Ashburton township

How to get there

Christchurch is the nearest large international airport and is just a one-hour drive from Ashburton. If driving from Christchurch, take State Highway One south-west. When you arrive in Ashburton take the first road to the left after you enter the 50 km/hr speed limit area. After crossing the railway line, turn left again and then turn right onto Seafield Road, which takes you all the way to the Ashburton Airfield. When reaching the airfield boundary, continue for one more kilometre and follow the signs to the Ashburton Aviation Museum where Aviation Adventures operates out of a genuine WWII Operations Hut!

If arriving in Ashburton from the south, just follow State Highway One all the way through town and take the last road on your right across the railway line. Then follow the directions as above.

Plenty to see and do


The Ashburton Aviation Museum's Harrier

Ashburton has a number of attractions and excellent accommodation for those wanting to stay the night. For those living in Christchurch, Timaru or Oamaru, it makes a great place to visit for a day out. One of the most popular attractions is the Ashburton Aviation Museum, which is where Aviation Adventures operates over winter. There are excellent historical aviation displays and the aircraft include Harrier, DC3, Fokker F27 Friendship, Cropmaster, FB5 and T11 Vampires, DH82 Tiger Moth, de Havilland Devon, T-6 Harvard, Canberra bomber cockpit, Airtruck, plus numerous helicopters and gliders.


Interior of the F27 Fokker Friendship


Spitfire instrument panel