Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays inclusive of spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before descending into the city itself.
Christchurch is New Zealand's Garden City that was settled by the English back in 1850. The beautiful city is host to over 700 public recreational parks and gardens, the largest being Hagley Park that is home to many English Oak trees with many in excess of 150 years in age. Your day ashore includes visiting many of the iconic features within the city, the Botanic Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Avon River, Riverside Market, Cathedral Square, The Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral along with the retail hub of the CBD. Since the February 2011 earthquakes that devastated the city Centre, numerous new commercial building have now replaced the 1000's of building lost resulting in a very modern and interesting architectural designed safe city. A welcome and appealing aspect to your time ashore is the 'free time' that you will have to wander the inner city that enable the visiting at leisure some the retail shops, the city's hospitality precinct with is variety of restaurants and cafés.
On conclusion of your time in Christchurch you will then visit the city's sea-side suburb of Sumner, returning to your ship by either another volcanic peninsula road pass or by way of the 1.97km road tunnel through the volcanic peninsula. Should one so wish, the day's itinerary may be varied to include options of time to visit the larger commercial attractions, such as The International Antarctic Centre experience, The Wigram Air-Force Museum, Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.
All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general, and not that of travel by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel.
Duration approximately 7 hours, with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.
