Alpine Pacific Triangle: 330 km in Canterbury
The Alpine Pacific Triangle is a named touring highway in Canterbury. The governing figure used here is 330 km (Alpine Pacific Triangle / Hurunui), not a straight line between towns.
Typical time on the route is 2 to 3 days. Grade: Scenic highway. Season window: Year-round; Lewis Pass in winter.
A triangle of SH1, SH7 and SH70. Hanmer is inland hot pools; Kaikōura is whales and crayfish. Waipara is the wine. After the 2016 quake SH1 north of Kaikōura was rebuilt — still check NZTA.
The itinerary on this page is the published stop sequence: Waipara, Hanmer Springs, Kaikōura, Christchurch. Cabins and holiday homes load live around each stop; hut and trailhead pins without a town page still search by radius.
Book DOC huts and Great Walks on the DOC system where that applies. Town beds are what this site lists. Carry the day’s food on remote legs — several of these routes have no shop between ends.
Stop by stop
Waipara — wine, SH1. Hanmer Springs — hot pools. Kaikōura — coast and whales. Christchurch — city base if you loop.
Distances, grades and seasons above follow Alpine Pacific Triangle / Hurunui. Confirm opening dates, slips and hut bookings on the operator or DOC page before you travel; alpine and West Coast tracks close or reroute after weather.
