Christchurch (tel. 03/371-3290), has a 1 1/2-hour tour through the museum and working brewery, followed by beer tasting. It runs Monday through Friday at 10am and 12:30pm, plus Saturday at 1pm and costs NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.35) for adults, NZ$6 (US$4.25/£2.15) for children, and NZ$25 (US$18/£9) for families. Bookings are essential.

After all that, you can go on an invigorating 3-hour jaunt in the Port Hills (NZ$40/US$28/£14) with Ian McLeod's Walkaway Tours (tel. 03/384-3321). He offers several scenic and ecotours, plus a very good full-day Gallivanting City Shopping Tour that can include designer clothing, jewelry, antiques, art galleries, antiquarian books, interior decor, or a mix of them all. It costs NZ$150 (US$107/£54) per person, including lunch, wine, and coffee, and it's a great introduction to the city.

And for something entirely different again, allow a full day for the TranzAlpine & High Country Explorer (tel. 0800/863-975). You'll never forget this standout adventure. You'll leave Christchurch on the TranzAlpine, traveling to Arthur's Pass where you'll be picked up by a 4WD tussock buggy for the trip to Flock Hill Lodge and a hearty 3-course lunch. Then it's a 22km (14-mile) safari into spectacular and otherwise inaccessible areas of Flock Hill sheep station. The last leg of the journey is an exhilarating jet-boat ride down the Waimakariri River to Woodstock sheep station for afternoon tea. A coach returns you to the city. It's a big day but one you'll love. Make sure you take warm clothes as the high country can be chilly, even in summer. This superb tour costs NZ$340 (US$241/£123) for adults and NZ$170 (US$121/£61) for children ages 4 to 14. Don't forget your camera. There's dynamite scenery along the way!

Canterbury Leisure Tours (tel. 0800/484-485 in NZ, or 03/384-0999) has a comprehensive selection of half- and full-day tours that cover everything from whale-watching in Kaikoura to wine trails, sheep-farm tours, horse trekking, Mount Cook, Hanmer Springs, and more.

And if you still haven't gotten The Lord of the Rings out of your system -- and believe me, plenty haven't -- you're a sure thing for Hassle-Free Tours' adventures. Call tel. 0800/427-753 in New Zealand, or 03/379-6377, or visit the website to find out about their 4WD excursions that deposit you in the thick of Edora, the capital city of the Rohan people of the film trilogy. The cost is NZ$200 (US$142/£72). Movie buffs might also consider Wanaka & Canterbury Sightseeing (tel. 0800/568-7599 in NZ, or 03/338-0982) tours. Owner Melissa Heath can introduce you to over 20 filming locations for both The Lord of the Rings and The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. Full-day tours start at NZ$299 (US$212/£108) per person.

An Unforgettable Train Trip

The TranzAlpine is rated as one of the five most spectacular train journeys in the world, and you can't fail to be impressed by the scenery as you make your way from Christchurch in the east to Greymouth in the west. The train travels over the Canterbury Plains; through the heart of the Southern Alps; and through tunnels, beech forests, and massive river gorges to the West Coast. It's a must-do for anyone visiting the South Island.

The return-day excursion costs NZ$125 (US$89/£45) to Arthur's Pass and NZ$175 (US$125/£63) to Greymouth, with cheaper rates for children -- and cheaper specials if you book online. If you take the Arthur's Pass option, you'll have 5 hours there before the train returns, but there are many excellent bush walks in the area and a couple of nice cafes.

If you go to Greymouth, you'll have only 1 hour in the township before the train returns to Christchurch -- not a lot of time to do much more than wander about.

The train leaves from Christchurch's main railway station at 1 Clarence St., Addington. For reservations and further information, contact Tranz Scenic (tel. 0800/872-467 in NZ). Food is available on the buffet car, or you can bring your own picnic. The train makes six stops during the journey.

Wine Tours

Canterbury Vin de Pays Tours (tel. 03/357-8262) has a range of options from NZ$95 to NZ$125 (US$67-US$89/£34-£45). Its tours visit Waipara (5 hr.) and Akaroa wineries (6 hr.), all of which offer tastings and many of which have restaurants. The day trip to Akaroa also includes a visit to a cheese factory and lunch at a quality restaurant. Adventure Canterbury (tel. 0800/847-455 in NZ) also offers a half-day tour of the Waipara winery region.

If you need transport from Christchurch to Waipara, take the Hanmer Connection shuttle (tel. 0800/377-378 in NZ) for NZ$25 (US$18/£9) one-way. It leaves from the Christchurch visitor center, with hotel pickups by arrangement.

Rossendale Wines, 168 Old Tai Tapu Rd., Halswell (tel. 03/322-9684), is located in the charming Tai Tapu Valley area, on the perimeter of Christchurch. It has an established tradition of good wine and good food. Wines available here including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc, merlot, and pinot noir. Trents Estate Vineyard & Restaurant, Trents Road, Templeton (tel. 03/349-6940), is a charming setting built around a 125-year-old historic chicory kiln, which has been cleverly converted into a rustic restaurant. It is surrounded by pinot noir, chardonnay, and Riesling grapes. Waipara Springs Winery & Restaurant, State Highway 1, Waipara (tel./fax 03/314-6777), is one of the oldest vineyards in the Waipara region. It produces premium-quality sauvignon blanc, Riesling, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir grapes from its own 20 hectares (50 acres). It has accumulated numerous medals overseas and in New Zealand, including a Gold Medal for its 1996 cabernet sauvignon, a Silver Medal for the 1997 sauvignon blanc, and a Gold for its 1997 Riesling.