One of the most scenic recreational touring routes of New Zealand, the Alpine Pacific Triangle takes you past astonishing mountain landscapes of the Marlborough region of New Zealand’s South Island. The first stop along the route is Kaikoura, a small coastal town famous for its culinary delicacies and opportunities for whale watching. From there on, you can drive further to see Hanmer Springs spa resort and the vineyards of Waipora Valley.

Alpine Pacific Triangle

The Alpine Pacific Triangle, NZ touring route with spas, vineyards and coastal attractions

A highly popular touring route in New Zealand, the Alpine Pacific Triangle usually starts in Kaikoura, which is probably loved by all seafood enthusiasts. This small coastal town on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand was originally named after Maori words kai and koura, which means eat grayfish in English. More than that, the town is an excellent destination for water sports in Kaikoura. Here you can enjoy whale watching in Kaikoura, swimming with dolphins and surfing, with facilities available also for fishing. Kayaking and sailing are also popular in the magnificent Marlborough Sounds along the route.

Empty beach in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Spas, wines and beaches. Once you are done with Kaikoura, you might like to travel on along the scenic recreational touring route of the Alpine Pacific Triangle. Apart from Kaikoura, the route introduces you also the best thermal spas in Hanmer Springs, which is a spa resort built around thermal springs. Third hot spot of the route is the Marlborough wine region around Waipora Valley, which is famous for its vineyards and for wine culture in Waipora Valley. Overall, the Alpine Pacific Triangle is 370 km / 230 miles long, and goes though some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes of New Zealand, with herds of sheep filling the pastures, and with snow-topped mountains in the horizon.

Coastal scenery in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Practical information for your trip to Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a small coastal town located on the west coast of the southern island of New Zealand. There is a very small airport offering flights to Kaikoura, and the nearby larger town of Belnheim also offers good connections to the region. A more popular alternative for travelling to the Alpine Pacific Triangle’s northern end is to fly to Wellington or Christchurch, and travel the rest of the way along the excellent roads of New Zealand.

If you plan to drive the Alpine Pacific Triangle, it is best to hire a car at your arrival airport. If you are fit and adventurous enough, touring the route is possible also with bicycle.

Weather in Kaikoura is pleasant most of the year, with close to 20°C average monthly temperatures around during the summer, and with temperatures of around 10-15°C to be experienced during the winter. The best time to visit Kaikoura for water activities is between December and April, but the scenic roads of the Alpine Pacific Triangle are ready for your tour anytime.

Coastal landscape in Kaikoura, NZ

Visitor services. Alpine Pacific Triangle is among the most popular touring routes of New Zealand, which means good quality tourist services along the route are guaranteed. There are nice hotels along the Alpine Pacific Triangle, in all three towns of the route, and as the route goes by famous seafood town and through wine region also known for it’s gourmet food, you can expect to enjoy also the services of restaurants along the Alpine Pacific Triangle. The route is an excellent and thoroughly safe ecotourism destination for outdoor-oriented visitors that has no remarkable facilities for shopping or nightlife.