Looking for romantic and adventurous outdoor activities for couples in Christchurch? We’ve found them for you! 

We even made sure that these activities come at different price points to meet different budgets. We hope you find the activity you and your partner can enjoy below! 

1 Enjoy a walk at Sumner Beach

Sumner beach is known as a popular surfing spot but what we love about the beach is the promenade. Here’s where people can walk, cycle, or run. 

The promenade is an asphalt path on the side of the seawall. You can even bring your scooter or hoverboard if you’re feeling adventurous. 

Stroll along the promenade with your significant other while holding hands and enjoying the beautiful beach. There is a lot of shade due to the trees, so you have somewhere to rest if you get tired.

You can even enjoy a romantic picnic here if you want! 

Do know that if you have dogs with you, they are required to be on a leash. 

2 Ride a hot air balloon.

If you want something unique, you can also go on a hot air balloon ride. We highly recommend Ballooning Canterbury for this. 

You get to enjoy a great view from the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps and it’s only 40 minutes from Christchurch.

Ballooning Canterbury operates three different balloons which were made in Bristol England. These balloons are maintained by qualified engineers in New Zealand.

We highly recommend going ballooning at sunrise since it offers the best lighting during the day. Your flying time will last about an hour, but they request that you allot about 3 to 4 hours for the experience. 

After landing, you’ll be offered champagne or juice and a light snack. We promise you, it’s worth waking up early for. 

So set your alarm clocks and get there early to make the most out of the experience. 

Note: You can ask for a personalized experience if you have any special plans with your loved one. Just ring them up and talk about your requirements or ideas for your journey.

3 Ride a jet boat together. 

If you’re a power couple that enjoys adrenaline-pumping activities, go to Alpine Jet Thrills to get your fix. They offer three different experiences: Braided Blast, Jet Trek, and HeliJet.

Braided Blast is a 20 minute experience of jet boating through the Waimakariri. Jet Trek, on the other hand, is an 80-minute experience where you get 60 minutes of horseback riding through the farm and river bed tracks and around 20 minutes of jet boating. 

Lastly, Heli Jet combines both a helicopter ride and jet boat experience. Whichever one you pick, you’ll get a thrilling experience you’ll write home about, for sure. 

4 Explore Christchurch Botanic Gardens together.

Admire the beautiful flora and fauna of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens with your loved one. The Botanic Gardens also have a lot of open space where you can relax and have a picnic.

Admission is free as well, making it a cheap but enjoyable date idea. After all, it’s not about how much you spend, but about making time for each other. 

Make sure to go through their website to know which kinds of flowers are in bloom for specific seasons.

Note: Unfortunately, pets are not permitted inside the gardens.

5 Immerse yourselves in Māori Culture with Waka on Avon.

If you and your significant other loves culture, we highly recommend going through Waka on Avon. It is a unique way to experience Christchurch’s Māori culture.

This is a 45 minute waka paddling experience that will teach you about the importance of waka to Māori culture. You’ll be listening to stories of Canterbury’s Ngāi Tahu iwi and European settlers and how they worked together in building Christchurch.

If you’re the type of couple who loves watching documentaries together, this is the perfect date idea. You’ll end up having so much to discuss and talk about. 

6 Explore Port Hills by foot or by bike

If you’re an active couple, you’ll surely love walking or biking through Port Hills. You can choose through many different routes such as Halswell Quarry, Godley Head, Bridle Path, and so on. 

You’ll be greeted by coastal views, scenic views of Lyttelton and Christchurch, landscapes, and even rocky outcrops. Make sure to always call the Visitor Centre or visit the website in order to check for changes on the tracks, though. 

We think this is a great change of pace and a nice way to get some exercise in. It’s an alternative to working out at the gym or doing yoga. 

7 Get up close and personal with the animals at Orana Wildlife Park.

Animal lovers unite! Orana Wildlife Park is only 15 minutes from Christchurch Airport, so it’s very accessible. 

Orana Wildlife Park provides one of the best animal adventures in New Zealand that allows you to witness animals in their habitat and observe their behavior. 

The park is home to the country’s only gorillas and has animals from all over the world. They are famous all over the world because of their successful breeding programs  for endangered species.

The park also features a picnic and playground, and a café. So you and your date can enjoy good food after exploring. 

8 Swim with the dolphins.

Another one-of-a-kind experience in Christchurch is to swim with the dolphins. This is a sign to go out of your comfort zone with your partner and have an adventure. 

What can you expect? You’ll be on a cruise out to the scenic Akaroa Harbour and encounter wild Hector’s dolphins. 

They do not allow touching or feeding the dolphins, though. So keep that in mind. 

Bring your camera with you to record this amazing experience. The activity lasts for about 3 hours wherein you’ll spend 2 hours on the water and 1 hour of suiting up and briefing.

9 Go on a zipline together! 

One of Christchurch’s best experiences is the zipline! Ride New Zealand’s longest zipline and feel the adrenaline rush through your veins.

The zipline offers great views of the city. You can even see the Southern Alps on a good day.

You can choose to go through all four ziplines or just the longest zipline called The Long Ride. The four ziplines offer different experiences so we highly recommend going on all of them to make the most of your visit.

10 Drive drift karts at Velocity Karts. 

Up for a little friendly competition with your significant other? Try driving drift karts!

You’ll be driving front wheel driven electric carts which is a unique Kiwi invention.

Be prepared to slide and spin around tight corners on their track. The Driftkart hire also includes safety equipment so you don’t need to worry about anything. 

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We hope you enjoyed going through this list as much as we enjoyed putting it together! Did we miss out on any fun and romantic spots in the city? 

Let us know! We’d love to hear from you. 

By the way, check out these related articles: 

• Summer Activities for Young Adults in Christchurch
• Free Date Ideas in Christchurch