February 6, 2026 • 10 mins
"If you’re planning a road-trip in the South Island in the coming months, tack on a scenic foray with the Mid-Canterbury heartland. Easily reached within an hour from Christchurch, it’s an understated, uncrowded region that handsomely rewards the eager explorer, headlined by its spectacular scenic high country and blissful sense of escapism. Fanning out from Ashburton and bounded by the silvery braids of the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, Mid-Canterbury spans the extremes, from pancake-flat plains to serrated, sky-piercing peaks. The mountains rise up to meet you remarkably quickly, after driving west from Ashburton. Here’s a round-up of some sure-fire favourites to add to your leisurely road- trip."
Read Mike's full article here.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Mike Yardley is our travel correspondent. Good morning, sir, Good
morning Jack.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I was just reflecting on Google's observations about happy job
factors in terms of journalists.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
I reckon that.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I wonder I was going to do you complain right now?
If you do you complain, If you say that your
job in the world enjoying the finest things that some
of the finest places have to offer, then there's going
to be a text machine is gonna light up.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Yeah. I can well appreciate that check.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
But no, Philosophically, I was thinking, like, if I was
thinking about entering journalism today, would most young journalists actually
see the profession as simply now a gateway into higher
paying PR and comms stops.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, I think a lot of them, Well I don't.
I don't even know if they need the gateway, to
be honest, if they just go straight in, you know,
a lot of them would just say to study communications
and go into PR these days. I mean, yeah, I
was always attracted to it personally because I thought it
would just be you'd have great work stories. You know,
you'd meet interesting people, you experience amazing things that would
(01:25):
be it would be a wonderful way to kind of
learn about the world. And you know, and I still
think that that probably attracts a lot of people to it.
But you know, when you speak to young journalism students
these days, a lot of them are pretty realistic about,
you know, the fact that they might be a journalist
for a couple of years if they're lucky, but if
they even want to own a home, they're not going
(01:46):
to be straying in the industry for very long.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's a bit of a show.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
But at least they aspire to be a future JEC
tape yes of the industry.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, I don't know about that. I don't know about that,
but no, no, I mean that some of us are very fortunate,
of course, but yeah, these these sorts of opportunities a
few and far between, sadly. So yeah, anyway, we're focusing
this morning on the great outdoors in the heartland mid Canterbury,
so it's close to christ Church. But this is a
bit of an underrated road trip sort of destination.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Don't you reckon totally?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Jack yep, And it is Primetime Self Drive season so
I just thought as a burst of inspiration if you
are sizing up a bit of a roady in the South,
the mid Canterbury Heartland area really is a far less
crowded but surprisingly good slice of the South Island. And
it's because I reckon, it's that intersection, that topographical blend
(02:44):
of where the planes meet the peaks, so you get
such an incredible spoil of out doorsy treats and geographically
just think of it as being bounded by the Rakaiah
and the Ring of Tata rivers everything in between, close
to the mountains, and that's where to head.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
It's a very easy roady.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
They've got that inland scenic root, as you will know, Jack,
and it is just such a blissful way to hop
scotch from one great sight and experience to the next.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, yeah, it really is. I've spent a lot of
time in this part of the country. It certainly has
its charms. And I'll tell you what, some of the
attractions are just going from strength to strength. So in Methion,
the all Pookie thermal pools have sort of transformed the
town's pulling power totally.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
It's hard to actually use the superlatives to describe just
what a runaway success this complex has been. So it's
three years old now, but I cannot think of many
new attractions that have magnetized visitors to a destination quite
like or Porky has. It hasn't been just a flesh
(03:53):
in the pan. I was in Methan a couple of
weeks ago and the complex is consistently sold out, day
after day after day. So yeah, it's absolutely recast to
Methin is a year round destination, and I think it's
all of the elemental design touches some really thoughtful ideas
in the inception of the Pool's complex. They've got the
(04:15):
swarm Up bar, They've got lots of adults ony experiences,
and that has just anchored a Pooki's breakability as a
premium well being experience.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
It really is just going off. Do you know.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I still haven't been there to make great shame because
the times that I've been around, I thought, oh, go
and stop in. It's been sold out. Yeah exactly, yeah,
but it does. It looks amazing. Yeah yeah, yeah, You've
very much got to block your head. But I mean
the dream is to come off the mountain, right it's
to come off Mountainette there and then have a good
soak in the thermal pools there after. So close to Meavan.
