Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Twin Harbour Tour (Lyttelton & Akaroa)
Description
A shore excursion highlighting the magnificent scenery of the Banks Peninsula and its twin harbours of Lyttelton & Akaroa. From Lyttelton travel through the harbours inner bays through Gebbies Pass, Lakes Ellesmere & Forsyth and onto the hilltop overlooking Akaroa Harbour. Enjoy a two-hour nature cruise in Akaroa Harbour, with usual sightings of the rare Hector’s Dolphins and other native marine wildlife, followed by an optional lunch at Bully Hayes. In the afternoon, visit a cheese factory and stop on the hills overlooking Christchurch for great views of the city and Canterbury Plains.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The default start time is 8.30am or up to 1 hour after your ship commences disembarkation, depending on what time your ship docks.
This day tour explores the Banks Peninsula and the twin harbours of Lyttelton and Akaroa with numerous photo opportunities of some spectacular scenery throughout including Lakes Forsyth and Ellesmere, the Canterbury Plains, the South Islands Southern Alps and views of Christchurch from the Sign of the Takahe situated on the hills directly above the city. From Lyttelton, the tour travels around the inner bays of Lyttelton Harbour, Corsair Bay, Cass Bay, Rapaki and Governor’s Bay and then travels over Gebbies Pass and onto the Akaroa Highway for Akaroa, stopping on route at Birdlings Flat, (a shingle beach at the tip of Banks Peninsula, affording great views of this rugged southern coastline) and at the hilltop which enters into Akaroa. The stop at the hilltop affords a magnificent view and photo opportunity of the entire Akaroa Harbour.
join Black Cat for a two hour nature cruise on the Akaroa Harbour. This full commentary cruise of this spectacular harbor includes a host of native marine life. You will normally see the rare Hector’s Dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals and the Little Blue Penguin, as well as a number of native marine birds that populate this coastline.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Meeting instructions will be sent upon booking. Please note that the default time for this tour is 8.30am but this can be amended depending on your cruise ships arrival and departure times.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Reviews(5)
Terry was our driver and tour guide. His humor and knowledge of the area kept everyone involved with questions and laughter. The 14 passenger coach was comfortable and the PA system allowed all to hear him. Terry was courteous, safe, and very accommodating (I was handicapped). There was no worries about whether we would get back in time to continue our cruise... he was well informed and made sure that all were accounted for. I highly recommend this company!!
Great review and great comments about Terry. He is a real treat and if he is having a fun trip, then everyone is having a fun trip. Sounds like everyone had a great day - thank you again.
We loved each aspect of this tour. The drive had beautiful scenery. The boat trip was a highlight filled with more fantastic views and wildlife 😊. The lunch so pleasant and delicious!! Do not hesitate to book this tour!!
Kiaora and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with us!
If this was the Eco tour-it was the most amazing day! Our tour guide and driverTania put her heart and soul into making sure everyone was taken care of, didn’t get lost, had the best experience and treated us like family. We saw lots of dolphins, seals, shore and sea birds, helicopters spraying the mountainside, Tania is a valuable asset to leisure tours and I hope to do another excursion with her! Awesome day Thank you
Kiaora and thanks for leaving a review. A great description of your day that will certainly help others. I'm glad you enjoyed your day with Tania
I received msg from TripAdvisor, due to bad weather, this trip was canceled, but I have not received any update on refund my payment for this trip!
The refund was authorised through Viator who hold the money. However, it takes three to five working days for them to process and before the funds appear in your account. The customers account is showing at our end as refunded in full.
We found it difficult to meet the bus although we followed instructions given. Had to phone the company who came and picked us up. Along with another group who were booked on the same tour. The drivers then conducted several head counts to see which group would go on which bus. We were crammed into the bus, with the four people in the back seat sitting slightly sideways to fit. Not very comfortable conditions as it was 2 hours each way. We didn’t stop at the advertised cheese factory stop as apparently there were too many people there. Stopped for a photo opportunity at a cafe/bar where our guide told us we could use the toilets, however staff very rudely told us we had to purchase something first. Boat trip was great, met all expectations, however the guide asked us to walk to ticket office where he read out our names and gave us our tickets, before we could explore town or go to lunch. Not sure why he couldn’t have just picked up our tickets for us. Commentary was almost non existent, and this was commented on by most on the tour. I have been on lots of tours in Aust and overseas and this is the very first time I have been disappointed and the first time I have given unfavourable feedback. Not very well organised with the guide unaware of the ship’s boarding time. Would not recommend. We were not collected or returned to the port as we had expected, but used the shuttle bus provided by the ship to meet up with the tour.
Lyttleton Port where the cruise ship berths is in a restricted area and the only way in or out of the port is by shuttle. Everyone arrived in a timely manner and the tour departed without issue. The vehicle used on the day was a modern comfortable 18 seater tour vehicle with 12 people, so unsure why anybody would be sitting sideways across the back. The drive time from Lyttleton is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Everyone was aware of the ships boarding time and the driver was back in port an hour prior to the ships departure. It is disappointing to receive such an inaccurate review.
