The historic French village of Akaroa is 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch. Here you can cruise around an extinct volcanic crater. Experience majestic scenery and stunning wildlife on daily harbour cruises. You will see the rare, native dolphin - the Hector's or New Zealand Dolphin. There is also the chance to spot the world's smallest penguin, the white flippered little Blue Penguin, fur seals and other sea birds. Other cruise highlights are a working salmon farm, Cathedral Cave and signs of Akaroa's fascinating past including early Maori, French and British settlements. The two hour cruises depart daily from Akaroa's main wharf. Other inclusions are free tea/coffee on board, a free Hector's fun activity book for children and postcard.
Discover rare dolphins just 15 minutes from central Christchurch. Cruise the scenic Lyttleton Harbour aboard the sleek Canterbury Cat. You'll catch a glimpse of one of the world's rarest and smallest dolphins - the Hector or New Zealand dolphin. You'll also discover Little Blue Penguins and other coastal marine birdlife such as breeding spotted shags, white fronted terns and numerous species of gulls. As well as the natural wildlife, you'll see evidence of the harbours violent, volcanic past. Lyttelton has a fascinating history; your skipper will point out the many significant sites including those of the early Maori and European settlers. There are stories from the historic Lyttelton Township, the lengends of Ripapa Island and more.
Meeting/ Pick up point: B Jetty, Lyttelton.
Duration: 2 hrs.
Start or opening time: 1.30pm.
Includes: Full commentary from the skipper, full bar facilities on board (own expense), kids activity book, tea and coffee.
Akaroa harbour is around 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch. It's the only place on the planet where you can swim with the world's smallest and rarest dolphins, the Hector's or New Zealand Dolphins. Black Cat Cruises operate a jet-powered catamaran for ultimate safety for you and the dolphins.
Akaroa Harbour is around 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch. Akaroa Township is a quaint, French inspired seaside village which is very romantic and unique in New Zealand. It's the only place on the planet where you can swim with the world's smallest and rarest dolphins - the Hector's or New Zealand dolphin. Black Cat Cruises operate jet-powered catamarans for ultimate safely for you and the dolphins. Everything is provided including wetsuits, masks, snorkels, hot showers, hot chocolate and a free gift pack. Where possible our crew will take photos of you swimming with the dolphins.
The three hours includes half an hour before for briefing and putting on the wet suit (dry suit in winter), two hours on the water and up to 45 minutes in the water, and half an hour afterwards for debrief and shower. We guarantee you will swim with dolphins, if no dolphins are sighted we will refund 75% of the ticket price. Our success rate is around 80 - 85% to swim with dolphins.
Discover the charming French colonial village of Akaroa and its surrounding area with this charming full day excursion from Christchurch. Travel by road via Sign of the Takahe, Sign of the Kiwi, Governors Bay, Gebbies Pass, Lake Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth and Little River. Stop at the Hill Top on the volcanic rim above Akaroa Harbour to experience panoramic views of Akaroa village, harbour and surrounding areas.
Enjoy a break at the Barrys Bay Cheese Factory, where you can taste a fine selection of New Zealand cheeses. Continue on to Akaroa, where you have time to explore the many fine craft shops and old French colonial buildings. Lunch in Akaroa at Bully Hayes, a popular restaurant on the waterfront. (If you don’t pick the lunch option tour, you have time to stop off for lunch at your own expense.) Join the Canterbury Cat for a cruise on Akaroa Harbour, sighting dolphins, penguins and seals while enjoying a commentary on this beautiful area or alternatively 9 holes of golf at the Akaroa Golf Course (this option is available only to those taking the tour with lunch included). Depart Akaroa for the return to Christchurch. Weather and time permitting, a stop will be made en route at Birdling Flat on the Kaitorete Spit. This stony beach is at the entrance to Lake Forsyth and provides commanding views of the south-facing cliffs of the Banks Peninsula. Semi-precious stones can be found here.
See rural New Zealand at its finest with a visit to a farm followed a white-knuckle river adventure and a visit to the famous Hamner Springs thermal resort. And on the return journey, stop off at a winery for a tasting of brilliant local wines that are simply bursting with character.
