Christchurch wine tours reach well beyond the city, out into North Canterbury's Waipara Valley and the Hurunui district. A scenic helicopter can land you at an organic vineyard for lunch, or a jet boat can carry you upriver to a gourmet barbecue on the water's edge. Both trade the city for Canterbury wine country, open farmland and river gorges within a few hours.
Jet Boat Ride and Gourmet BBQ on the Hurunui River
Jet Boat Ride and Gourmet BBQ on the Hurunui River pairs a 45-minute jet boating leg with a 2-hour outing that ends in a gourmet barbecue of fresh produce, tea, coffee and dessert. Energy Jet runs daily, year-round, from the Hurunui River Bridge on State Highway 1, south of Cheviot between Christchurch and Kaikōura, with trips from 8am to 5pm. Children aged 5 to 13 ride at a reduced rate, and no boating experience is needed since a local skipper drives while you stay seated in a supplied lifejacket, spray jacket and gloves.
Helicopter Flight, Wine Tasting and Lunch in North Canterbury
Helicopter Flight, Wine Tasting and Lunch in North Canterbury flies with Garden City Helicopters, operating since 1983, for a 3-hour outing built around a 1-hour flight from Christchurch into Waipara wine country. Flights depart from GCH Aviation at 73 Grays Road, Christchurch, at 11am, Thursday to Sunday, landing at either Black Estate or Greystone, both certified organic wineries, for tasting and lunch. Wine tasting requires guests to be 18 or over with valid photo ID, at least 2 people are needed to book a flight, and infants aged 0 to 2 fly free on a parent's lap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for the North Canterbury helicopter wine tour?
Wine tasting on the Helicopter Flight, Wine Tasting and Lunch in North Canterbury requires guests to be 18 or over with valid photo ID, since Garden City Helicopters pours the tasting under license. Infants aged 0 to 2 fly free on a parent's lap, and at least 2 people are needed for a flight to go ahead, so a solo traveller should plan to join another booking or bring a companion along.
Can children join a Christchurch food and wine tour?
Yes, the Hurunui jet boat and barbecue tour welcomes children aged 5 to 13 at a reduced rate, making it the more family-friendly of Christchurch's two food and wine tours. The helicopter wine tour suits older groups better, since wine tasting is restricted to guests aged 18 and over and the flight needs at least 2 paying participants before it can depart.
Is the Hurunui jet boat ride safe for nervous or first-time passengers?
Yes, the jet boat and barbecue tour on the Hurunui River is built for passengers rather than drivers, so no boating experience is required to join. A local Energy Jet skipper handles the whole 45-minute leg while you stay seated in a supplied lifejacket, spray jacket and gloves, leaving the fast spins and drifts entirely to someone who knows the river.
What is the difference between Christchurch's two food and wine tours?
The Hurunui jet boat and barbecue is a 2-hour riverside outing with a casual lunch and a fast 45-minute jet boat leg, while the North Canterbury helicopter tour is a 3-hour experience built around a scenic flight and a sit-down lunch at an organic Waipara winery. Choose the jet boat for a family day with some adrenaline, and the helicopter for a slower, adults-only wine day out.
Where do Christchurch's food and wine tours depart from?
The Hurunui jet boat and barbecue departs from the Hurunui River Bridge on State Highway 1, south of Cheviot between Christchurch and Kaikōura, running daily from 8am to 5pm year-round. The North Canterbury helicopter wine tour departs from GCH Aviation at 73 Grays Road in Christchurch at 11am, Thursday to Sunday, before flying guests north into Waipara wine country.
Local tip: the North Canterbury helicopter tour only runs Thursday to Sunday and needs at least 2 people booked in together, so lock in a date early if a weekend slot matters.
Browse the full Food and Wine Tasting Tours range in Christchurch to compare both trips side by side, or head back to the Christchurch region page to plan the rest of a Canterbury itinerary.