Twin Harbours Tour with Wildlife Cruise & Lunch

From Cruise Port:    Lyttelton-Christchurch

This tour option explores the twin harbours of Banks Peninsula, 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 Christchurch City from the Sign of the Takahe on the hills above the city of Christchurch.

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 Hill Top. The stop at the Hill Top affords a magnificent view of the entire Akaroa Harbour and fantastic photo opportunity.

On arrival in Akaroa join the Canterbury Cat for a two hour nature cruise on the Akaroa Harbour, a full commentary cruise of this spectacular harbor with a host of marine life. You will normally see the rear Hectors Dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals and the little Blue Penguin as well as a number of native marine birds that populate this coastline. Following the cruise there will be time for lunch at Bully Hayes Restaurant.

Mid-afternoon depart Akaroa and travelling through the inner harbour bays of Takamatua, Robinsons Bay, Davauchelle Bay and Barry's Bay with a stop at the Barry's Bay Cheese Factory, with tastings of course. The return journey to Lyttelton retraces your travels through the Canterbury Plains and the southern suburbs of Christchurch City to the Sign of the Takahe, a park-like setting on the hills above Christchurch affording wonderful views of the city of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps.

Departing the Sign of the Takahe the tour travels through the Eastern Suburbs of Christchurch City to the Lyttelton Harbour Tunnel, a two-kilometer road tunnel taking you through to the Port of Lyttelton severely damaged by an earthquake which effected Christchurch and its infrastructure in 2011. Much of the old port and its buildings have been demolished following the 2011 earthquake, however, the rebuild is progressing.

From Cruise Port:    Lyttelton-Christchurch

Included

• 2 hour nature cruise on Akaroa Harbour
• Cheese tasting at Barry's Bay Cheese Factory
• Lunch at Bully Hayes restaurant

Not Included

• Any additional meals or beverages

Instructions

• Meeting instructions are as follows; On arriving at the port in Lyttelton please make your way to one of the waiting shuttles that will transport you into the LYTTELTON TOWNSHIP which is approximately a 5 minute drive. The shuttles will be waiting on the opposite side of the dock from where the cruise ships own prebooked coaches are loading. There will be people on the wharf to direct you. Ask for the Lyttelton Shuttle. Please note you must take a shuttle as you are unable to walk out of the port due to this being a restricted area. Your excursion will depart 45 minutes after the ship has docked (even if your ship has been delayed or arrives early) with 8.30am being the earliest departure time. DO NOT take a shuttle into Christchurch City as your excursion is departing from the Port of Lyttelton. The city shuttle you need to pay for whilst the Lyttelton Shuttle is free - If you are asked to pay you will know you are on the wrong shuttle. On your arrival in the Lyttelton township, please EXIT THE SHUTTLE AT THE FIRST STOP. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back into port to catch the shuttles back to the ship.

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