Travel by road through the rural pastoral scenes of north Canterbury, taking in the beautiful scenery before arriving at a local sheep farm for short tour of complex and for a sheep shearing demonstration. Arrive at Thrillseekers Canyon, Hanmer Springs, and challenge the waters of the Waiau Gorge by jet boat or white water raft. Lunch at the Garden House Café at the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the Hanmer Springs Thermal Resort Pools. Since 1859 these thermal springs have attracted visitors seeking to unwind and ease their aches and pains in the soothing mineral waters. As an alternative to the jet boating or rafting at Thrillseekers, a therapeutic massage with steam or sauna can be arranged for your pleasure.
On the return journey to Christchurch, a stop will be made at a North Canterbury Winery for wine tasting. The tour includes lunch, admission to thermal pools, farm visit and wine tasting. Also included is a choice of one of the following: jet-boating, rafting or therapeutic massage.
Experience the sights of Christchurch at night combining a tour of the city with Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, where you will be treated to a truly memorable Maori cultural performance, an intriguing tour of the reserve and a five course buffet dinner.
The tour commences at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve where you will be formally greeted by the concert group, dressed in traditional costume, followed by a Maori concert consisting of action songs, poi dances and the world-famous haka. Following the performance, enjoy a wonderful five-course buffet dinner in the Willowbank Restaurant. After dinner you will be taken on a tour of the reserve, where you will see kiwis in the open, eels, keas, deer, possums and other birds and animals, both native and introduced to New Zealand.
On returning to the central city you will be given a guided evening tour of the city centre prior to being returned to your accommodation.
Be at one with nature with this epic full day whale watching tour that takes in some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand’s South Island before embarking on a voyage of discovery in the seas off Kaikoura to meet some of the world’s most awesome animals.
Begin the morning by travelling from Christchurch to Kaikoura through the rural pastoral scenes of north Canterbury, where the mountains meet the sea. Kaikoura is one of New Zealand's leading eco-tourism destinations and renowned the world over for its variety of marine mammals. Sperm and humpback whales, dolphins and seals are all attracted here by the rich feeding grounds off the coast. On arrival, you will join a whale-watch tour by boat. Following the cruise, break for a delicious lunch if you select option included lunch or for lunch by own expense. There will be time to explore a fur seal colony located on the rocky shores that surround Kaikoura. Seals may be viewed at close quarters, making this a superb spot for photographs. On the return journey to Christchurch, there will be an opportunity to do some wine tasting at either a Waipara Springs or Kaikoura Vineyard.
Depart Christchurch and travel by road to Akaroa via Sign of the Takahe, Sign of the Kiwi, Governors Bay, Gebbies Pass, Lake Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth and Little River. Stop at the Hill Top on the volcanic rim above Akaroa Harbour to experience panoramic views of Akaroa Village, harbour and surrounding areas.
A stop will also be made at the Barry's Bay Cheese Factory where you can taste a fine selection of New Zealand cheeses. Join the Canterbury Cat Too for a cruise on Akaroa Harbour sighting dolphins, penguins and seals. Prior to departure you will be equipped with wet suit, mask, snorkel and flippers. On locating a pod of Hector Dolphins you will enter the water to swim with these rare and endangered mammals. After the cruise you will have time for lunch in Akaroa (own arrangements).
On the way back to Christchurch, weather and time permitting a stop will be made en route at Birdlings Flat on the Kaitorete Spit. This stony beach is at the entrance to Lake Forsyth and provides commanding views of the South facing cliffs of Banks Peninsula. Pebbles and semi-precious stones can be found.
Following the pickup from guests accommodation, the tour commences by covering the central city highlights, including Cathedral You will be collected from your Hotel/Motel, the tour then travels through the University of Canterbury, down to Riccarton House and Bush and then through Monavale Gardens where you will have a chance to have a short stroll with 5.5 hectares of richly landscaped gardens, ponds and fountains.
The tour then continues into the central city, through Hagley park, the boat sheds, Botanical Gardens Arts Centre in the historic Buildings that were once Canterbury University, past the Museum, Art Galley and Victoria Clock Tower before moving on to the Catholic Basillica, then onto the seaside suburb of Sumner, then to Lyttleton Harbour, a volcanic crater which is now the port of Christchurch.
The tour then ends with a visit to the Sign of the Takahe, situated on the volcanic ridges of the cashmere hills, provides spectacular views of the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps, you will be then returned to your accommodation.
After being greeted with a remarkable real hot chocolate, spend 2 hours with the a chocolatier who will guide you through learning about the history of high quality chocolate, with tastings along the way.
