Private Christchurch & Lyttelton Scenic Day Tour

5.0 (5 reviews) 6 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

5 reviews

5.0

Private Christchurch & Lyttelton Scenic Day Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Christchurch & Lyttelton Scenic Day Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This is a private small group tour for up to 11 people. The route around Christchurch and Lyttelton takes you over the old volcanoes of Banks Peninsula with varied scenery onto some of the smaller, less traveled roads to some uniquely scenic places. With approximately 6 hours 30 min from start to finish we will spend about 5 hours 30 min exploring points of interest etc. and an hour driving from point to point on the itinerary. We are happy to customise your tour to include attractions such as the International Antarctic Centre or Willowbank Wildlife Park (cost extra) , etc. We are locals and give an in-depth commentary covering the volcanoes, NZ and local history, earthquakes etc. and have been proudly sharing our back yard with visitors for over 25 years.

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At a glance

Duration: 6 h 30 min
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–11
Guide: English
Operated by: E S Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Not included: Lunch
Not included: Tea and coffee: Coffee and/or Tea

Itinerary

Christchurch Cathedral

one hour

We stop here and stroll around the city centre, enjoying the Avon River (more English than England it is said), newly designed architectural precincts and historic buildings.....time for lunch at the Riverside Market or The Boatshed Cafe on The Avon River perhaps and shopping ( stalls, souvenir shops, pharmacies etc.)...the Cathedral is currently being rebuilt with a completion date around 2027.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens

30 min

A stroll in the gardens and nearby Arts Centre (old University of Canterbury) is an option. Canterbury Museum and Christs College are some of the historic Gothic buildings nearby.
Cardboard Cathedral

15 min

This is part of our Central City/Earthquake and History story.....this interesting building was designed by Shigeru Ban, a Japanese disaster architect as a temporary cathedral while the old historic Cathedral is being rebuilt....look for the nearly 100 cardboard construction tubes that hold the roof up and the shipping containers cleverly disguised in the walls. Great acoustics and design work.
Port Hills

30 min

An ancient volcanic crater....The Summit Road follows the ridge or the volcanic rim at about 1500 ft/500 m. above sea level with views to the Southern Alps 50 miles away across the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour with its beautifully coloured water on the other side (weather dependent).
Lyttelton

30 min

Lyttelton was the first settlement in the area after settlers first arrived in 1850...we talk about its long colonial and Maori history and some of its colourful inhabitants....the artists, prisoners, sailors and subpolar explorers to name a few. Points of interest include the Timeball Station, Lyttelton Tunnel and the fabulous views from this village built on the slopes of an ancient 10 million year old volcano.
Stop 6

15 min

Look down from the Port Hills on the garden city of Christchurch some 500 m below sitting on the flat Canterbury Plains stretching North, South and East....some of the best arable land on earth boasting world record yields of wheat and barley as well as seed production, dairy and sheep farming, vinyards etc.(weather dependent). The Southern Alps will be visible on most days with some snow most months of the year stretching far to the horizons.
Sumner Beach (Cave Rock)

30 min

Visit this lovely relaxed Pacific Ocean beach suburb for a nice contrast to the city and hills....Cave Rock is large and of volcanic origin with a hole through it....an option is a stroll down the beach promenade to a cafe/icecream shop under a Victorian clock tower (try NZ's unique hokey pokey icecream perhaps). Driving up Evans Pass behind Sumner rewards us with stunning views of Lyttelton Harbour.
International Antarctic Centre

2 hours Admission not included

OPTION : A 1.5-2 hour visit (own cost) is a popular stop and usually includes a 4D movie, Haglund ride (not for those with back issues), a storm room, Little Blue Penguins, Husky Dogs and lots of interesting movies and media about Antractica and Christchurch's role as the gateway to Antarctica for icebreakers and aircraft heading for the scientific bases there. Cafe available.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Cruise Ship Passengers....Please take the free Lyttelton Shuttle shipside through the security gates and get off at the bus stop (Norwich Quay).....it takes about 5-10 min. You cannot walk as this is a working port. Look for a sign with your name on it. Note.....do NOT take the shuttle bus to Christchurch City as it will not stop at Norwich Quay !

Non-cruise ship private groups-please provide your pickup location (hotel, Christchurch International Airport etc.)

Using your ticket

Look for your driver/guide holding a sign with your name on it when you get off the free Lyttelton shuttle bus at Norwich Quay....5 min drive through the security gates (board the bus shipside....you cannot walk through the port as it is operational. Be careful to NOT board the bus to Christchurch shipside as it will not stop at Norwich Quay)