Christchurch – Highlights Tour With The City’s Best Attractions

Combine a morning tour of Christchurch city and its surrounding areas with the very best of attractions the city has to offer on this shore excursion from Lyttelton, including the Christchurch Tram, Punting on the Avon River and the Christchurch Gondola.

Please Note that the timings below are indicative only for cruise ships berth by 8 am or earlier. For all other cruise ships with a later arrival time in Lyttelton the excursion times will be adjusted to meet the cruise ships schedule.

08.45 Meet and greet in Lyttelton township for your Christchurch Highlight Tour with Tram, Punting and Gondola.

09.00 Depart Lyttelton and travel via the inner bays of Lyttelton Harbour to Governors Bay and then via Dyers Pass to the Sign of the Kiwi. Dyers Pass climbs up the old volcanic crater wall to the summit, from the Sign of the Kiwi there are wonderful views of both the Harbour and the city of Christchurch.

09.30 The tour arrives at the Sign of the Takahe, a Scottish like castle which has a viewing platform providing magnificent views over the City of Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps which are snow capped for up to 9 months of the year. Access to the viewing platform is via a gentle 5 minute walk.

09.50 Depart the Sign of the Takahe for Mona Vale, a stately home and magnificent gardens.

10.10 Arrive at the front gate house of Mona Vale and stroll through the grounds, following the Avon River which acts as one of the properties boundaries. The coach will then travel around to the rear gate house where your tour guide will meet you once you have had the opportunity to explore the grounds.

10.30 Depart Mona Vale and travel into the central city of Christchurch which was completely devastated by the Christchurch earthquakes in February 2011. Your guide will explain both the history of the city and the effects of the earthquake, you will see for yourself both the destructive powers of nature and the rebuild which has and is taking place.

11.15 The central city tour will conclude in Cathedral Square, this is also the main stop for the Christchurch tram which loops through the central city (one loop takes approximately 50 minutes). In Cathedral Square you will be given tickets for the tram, gondola and punting on the Avon. The tram ticket is valid for the day and you can hop on and hop off when you see anything of interest or wish to stop for lunch.

13.45 You will join punting on the Avon. A flat boat punt boat with the Punter standing at the rear of the boat and propelling the craft with a longwooden pole. On board you will have views of Hagley Park and the Botanical Gardens.

14.30 Collected from the Punting you will be transferred to the Christchurch Gondola where you will take the Gondola from the base station to the summit, a ride of approximately 15 minutes. There will be time at the summit to enjoy the breathtaking views and the summit attraction before returning down to the base station in a gondola.

15.45 The tour departs the Gondola for Lyttelton.

16.00 The tour returns to Lyttelton township where your awaiting shuttle transfers you back to your cruise ship.

Tour Duration 7 hours.

All attraction tickets are included in the price.

Please Note that the times will be adjusted to meet the cruise ships schedule

08.45 Meet and greet in Lyttelton township for your Christchurch Highlight Tour with Tram, Punting and Gondola.

09.00 Depart Lyttelton and travel via the inner bays of Lyttelton Harbour to Governors Bay and then via Dyers Pass to the Sign of the Kiwi. Dyers Pass climbs up the old volcanic crater wall to the summit, from the Sign of the Kiwi there are wonderful views of both the Harbour and the city of Christchurch.

09.30 The tour arrives at the Sign of the Takahe, a Scottish like castle which has a viewing platform providing magnificent views over the City of Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps which are snow capped for up to 9 months of the year. Access to the viewing platform is via a gentle 5 minute walk.

09.50 Depart the Sign of the Takahe for Mona Vale, a stately home and magnificent gardens.

10.10 Arrive at the front gate house of Mona Vale and stroll through the grounds, following the Avon River which acts as one of the properties boundaries. The coach will then travel around to the rear gate house where your tour guide will meet you once you have had the opportunity to explore the grounds.

10.30 Depart Mona Vale and travel into the central city of Christchurch which was completely devastated by the Christchurch earthquakes in February 2011. Your guide will explain both the history of the city and the effects of the earthquake, you will see for yourself both the destructive powers of nature and the rebuild which has and is taking place.

11.15 The central city tour will conclude in Cathedral Square, this is also the main stop for the Christchurch tram which loops through the central city (one loop takes approximately 50 minutes). In Cathedral Square you will be given tickets for the tram, gondola and punting on the Avon. The tram ticket is valid for the day and you can hop on and hop off when you see anything of interest or wish to stop for lunch.

13.45 You will join punting on the Avon. A flat boat punt boat with the Punter standing at the rear of the boat and propelling the craft with a longwooden pole. On board you will have views of Hagley Park and the Botanical Gardens.

14.30 Collected from the Punting you will be transferred to the Christchurch Gondola where you will take the Gondola from the base station to the summit, a ride of approximately 15 minutes. There will be time at the summit to enjoy the breathtaking views and the summit attraction before returning down to the base station in a gondola.

15.45 The tour departs the Gondola for Lyttelton.

16.00 The tour returns to Lyttelton township where your awaiting shuttle transfers you back to your cruise ship.

Typical start time: 8.45am
Duration 7 hours
lease Note that the timings are indicative only for cruise ships berth by 8 am or earlier. For all other cruise ships with a later arrival time in Lyttelton the excursion times will be adjusted to meet the cruise ships schedule.