Leaving Christchurch, we head west towards the mountains across the flat farmland of the Canterbury Plains. After 45mins we make a stop in the small farming town of Darfield. We will provide lunch and afternoon tea, but you might like to sample some kiwi cuisine or pick up a coffee from the local bakery. Continuing our journey across the plains, we pass through another small town of Springfield, stopping briefly at the town's iconic giant doughnut statue for a photo. From Springfield, it's a 45-minute drive along "the Great Alpine Highway" over the mountains to Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti conservation area. The road takes us over Porters Pass (900 mts), past Lake Lyndon and through some High Country stations (large farms) before reaching our destination. Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti is a maze of massive limestone boulders that sit in the heart of the Southern Alps. Once the area once covered with an inland ocean now sits at 600mts above sea level. The area is protected by Tōpuni status "A symbolic cloak of protection" to preserve and acknowledge the area. After lunch, you have some free time before meeting back at the carpark at 2:30 pm and returning to Christchurch.