Selwyn district, Canterbury, New Zealand

Places to visit near Rolleston

Rolleston is a town in Selwyn district, Canterbury, New Zealand, home to about 3,124 people. Within 50 km by road there are 250 places to visit — 45 wildlife, forests & gardens, 41 parks, 38 churches and 18 hill stations & viewpoints. The must-see places are Yaldhurst Museum (16 km), Orana Wildlife Park (18 km) and McLeans Grassland Reserve (18 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Rolleston on the map

Rolleston, Canterbury
Rolleston, Selwyn district, Canterbury, New Zealand. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Rolleston at a glance

Location
Selwyn district, Canterbury, New Zealand
Population
about 3,124
Coordinates
43.5833° S, 172.3833° E
Places within 50 km
250 (70 must-see)
Best time to visit
November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for parks and churches

Top places to visit near Rolleston

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Rolleston: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Rolleston

Things to see near Rolleston, by type

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Rolleston

49 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Rolleston. The closest is Springston Recreation Reserve (9 km); the best-known is Orana Wildlife Park (18 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Parks near Rolleston

43 parks within 100 km of Rolleston. The closest is Aruhe Drainage Reserve (13 km); the best-known is Mona Vale (24 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Churches near Rolleston

39 churches within 100 km of Rolleston. The closest is St Saviour's Anglican Church - Templeton (10 km); the best-known is Our Lady of Victories Parish (19 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Rolleston

28 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Rolleston. The closest is Ōrongomai / Cass Peak (25 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Beaches & coast near Rolleston

27 beaches & coast within 100 km of Rolleston. The closest is Greenpark Sands (27 km); the best-known is Estuary of the Heathcote and Avon Rivers / Ihutai (35 km). Best time: october to march.

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Forts & heritage near Rolleston

26 forts & heritage within 100 km of Rolleston. The closest is Old Halswell Quarry (20 km); the best-known is Kate Sheppard House (22 km). Best time: october to february.

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A one-day trip from Rolleston

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 81 km on the road.

  1. Start in Rolleston
  2. 21 km Yarrs Flat Wildlife Reserve · nature spot, Selwyn
  3. 27 km Our Lady of Victories Parish · church, Christchurch City
  4. 7 km Yaldhurst Museum · museum, Christchurch City
  5. 4 km McLeans Grassland Reserve · nature spot, Christchurch City
  6. 4 km Orana Wildlife Park · nature spot, Christchurch City
  7. 18 km Back to Rolleston

Plan a longer trip from Rolleston — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

How to reach Rolleston

    All places near Rolleston by distance

    Within 15 km of Rolleston

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type

    Places near Rolleston by type
    TypePlacesNearest
    Wildlife, forests & gardens49Springston Recreation Reserve (9 km)
    Parks43Aruhe Drainage Reserve (13 km)
    Churches39St Saviour's Anglican Church - Templeton (10 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints28Ōrongomai / Cass Peak (25 km)
    Beaches & coast27Greenpark Sands (27 km)
    Other attractions26International Antarctic Centre (21 km)
    Forts & heritage26Old Halswell Quarry (20 km)
    Museums16Yaldhurst Museum (16 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs7Victoria Lake (25 km)
    Waterfalls4Lower Brice Waterfall (23 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves3Avon River (25 km)
    Mosques & dargahs2Al Noor Mosque (24 km)
    Caves1Moncks Cave Reserve (36 km)
    Buddhist sites1Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple (24 km)
    Treks1High Street (27 km)

    Rolleston: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Rolleston?

    Yaldhurst Museum (museum, about 16 km), Orana Wildlife Park (nature spot, about 18 km), McLeans Grassland Reserve (nature spot, about 18 km), Our Lady of Victories Parish (church, about 19 km), International Antarctic Centre (attraction, about 21 km), Yarrs Flat Wildlife Reserve (nature spot, about 21 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Rolleston?

    250 places on Spotwander: 45 wildlife, forests & gardens, 41 parks, 38 churches, 18 hill stations & viewpoints, 25 beaches & coast.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Rolleston?

    Springston Recreation Reserve, about 9 km by road; Transit Of Venus Historic Reserve (9 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Rolleston?

    Aruhe Drainage Reserve, about 13 km by road; Miss Bartle's Green (13 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Rolleston?

    St Saviour's Anglican Church - Templeton, about 10 km by road; Saint Stephens (13 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Rolleston?

    Start in Rolleston, visit Yarrs Flat Wildlife Reserve, then Our Lady of Victories Parish, then Yaldhurst Museum, then McLeans Grassland Reserve, then Orana Wildlife Park, and drive back — about 81 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Rolleston?

    November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for parks and churches.

    Towns near Rolleston

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Rolleston’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Rolleston on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.