This private tour is specifically designed for cruise ship passengers. Visit Akaroa and explore the Banks Peninsula with one of our friendly and knowledgeable local guides. This excursion, starting and finishing at Lyttleton, is a genuinely scenic experience. Learn about fascinating local history and understand how an enormous extinct volcano shaped this rugged landscape and how the landscape continues to shape the people who live here. In Akaroa, you’ll visit the whimsical Giant’s House; a place filled with vibrant mosaic sculptures. In town, there are opportunities to try the local cuisine, shop for souvenirs, or admire the local artworks. A trip to Akaroa from Lyttelton fits nicely into the cruise ship schedule.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $972.
Larger groups pay less per person.
In demand: 27 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
We stop for a short walk and photo opportunity at the Sign of the Bellbird, one of four original stone rest houses in the Port Hills. A 15-minute drive along Summit Road brings us to the next location.
Gebbies Pass links Lyttelton Harbour to Banks Peninsula and Akaroa Harbour. Stopping at the top of the 161-meter-high pass affords a stunning view over the rugged farmland and with Lyttelton Harbor in the background. A 15-minute drive brings us to our next location.
Morning tea is served before exploring the beautiful native bush and admiring the massive Mati (New Zealand White Pine) Trees. An easy 10-minute loop track is an option for those who would like to stretch their legs. A 20-minute drive brings us to our next destination.
A tiny township nestled between steep hillside farmland and native bush. The food, art, and ice cream that are sold here are favourites with Christchurch locals visiting Akaroa. You will have some free time here to admire the local artworks, sample the ice cream or check out the historic railway station. A 30-minute over a steep hill brings us into Akaroa Harbour.
Once in Akaroa, you can visit The Giant’s House, a mesmerising mosaic sculpture garden. Then take time to savour a café lunch and explore the shops, all while soaking in the beauty of this idyllic harbour town.
Lyttelton is one of the oldest townships in New Zealand and the starting point of Shackton's famous Antarctic expeditions. It boasts the largest and busiest port on the South Island, while the township maintains a quaint local vibe. On Saturdays, the main street hosts a vibrant local market. Depending on your boat's departure time, you may have time to find a souvenir, visit a local cafe, or find a quiet spot to enjoy the view of the Harbour.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Private 8hr Shore Exc: Akaroa. Guide, Lunch & Transport Included. lasts about 6–7 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
Prices start at $486 per person for this Christchurch experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $972. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM.
It can: 27 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is The cruise ship shuttle will stop in Lyttelton at the Norwich Quay bus stop (opposite Independent Provedoring Co, no 20 Norwich Quay) before heading into Christchurch. You will be collected at Norwich Quay bus stop by a white branded car or minivan and your guide will be wearing a branded uniform. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 8 travellers can book together.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 7 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Adventure by Nature.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Wonderful full day experience. Hugh was our guide and couldn’t have possibly been more pleasant and accommodating. He figured out what interested us and seamlessly tailored the tour to give us the best possible experience.
Thank yo so much for posting this review ;-) I'll be sure to pass this on to your guide, Hugh.
Super fun and interesting tour! Beautiful scenery, lovely drive to Akaroa. Jared, our tour guide, was great! Laid back, informative and enthusiastic! Delicious lunch in Akaroa. The Giant’s House is amazing.
Hi Mari, Thanks for the review and letting us and everyone else know about your experence with Jared
Gemma, our guide was extremely knowledgeable and has a great love for her area. We covered a large area of the mountains and enjoyed morning tea in a nature park, which was a nice surprise. We highly recommend Gemma as the guide for this area.
Thank you for taking the time to post a review for Gemma. We are very lucky to have great guides ;-) Ill be sure to pass on your kind words.
Our guide Ollie local knowledge very good private for 2 nice vehicle very nice. Ollie took us to a winery we requested. It was a wonderful day that was made better by Ollie.
Hi Steve, Thank you for posting a review. I am pleased that you had a good day out with Ollie. I will pass on your kind words to Ollie.
Our guide Gemma was wonderful. She gave us a great tour of the area and provided snacks and lunch. Scenery was beautiful even though the weather didn't fully cooperate.
Thank you taking g the time to post a review for Gemma :-) Akaroa is a lovely place rain Or shine.
The scenery was amazing. Morning tea and lunch was good with attention to detail. A little more information about the area would have been great as there were a few lulls in conversation
Thank you and your family for posting a review about your tour to Akaroa. We really appreciate that you have taken the time to give us an honest review. We will use this to continue to improve our service. I hope the rest of your cruise holiday around New Zealand is an enjoyable and memorable family holiday.
Jared planned a fantastic itinerary for our all day tour. His knowledge of the Akaroa history and environment was impressive. He prepared a Morning tea service and packed a picnic lunch that we enjoyed at the bay. Jared's attention to detail and flexibility made our day in Lyttelton quite memorable.
`Thanks you for posting this wonderful review. Ill pass your kind words onto onto your guide Jared
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private 8hr Shore Exc: Akaroa. Guide, Lunch & Transport Included. | 6–7 hours | 4.9 (7) | $486 | |
 Private 8hr Sh Exc: Caving, Castle Hill, Lunch, Guide, Transport | 7 hours | — | $486 | View |
 Lyttelton 8hr Shore Ex: Akaroa. Guide, Lunch, Transport, Sml Grp | 6–7 hours | 5.0 (3) | $331 | View |
 Private 8hr Akaroa Tour: Lunch, Transport, Guide. Optional Cruise | 7–8 hours | 5.0 (1) | $486 | View |
 Private 8hr Rock Climbing: Christchurch. Lunch, Guide & Transport | 1 day | 5.0 (1) | $229 | View |
 Private 8hr Caving Tour from Christchurch. Lunch guide transport. | 1 day | 5.0 (1) | $486 | View |
 Private 8hr Sea Kayak Tour Christchurch. Lunch, Guide, Transport. | 1 day | — | $458 | View |