Experience the grand architecture, beautiful gardens and scenic view points on a half-day city tour of Christchurch. Wander the Monavale Gardens with pretty ponds and water features, drive through the city center with its historic buildings and architecture. Visit the seaside suburb of Sumner, and travel to the Sign of the Takahe to admire the spectacular views over the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps. Choose either a morning or afternoon departure, and upgrade to include the Intentional Antarctic Center.
Tour Options
AM Tour
3-hr guided Christchurch city tour
Pickup included
PM Tour
3-hr guided Christchurch city tour
Pickup included
AM Tour, Antarctic & Hagglund
3-hr guided Christchurch city tour including International Antarctic Center admission and Hagglund ride
Pickup included
What's included
Included
Local guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Live commentary on board
Hagglund ride (if option selected)
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
4.3
53 reviews
5
37
4
4
3
5
2
3
1
4
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour take?
Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour lasts about 3 hours.
How much does Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour cost?
Prices start at $55 per person for this Christchurch experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup points include Athena Motel, Academy Motor Lodge.
What languages is Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 50 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Reviews(53)
1
101pimg
September 3, 2026
Totally worth doing this tour
A tour with Joseph took us through Christchurch showing how much of the city was affected by the by the big earthquake of 2011. - 85%
From city passed the condemned area which still have garden trees thriving
Out to the coast and passed Littleton up the mountain to panoramic view over the valley.
It was great having Joseph’s personal perspective to give us a feel for how it was and how it is now.
Operator response
Great review of both the tour and of Joseph. Many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
K
Kirsty_P
August 13, 2026
Comprehensive tour of city and bays
Comprehensive tour of the city and bays. Detailed earthquake history.
Excellent tour.
Sufficient stops for photos and views.
Operator response
Great review all round of the tour. Many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
T
T7162OFiane
May 11, 2026
Great guide!
Scotty was very knowledgeable and was great to listen too! This tour was just 3.5 hours but a lot was packed in . If short time do it!
Operator response
Scotty loves sharing his knowledge of his city - pleased you had a fabulous time with him.
S
Sarah_R
May 2, 2026
Great guide and tour
Great. Scotty our tour guide enabled us to see the key elements of Christchurch. His commentary provided fantastic information on the city in the context of the earthquake in the terms of geological history.
Operator response
Awesome review and thank you for mentioning Scotty. Our guides make your trip special.
A
angi102017
March 22, 2026
Mega
A great tour very much info, the most beautiful places. Thank you Scotty
Operator response
Great review and thank you for highlighting Scotty.
6
604larryc
February 28, 2026
Tour guide no show
The tour didn't happen because thr tour guide didn't show up.
Operator response
Think you have the wrong company - all tours have all gone ahead as planned, all tour driver/guides have all shown up and all coaches and vehicles have departed and returned on time.
S
Swithyburd
February 24, 2026
Around Christchurch
Not really what we expected. Brent was a lovely guy, but not really a tour guide- very little commentary. No introduction or explanation of what to expect.
Usually book a tour for when we arrive in a new place to get an idea of places we should visit. The tour was delayed to the afternoon, so we had already done the centre of Christchurch by tram.
Went to the surrounding areas of Christchurch- Mona Vale was nice (would have preferred coffee stop here). Travelled through quite industrial parts of Christchurch eventually arriving at a viewpoint over the port at Lyttelton, which wasn't particularly picturesque. Returned through Sumner to Christchurch. Bit disappointed with tour content & lack of commentary.
Operator response
Noted with thanks. We will be doing some driver/guide training to ensure we don't have a repeat - thank you for your kind words.
I
Irene_G
February 7, 2026
Worth the tine abd the price.
It was a lovely 3 hour tour with a great driver and guide. Walked through some beautiful and pristine gardens, then later enjoyed a fabulous warm date scone with fresh cream! Yum.
Operator response
Awesome review and sounds like you had a fabulous time with your guide. Thank you for taking the time to share
B
Brad_L
January 29, 2026
Our guide was not very...
Our guide was not very informative about what we were seeing. Lots of silence as we toured. Some of his facts were incorrect. Told us the last volcanic eruption was 600 years ago. We Googled it and found out it was 6 million years ago.
Operator response
Actually it was 12 million years ago but you are right this is not good enough and I am not sure what he was thinking. We shall retrain the driver and get him back up to speed - thank you for letting us know. Much appreciated - we are much better than this.
T
Trail37558825307
January 29, 2026
Do yourself a favour and if you want at tour of Christchurch go no further than Leisure Tours and Joseph for an overall perspect
Joseph from Leisure tours is an ex engineer so had a unique perspective of earthquake and its impacts. As a life long resident he could speak to the city before and after the quake. He took the tour beyond the city to the east coast harbour and beaches through some amazing scenery. Two stops for short walks in a jam packed 3 hours of amazing information. Leisure tours were only company willing to pick me up from my hotel which was not on the prescribed list. A totally exceptional experience.
Operator response
Brilliant review and brilliant complements of Joseph. Thank you for that. Joseph does have a unique perspective and is so passionate about his city.
Thank you again.
