Springfield is 60km west of Christchurch and is the closest township to a choice of five skifields. Offering a wonderful selection of comfortable accommodation places, cafes, a hotel, service centre and information buro, an array of activities including horse trekking, jetboating, farmshow, 4wd safaris and magnificent views of the Mt Torlesse Range, and foothills of the Southern Alps.
Once a coal town with two mines open during the 1870’s, Springfield boasted 7 shops and a Bank of New Zealand. The railway arrived in Springfield in 1880 and the Midland Railway Line’s access to the coast didn’t break through until the opening of the Otira Tunnel in the 1920’s.
After the opening of the Otira Tunnel saw an increase in rail traffic and rail staff based in Springfield for many years. During this time the introduction of the KB steam engines was evident with six engines being specifically built for this section of track between Springfield and Arthur’s Pass. They were the strongest engines built in the steam era.
Today the Midland Line is World famous as the Tranz Alpine Journey and stops in at the Springfield Railway Station daily to welcome people on board before following the spectacular Waimakariri Gorge and on to Greymouth. The Waimakariri River has been used over the years for recreation including the early trials of Sir William Hamilton’s jetboat in the early 1950’s and is still widely used today with both commercial and private jet boating heading up the spectacular Waimak Gorge.
Fishing is also popular along with the kayaking leg of the infamous Coast to Coast Event. These competitors jump in their kayaks at Mt White Bridge and ride the river for around 4hours before disembarking at the Waimakariri Gorge Bridge, near Sheffield.