(04:46):
What about Washington Falls.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah, well, if you want to work up a sweat
before taking a rewarding dip, wash Pin Falls track, this
is just across Rakai Gorge and wind Whistle and this
would have to be one of Canterbury's favorite walks.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Speak to any cantab and they will know about wash Pen.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It's based on a private farm, so that that is
a point of difference because there's actually a ten dollar.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Charge which is to help track upkeep.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But wow, this to our loop walk really is the
stuff of wonder because you were walking around a volcanic
canyon reserve. So you've got lots of g Nari Gorge's
incredible foliage, a huge tract of Southern Rata trees. One
of the biggest tracks actually in the South Island is
here and then it all climaxes with the frothy Washpen
(05:35):
force are very happy ending Jack.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, yeah nice. Why should you take the inland scenic
route to Stavely?
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Well, from Rakaia Gorge, yep, this route just stitches together
a crop of great stops, including one of my favorite
villages in New Zealand, Staveley, very snug little hamlet, and
it's home to the Stavely Store in cafe, which has
been a fixture since the eighteen seventies, so back in
the day this is where locals would go to higher
(06:05):
skates for the ice rink just down the road. The
store is still such a treasure, so much history on
its walls. They've got box about the store inside and
it also doubles. It's such a cool little emporium for
local artisans. So whether you're after local ceramics or soaps
or maybe a mountain summer's wall blanket, this is where
(06:28):
the head because it really is just gift where galore
at the Staverly.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Store is the top twins old home still.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
There, yes, probably about one hundred meters from the store
and the Stavely Boutique Lodge as it's now Knownoe was
previously Dame Linda's home for twelve years before they relocated
a few years ago. But me it is the most
incredible country mansion. It's officially a Dutch American barn style
(06:57):
house and then you've got three acres of the most
brilliantly manicured established gardens. So if you want to stay
over in the mid Cannibury Heartland area, the lodge is
a really good option because it's in such easy reach
to so many outdoorsy goodies.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah nice, And Sharpland Falls is nearby.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Right, yeah, just behind Stabley. This trail is a family favorite,
so it threads you through Native Bosh to the cascading
waterfall in the Mount Summer's foothills. It is deliciously scenic.
I just remember when I was last there. Right at
the start of the track, you crossed this glorious bridge
crossing of a gin clear stream. You just think to yourself,
(07:38):
this is world class. You know, people would travel around
the world for this, and the round trip only takes
about an hour, and if you are feeling intrepid, there
are other options. It is also the trailhead one of
the two for the longer multi day Mount Summer's Track
to the Pinnacles and Walmshead Creek, and also in the
area the day long Summer track up Mount Summer's, which.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
I would call you knocked off some years ago, Jack.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I've done it a couple of siks that Yeah, no,
it's it's fantastic. It's really good and on a clear
day you get this prestige of alky from the top
as well, so it's you know, like you really you
want your needs to be in good working order. In fact,
I'm a big fan of having the polls for coming
(08:25):
downhill these days, you know. So yeah, very good, but
strongly strongly recommend the Mount Summer's track.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
So glad to seven hours return is it?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Uh? Yeah, I would have thought so. Probably depends on
your uphill fitness, but yeah, yeah about about even ours return.
That makes about sense, And that makes sense. You've got
to be careful with the weather and stuff because obviously
conditions on the ground will probably quite different to conditions
on the summit. But yeah, it's fantastic. So if you're
doing if you're going through Big Canterbury, strongly recommend it.
(08:54):
What about the Pucketti Conservation Reserve.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Very enticing, loaded with temptation, So this is all easily
accessed from Mount Summer's village. Definitely check out some of
those gorgeous glacial formed highland lakes like Emma and clear
Water in the Big Daddy Lake here and it's just
that mirror smooth reflective quality. It's quite something. Think Lake Matheson,
you know over on the West coast. It's that good.
(09:19):
And then another essential, Mount Sunday, well known of course
as one of the most remote Lord of the Rings locations.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
So many international tourists.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Still flock there because it was cast as Adorus in
the Rings. It's also a very easy walk to the summit.
In fact, it's only thirty minutes up this sort of
miniature mountain. Hollywood is long gone, but the setting is
still truly cinematic. And by the way, I only discovered
this recently. Mound Sunday got its name because boundary riders
(09:49):
from the high Country stations would meet there on Sundays
for a chin wag. But every day is a great
day on Mound Sunday.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Oh yeah, oh so good. Oh it makes me envious. Actually,
I've it's been a year or two since I've gone
through Big Canterbury. I must return soon. Thank you so much, Mike.
