Driving Instructions

From Christchurch

Instructions on how to find Riverview Lodge after leaving Christchurch Airport. Once you have left Christchurch Airport, turn left into Russley Road.  Drive to the end, which by now it is called John's Road.  You come to a T intersection with traffic lights.  Turn left.  You are now on No.1 and going north.  After about 1 hour driving you will come to Amberley township, and if you need a coffee, the Nor' West Cafe is a great choice. Approximately 10 minutes on you will enter the Vineyards of Waipara area.  If you wish to have lunch, Pegasus Bay Winery is very popular and recommended,  (Look out for the sign and turn right) or just a little further on Canterbury House, which you cannot help but see, also has very good food and wine. At Waipara Junction turn off No. 1 and onto Highway 7, signed Lewis Pass/Hanmer Springs.  Continue on this No. 7 driving thru Waikari, past the Historic Hurunui Hotel, thru to Culverden.  Approximately 20 minutes further driving you will come to the Hanmer Springs turn-off (Highway No.7a) Riverview Lodge is only 5 minutes from this turn-off.  You will drive over a hightly suspended one way bridge, the Waiau Ferry where they do Bungy jumping from.  Drive about 2 minutes more, thru the cutting and you will see on your right “Riverview” and a big stone entrance way.  There is a viewing/stop area opposite our gateway. If you get to a second bridge, called the Hanmer River Bridge, you have gone too far.  We are on a plateau overlooking the Hanmer Springs Valley and the Waiau, Percival and Hanmer Rivers and about 7kms out of Hanmer Springs Village.

From Nelson

Driving Instructions to Riverview Lodge, from Nelson. Upon leaving Nelson drive south on highway No.6 to Murchison.  This is approximately a 2 hr drive. At Murchison refuel the vehicle if necessary as there is only one other gas station further on and it may be closed by the time you reach it.Approximately 1.5hrs further south of Murchison, taking highway No. 65 you will arrive at Springs Junction.From here you take highway No. 7 through the Lewis Pass.  This is a very scenic road but also with quite a lot of bends, so drive carefully.  Approximately 1 hr from Springs Junction you will come to the Hanmer Springs turnoff – highway 7A.  Take this turnoff.

From here you will soon cross over the Waiau Ferry Bridge – a long one way high suspended bridge, where they do Bungy Jumps from.  Once across this bridge, we are the first visible house on your right, with a large stone entrance-way, and a sign saying “Riverview”.

If you come to a second bridge it means you have gone too far. Riverview Lodge is on a plateau overlooking the beautiful Hanmer Springs Valley, and the township of Hanmer Springs is approx 7 kms further on.

Driving instructions from Kaikoura to Riverview Lodge

After leaving Kaikoura you have a choice of two ways.

Either take the Inland Kaikoura route coming out at Waiau which is very scenic and less traffic.  The other choice is to continue on No. 1 Highway south, thru the Hundalee's/Conway River, to almost the township of Parnassus.  This may be slightly quicker but more traffic.

Just prior to Parnassus, you turn right onto Leader Road that takes you to Waiau. Once in Waiau drive to Rotherham, and then continue driving, verying slightly to the right, at Flintoffs Road junction, to join Highway 7.  Turn right following Lewis Pass/Hanmer Springs sign.  About 10 minutes drive you will come to the Hanmer Springs turnoff (Highway 7a) which you will take.

Riverview Lodge is only 5 minutes from this turn-off.  Continue on 7a towards Hanmer Springs.  You will drive over a highly suspended one way bridge, names the Waiau Ferry Bridge, where Bungy Jumping can be participated from.  Drive about 2 more minutes thru the cutting, and you will see on your right “Riverview” and a big stone entrance way.  There is a viewing/picnic stop area opposite our gateway.

We are on a plateau overlooking the Hanmer Springs Valley, and the if you get to a second bridge, called the Hanmer River you have gone too far.  We are about 7kms prior to Hanmer Springs Village.