Receive hands on experience on how to work with chocolate and make your own chocolate treats to take away with you.
Finish with a pure chocolate fondue which introduces a whole lot of new chocolate taste sensations - think blue cheese amongst others..!
You will have the opportunity to purchase the tools and chocolate used on your tour as our chocolatier has put together an attractive take away kit which includes fine chocolate, tools, moulds and small recipe and tips booklet.
Then drive to Hagley Park for a walk before sitting down to coffee and a light lunch before moving off to a fudge factory.
Watch the creation of fudge made the old fashioned way with condensed milk and real flavours. Taste the fudge hot and ask plenty of questions about the process. A visit to their shop is also in store.
Travel to Akaroa over the beautiful Banks Peninsula, formed following violent eruptions of two ancient volcanoes. The high summit route gives glorious views of Akaroa Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and the distant Southern Alps as well remote bays and farmlands. The Akaroa crater nurses the picturesque harbour and Akaroa village, the only French settlement established in New Zealand.
Visit the Barry's Bay Cheese Factory for a cheese tasting of locally made cheeses, the only remaining cheese factory on the peninsula from a bygone era. Enjoy the quaint colonial-style architecture and wander around the charming 150-year-old French harbourside village of Akaroa with its museum of settlers' history, art and craft shops, studios and al fresco cafés and wine bars.
If you select eco marine harbour cruise option, your tour includes a nature and harbour cruise on the Canterbury Cat. As the Cat gently slices through the aqua blue waters of the harbour, you'll experience a rich variety of marine and bird life in their natural habitat, including playful Hector's dolphins. If you select swim with dolphins option, you will get up close with one of one of nature's most loveable creatures. Found only in New Zealand, the Hector's Dolphin is the world's smallest oceanic dolphins.
Board the world-famous TranzAlpine train, sit back and relax on a journey that will take you across the Canterbury Plains, wind its way through the stunning Waimakariri Gorge, pass over massive viaducts, through tussock-covered high country before heading into the Southern Alps.
At Arthur's Pass, your guide will take you through the National Park, where short walks can be made to experience forests, rivers and mountains vistas. Follow the old stage coach route and travel down the spectacular Otira Gorge, testament to the road builders of the 1860s and the route taken by Maori in their quest for greenstone. Departing Arthur's Pass, travel through the high country and a stop can be made to view Cave Stream where it burrows underground in an area of limestone cliffs and gorges, craggy outcrops and a setting of surrounding mountains.
The impressive Castle Hill rocks, unique weatherworn and rain-smoothed outcrops of limestone are seen from the highway and the more adventurous may wish to walk to the top of the rocks for magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. The return journey to Christchurch includes a visit to the Waimak Gorge, where the Waimakariri River enters the vast Canterbury Plains.
Originally an island, the Kaikoura Peninsula has over time been joined to the mainland by steep plains built up of debris swept down from the mountains by rivers. In Maori lore, the peninsula was the place where Maui braced his foot when he fished up the North Island and was named the seat of Te waka a Maui Maui's canoe. The name Kaikoura means ‘meal of crayfish’.
In 1843, Captain Robert Fyfe built the first shore whaling station near where his house still stands on its whale bone piles. Today, all marine mammals are protected in New Zealand and the whales are hunted with cameras instead of harpoons. Kaikoura has deep ocean canyons that provide a home to an exciting array of sea creatures, including the giant sperm whale. Whales live here all year round, making this one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Depart Christchurch and travel through diverse farmland to Lake Tekapo, where you can view the remote Church of the Good Shepherd and take in the sights of the spectacular Southern Alps mountain range. Continue to the location of New Zealand's tallest mountain Aoraki/ Mount Cook.
Pause for lunch Mount Cook Village, located within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. (Option including lunch is available.) op Enjoy the majestic scenery of the foothills of around the 3,754 metre (12,316ft) mountain. There is time to experience an optional scenic helicopter or ski plane flight (additional cost, weather permitting).
In the afternoon, the tour continues south through the tawny tussock of the Mackenzie Country. En route enjoy afternoon tea (not included) in the quaint village of Omarama and a visit to the Jones Family Orchard (time permitting) near Cromwell. The tour concludes in the picturesque resort of Queenstown on the banks of Lake Wakatipu.