Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays inclusive of spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before descending into the city itself.
Christchurch is New Zealand's Garden City that was settled by the English back in 1850. The beautiful city is host to over 700 public recreational parks and gardens, the largest being Hagley Park that is home to many English Oak trees with many in excess of 150 years in age. Your day ashore includes visiting many of the iconic features within the city, the Botanic Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Avon River, Riverside Market, Cathedral Square, The Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral along with the retail hub of the CBD. Since the February 2011 earthquakes that devastated the city Centre, numerous new commercial building have now replaced the 1000's of building lost resulting in a very modern and interesting architectural designed safe city. A welcome and appealing aspect to your time ashore is the 'free time' that you will have to wander the inner city that enable the visiting at leisure some the retail shops, the city's hospitality precinct with is variety of restaurants and cafés.
On conclusion of your time in Christchurch you will then visit the city's sea-side suburb of Sumner, returning to your ship by either another volcanic peninsula road pass or by way of the 1.97km road tunnel through the volcanic peninsula. Should one so wish, the day's itinerary may be varied to include options of time to visit the larger commercial attractions, such as The International Antarctic Centre experience, The Wigram Air-Force Museum, Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.
All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general, and not that of travel by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel.
Duration approximately 7 hours, with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.
Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the bays of the harbour before winding your way over a road pass to the lakes of Forsyth and Ellesmere and the roadside township of Little River with its craft shop, art gallery and of course a café for a take-away coffee fix. From Little River you then begin the travel to the crater rim road of the long extinct Akaroa volcano, stopping for photo opportunities of the spectacular scenery from up high before traveling a number of harbour bays leading into the Akaroa township. Akaroa is a small holiday resort township that was settled by the French in 1840 and as a result is very proud of its French heritage.
The town is located within the extinct volcano crater that forms the harbour that is used as an alternative cruise ship port. The harbour is a marine sanctuary and home to the rare Hector dolphins. Your time in Akaroa enables the exploring at your leisure the township with it many restaurants and attractions such as a dolphin cruise, a visit to The Giants House, Alpaca or Sheep Farm experience, and not forgetting a visit to a boutique Cheese Factory or a Peninsula Winery for a tasting of their wine varieties.
On conclusion of the visit to Akaroa, on reaching Christchurch your journey will return to Lyttelton by way of an alternative route inclusive of a section of Christchurch's central city All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general. Your travel is not by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel.
Duration approximately 7 hours with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.
Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays inclusive of spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before travelling a section of the Canterbury Plains into Canterbury's major winery region of The Waipara Valley.
With the valley being very sheltered from the Pacific Ocean's on-shore winds and with its well drained lime-stone type soil, the valley is home to numerous vineyards and wineries. You day will include a visit to specially selected wineries during which time you may experience the tasting of over 20 of the region's finest varieties. In addition, an extended stop at one of the wineries for lunch when you may relax and enjoy with a good wine. On conclusion of your visit to the Waipara Valley, on reaching Christchurch your journey will return to Lyttelton by way of an alternative route inclusive of a section of Christchurch's central city.
All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general. Your travel is not by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel.
Duration approximately 7 hours with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.
Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays including the spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before travelling inland over the Canterbury Plains and into the foothills of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Alps Mountains.
Whilst the destination is the alpine village of Arthurs Pass, the getting there is an experience one will remember for years on. The journey include the viewing of very high productive farmland region New Zealand with both its dairy and sheep farm activity. You will pass through a number of typical New Zealand small rural townships, one of which boasts ownership of a magnificent local 'pie-shop' bakery - a stop being a must to experience its freshly made range of cakes, pastries, breads and of course our famous New Zealand meat pies.
Soon after passing through the last of the rural townships you will commence the steep climb into the Alps by way of a number of highway road passes and on to a number of inland Canterbury's 'high country' lakes that are extremely popular with both local and overseas anglers. On arrival into the Arthurs Pass region and for those that wish, there is an opportunity to partake a relatively easy 'hike' to view the famous Punchbowl water fall that cascades out of the Alps. Then after regaining one's appetite following the "pie-shop" stop, Arthurs Pass offers lunch-time dining of either a café or that of a licensed restaurant. The journey back to the ship is by way of the highway travelled earlier in the day but with the travel being in a opposing direction the magnificent scenery takes on a new perspective.
Should a hike into the Punchbowl water fall not appeal, one may include in the day an adrenaline rush by embarking on a river gorge jet boat ride - the jet boat being a New Zealand invention that enables high speed travel in just a few inches (cm) of water. On conclusion of your visit into the Southern Alps, on reaching Christchurch your journey will return to Lyttelton by way of an alternative route inclusive of a section of Christchurch's central city. All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general.
Your travel is not by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel.
Duration approximately 7 hours with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.
Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays including the spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before travelling the northern section of the Canterbury Plains inland to the restful resort town of Hanmer Springs. In addition to the magnificent scenery on-route, Hanmer Springs is home to a number of walks and the magnificent thermal pool complex complete with five relaxing thermal pools, four water slides, two hydro slides plus The Cascade, and the aquatic ride known as The Conical Thrill.
For those not so keen on water there are a number of equally interesting activities such as the opportunity for bungy jumping, jet boating, mini-golf, and not forgetting the 'Hanmer Rockets' being something for all the family or groups to enjoy. They are four-wheeled quadricycles that carry between two - six people, and are a unique way to enjoy cycling around Hanmer Springs village.
Great for exploring the picturesque small township. On conclusion of your visit to Hanmer Springs, on reaching Christchurch your journey will return to Lyttelton by way of an alternative route inclusive of a section of Christchurch's central city. All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day?s experience and New Zealand in general.
Your travel is not by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel. Duration approximately 7 hours with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.
Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays including the spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before travelling inland and up an extremely spectacular and picturesque Rangitata river valley to Mount Sunday location.
The day includes passing through a number of rural townships including the ski-resort town of Methven that offers a variety of lunch options. On reaching Mount Sunday one may partake in easy walk of approx.. 1 hour to get up close and personal with the location - despite all evidence of the movie set having been removed. On conclusion of your visit to Mount Sunday, on reaching Christchurch your journey will return to Lyttelton by way of an alternative route inclusive of a section of Christchurch's central city.
All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general. Your travel is not by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel. Duration approximately 7 hours with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.