We'll put all of Mike's tips for tripping through mid
Canterbury and the Highland there up on the news Talks
edb website.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
For more From Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to Newstalks EDB from nine am Saturday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Mike Yardley is our travel correspondent. Good morning, sir, Good
morning Jack.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I was just reflecting on Google's observations about happy job
factors in terms of journalists.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
I reckon that.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I wonder I was going to do you complain right now?
If you do you complain, If you say that your
job in the world enjoying the finest things that some
of the finest places have to offer, then there's going
to be a text machine is gonna light up.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Yeah. I can well appreciate that check.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
But no, Philosophically, I was thinking, like, if I was
thinking about entering journalism today, would most young journalists actually
see the profession as simply now a gateway into higher
paying PR and comms stops.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, I think a lot of them, Well I don't.
I don't even know if they need the gateway, to
be honest, if they just go straight in, you know,
a lot of them would just say to study communications
and go into PR these days. I mean, yeah, I
was always attracted to it personally because I thought it
would just be you'd have great work stories. You know,
you'd meet interesting people, you experience amazing things that would
(01:25):
be it would be a wonderful way to kind of
learn about the world. And you know, and I still
think that that probably attracts a lot of people to it.
But you know, when you speak to young journalism students
these days, a lot of them are pretty realistic about,
you know, the fact that they might be a journalist
for a couple of years if they're lucky, but if
they even want to own a home, they're not going
(01:46):
to be straying in the industry for very long.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's a bit of a show.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
But at least they aspire to be a future JEC
tape yes of the industry.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, I don't know about that. I don't know about that,
but no, no, I mean that some of us are very fortunate,
of course, but yeah, these these sorts of opportunities a
few and far between, sadly. So yeah, anyway, we're focusing
this morning on the great outdoors in the heartland mid Canterbury,
so it's close to christ Church. But this is a
bit of an underrated road trip sort of destination.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Don't you reckon totally?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Jack yep, And it is Primetime Self Drive season so
I just thought as a burst of inspiration if you
are sizing up a bit of a roady in the South,
the mid Canterbury Heartland area really is a far less
crowded but surprisingly good slice of the South Island. And
it's because I reckon, it's that intersection, that topographical blend
(02:44):
of where the planes meet the peaks, so you get
such an incredible spoil of out doorsy treats and geographically
just think of it as being bounded by the Rakaiah
and the Ring of Tata rivers everything in between, close
to the mountains, and that's where to head.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
It's a very easy roady.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
They've got that inland scenic root, as you will know, Jack,
and it is just such a blissful way to hop
scotch from one great sight and experience to the next.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, yeah, it really is. I've spent a lot of
time in this part of the country. It certainly has
its charms. And I'll tell you what, some of the
attractions are just going from strength to strength. So in Methion,
the all Pookie thermal pools have sort of transformed the
town's pulling power totally.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
It's hard to actually use the superlatives to describe just
what a runaway success this complex has been. So it's
three years old now, but I cannot think of many
new attractions that have magnetized visitors to a destination quite
like or Porky has. It hasn't been just a flesh
(03:53):
in the pan. I was in Methan a couple of
weeks ago and the complex is consistently sold out, day
after day after day. So yeah, it's absolutely recast to
Methin is a year round destination, and I think it's
all of the elemental design touches some really thoughtful ideas
in the inception of the Pool's complex. They've got the
(04:15):
swarm Up bar, They've got lots of adults ony experiences,
and that has just anchored a Pooki's breakability as a
premium well being experience.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
It really is just going off. Do you know.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I still haven't been there to make great shame because
the times that I've been around, I thought, oh, go
and stop in. It's been sold out. Yeah exactly, yeah,
but it does. It looks amazing. Yeah yeah, yeah, You've
very much got to block your head. But I mean
the dream is to come off the mountain, right it's
to come off Mountainette there and then have a good
soak in the thermal pools there after. So close to Meavan.
