Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Description
See the sights of Christchurch when your ship is in Akaroa port, and explore the city on a comprehensive tour. Your Akaroa shore excursion also includes a trip through the beautiful Banks Peninsula and a visit to the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Meet the elusive kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, along with exotic visitors including deer, wallabies, otters, gibbons and lemurs.
Tour Options
Itinerary
First you will be collected at the park at the end of Akaroa Wharf (opposite the Akaroa Village Inn) at 10.30am and driven through the village of Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula with stunning views of rolling hills, lakes and coastlines before arriving in Christchurch.
After boarding our coaches from the Akaroa Port, we'll take you through to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens & Christchurch Museum via the scenic Banks Peninsula. Explore on your own for 30 minutes.
Depart the Botanical Gardens for a brief Christchurch City tour highlighting city landmarks and the rebuild of city centre after the 2011 Earthquake.
The tour then moves on to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. You will be given entry to the Wildlife Reserve and a guided tour of the reserves ‘Natural New Zealand’ with Kiwi viewing.
Travel back to Akaroa via the Banks Peninsula to board your cruise ship.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Please note that activity times and schedules can be slightly amended depending on your cruise ships timetable.
Reviews(26)
Would never do this again. We sat on the bus for forty minutes waiting for a couple that wasn’t even on the same tour. We then traveled over 1 1/2 hours to Christchurch where the guide dropped us off in a dead zone for 25 minutes - not enough time to see anything. We then went to a wildlife preserve which was sort of a combo zoo and petting farm only to take another 1/12 hour ride back to the ship. Expected more from what turned out to be money paid for a long bus trip. The driver tried to be informative and entertaining but making us wait really killed a good part of the day. I’d like a refund!!!
The contents of this review are completely unfounded and untrue. Gary and Rodnette Stephens booked our Christchurch and Willowbank Excursion from Akaroa on the 3rd February. They were sent meeting instructions with a 10.30 start time, however, as everyone who was booked had reported by just after 10 am the excursion departed early at 10.10 am. It is clearly stated in all promotional material and itinerary that the travel time to and from Christchurch is 1.5 hours. With regard to the journey to and from Akaroa to Christchurch and Willowbank Wildlife reserve you just need to read all of the other reviews to see that the comments of Gary Stephen are completely unfound and unjustified. The scenery to and from Christchurch is absolutely stunning.
Too little time to do Christchurch justice. We enjoyed the reserve but you really can’t do both from Akaroa. Loved the drive there through the mountains. The tour should start as early as possible to allow more time.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review. Unfortunately, the cruise ship schedule into Akaroa with the tender process means that the time in Christchurch will always be limited. Please you enjoyed what your saw in the time available and should you being cruising around New Zealand again please attempt to join a cruise that visits Christchurch so you will see more of this beautiful city.
360 views of Harbour and city! Walking tour of outer shire movie sites. WETA visit. Best tour guide ever!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, its much appreciated. however your review may be for another tour that you did as you re reviewing an Akaroa shore excurison not a LOTR tour?
Absolutely the best tour we had in New Zealand. Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. We were taken places the large buses would miss;. All in all a terrific excursion. Well worth it!
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review. Pleased to learn you had a great day and enjoyed your excursion. I do hope you get the opportunity to visit us again in the not too distant future.
Very long ride to and from. We did not think there was much to see in Christchurch. The Wildlife Reserve was not up to our expectations - did get to see 1 Kiwi Bird - very dark and hard to see.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review. We appreciate your feedback and acknowledge that all reviews are subjective. I am sorry that the excursion did not meet your expectations which is surprising given all of the other great reviews for this excursion.
The drive was very informative and good, but the tour of the refuge, even by the staff manager was disappointing.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review. It is great to hear that you enjoyed the tour and the commentary into and through Christchurch City. It would appear that you liked the wildlife reserve but were disappointed with the guided tour of the reserve , for this I apologise and have past your comments onto the reserve.
My husband and I enjoyed this excursion. Rob, our tour director, was very informative and we learned lots about the surrounding area and Christchurch. Although a 90 minute drive from Akaroa, it was worth it. The scenery along the way was lovely. The city tour was interesting, the botanical gardens were nice and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve was not to be missed. We now have a better understanding of New Zealand's unique geography and biodiversity.
Thanks for the awesome review! I'm really pleased that you a lovely time on your shore excursion, and it's great that you now have a better understanding and appreciation of our unique geography and biodiversity thanks to this tour. I'm also happy that your driver/guide did a great job in informing you about this part of New Zealand. I'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Rob when I next speak to him. Thanks again and I hope you return to New Zealand someday soon!
The drive from Akaroa where ships dock, through Banks Peninsula to Christchurch is a long but interesting drive where you see much of the countryside. Christchurch is a magnificent city. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is a family owned and operated place where animals are displayed for public viewing. They advertise that they participate in conservation of Kiwi's and other wildlife. If you imagine that this is a vast wildlife sanctuary it's not. It was interesting to go inside the Kiwi habitat they've created and also to go inside the large bird enclosures.
Thank you for the positive review and I'm happy you enjoyed your day in Christchurch and Willowbank. Your observations regarding Willowbank is correct - it is not really a zoo but more a wildlife reserve that promotes conservation and showcases our unique ecosystem and endangered animals. They also participate in animal rescues and breeding programs and work closely with many New Zealand conservation organizations. The variety of New Zealand animals on display, both native and introduced, is a real highlight for many people who book this excursion as they may never see these animals again. Thanks again for a great review and we hope you get to visit NZ again some time in the future.
Beautiful trip from ship port Akaroa to Christchurch But consumes a lot of the time of the tour. The Willowbank zoo was excellent and the guide, Matt, was phenomenally informative about NZ wildlife. But just too short a time for other features, the museum and garden.
<p>Christchurch was some what disappointing because on the ongoing earthquake repairs. Willow bank was informative and fun. Actually saw a Kiwi bird eating in the dark.</p>
