🇳🇿 Rakaia Gorge Walkway | Christchurch’s Hidden Gem 🥾💙
Just 1 hour from Christchurch, this 10.4km return hike packs glaciers, lava fields, and turquoise rivers into one Instagram-ready adventure! 📍 Trail Essentials 🚗 Drive: 90km (~1hr) to 609 Rakaia Gorge Road (free parking). ⏱ Duration: 3hr return (kid-friendly!). 🌲 Highlights: Ancient lava flows + milky-blue glacial river views. Towering pines 🌲 + native birdlife (kea sightings if lucky!). Photography gold: Cliffside lookouts 📸. ✨ Why You’ll Love It ✅ Easy weekend escape from the city. ✅ Geology + scenery combo—like Middle-earth meets Iceland! ✅ Less crowded than Arthur’s Pass. #NZHikes #SouthIslandMagic #WeekendAdventure 🌿