(04:46):
What about Washington Falls.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah, well, if you want to work up a sweat
before taking a rewarding dip, wash Pin Falls track, this
is just across Rakai Gorge and wind Whistle and this
would have to be one of Canterbury's favorite walks.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Speak to any cantab and they will know about wash Pen.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It's based on a private farm, so that that is
a point of difference because there's actually a ten dollar.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Charge which is to help track upkeep.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But wow, this to our loop walk really is the
stuff of wonder because you were walking around a volcanic
canyon reserve. So you've got lots of g Nari Gorge's
incredible foliage, a huge tract of Southern Rata trees. One
of the biggest tracks actually in the South Island is
here and then it all climaxes with the frothy Washpen
(05:35):
force are very happy ending Jack.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, yeah nice. Why should you take the inland scenic
route to Stavely?
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Well, from Rakaia Gorge, yep, this route just stitches together
a crop of great stops, including one of my favorite
villages in New Zealand, Staveley, very snug little hamlet, and
it's home to the Stavely Store in cafe, which has
been a fixture since the eighteen seventies, so back in
the day this is where locals would go to higher
(06:05):
skates for the ice rink just down the road. The
store is still such a treasure, so much history on
its walls. They've got box about the store inside and
it also doubles. It's such a cool little emporium for
local artisans. So whether you're after local ceramics or soaps
or maybe a mountain summer's wall blanket, this is where
(06:28):
the head because it really is just gift where galore
at the Staverly.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Store is the top twins old home still.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
There, yes, probably about one hundred meters from the store
and the Stavely Boutique Lodge as it's now Knownoe was
previously Dame Linda's home for twelve years before they relocated
a few years ago. But me it is the most
incredible country mansion. It's officially a Dutch American barn style
(06:57):
house and then you've got three acres of the most
brilliantly manicured established gardens. So if you want to stay
over in the mid Cannibury Heartland area, the lodge is
a really good option because it's in such easy reach
to so many outdoorsy goodies.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah nice, And Sharpland Falls is nearby.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Right, yeah, just behind Stabley. This trail is a family favorite,
so it threads you through Native Bosh to the cascading
waterfall in the Mount Summer's foothills. It is deliciously scenic.
I just remember when I was last there. Right at
the start of the track, you crossed this glorious bridge
crossing of a gin clear stream. You just think to yourself,
(07:38):
this is world class. You know, people would travel around
the world for this, and the round trip only takes
about an hour, and if you are feeling intrepid, there
are other options. It is also the trailhead one of
the two for the longer multi day Mount Summer's Track
to the Pinnacles and Walmshead Creek, and also in the
area the day long Summer track up Mount Summer's, which.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
I would call you knocked off some years ago, Jack.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I've done it a couple of siks that Yeah, no,
it's it's fantastic. It's really good and on a clear
day you get this prestige of alky from the top
as well, so it's you know, like you really you
want your needs to be in good working order. In fact,
I'm a big fan of having the polls for coming
(08:25):
downhill these days, you know. So yeah, very good, but
strongly strongly recommend the Mount Summer's track.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
So glad to seven hours return is it?
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Uh? Yeah, I would have thought so. Probably depends on
your uphill fitness, but yeah, yeah about about even ours return.
That makes about sense, And that makes sense. You've got
to be careful with the weather and stuff because obviously
conditions on the ground will probably quite different to conditions
on the summit. But yeah, it's fantastic. So if you're
doing if you're going through Big Canterbury, strongly recommend it.
(08:54):
What about the Pucketti Conservation Reserve.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Very enticing, loaded with temptation, So this is all easily
accessed from Mount Summer's village. Definitely check out some of
those gorgeous glacial formed highland lakes like Emma and clear
Water in the Big Daddy Lake here and it's just
that mirror smooth reflective quality. It's quite something. Think Lake Matheson,
you know over on the West coast. It's that good.
(09:19):
And then another essential, Mount Sunday, well known of course
as one of the most remote Lord of the Rings locations.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
So many international tourists.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Still flock there because it was cast as Adorus in
the Rings. It's also a very easy walk to the summit.
In fact, it's only thirty minutes up this sort of
miniature mountain. Hollywood is long gone, but the setting is
still truly cinematic. And by the way, I only discovered
this recently. Mound Sunday got its name because boundary riders
(09:49):
from the high Country stations would meet there on Sundays
for a chin wag. But every day is a great
day on Mound Sunday.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Oh yeah, oh so good. Oh it makes me envious. Actually,
I've it's been a year or two since I've gone
through Big Canterbury. I must return soon. Thank you so much, Mike.
We'll put all of Mike's tips for tripping through mid
Canterbury and the Highland there up on the news Talks
edb website.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
For more From Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to Newstalks EDB from nine am Saturday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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