Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and the International Antarctic Centre
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience the grand architecture and beautiful gardens of Christchurch when your ship is in port in Akaroa. Your shore excursion from Akaroa port also includes a scenic trip through the Banks Peninsula and entry to the most popular attraction in Christchurch, the International Antarctic Centre. Enjoy the center’s Snow and Ice Experience, Blue Penguin Encounter and take an exhilarating ride in an all-terrain Hagglund vehicle.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Please note that activity times and schedules can be slightly amended depending on your cruise ships timetable.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
First you will be collected at the park at the end of Akaroa Wharf (opposite the Akaroa Village Inn) at 10.30am and driven through the village of Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula with stunning views of rolling hills, lakes and coastlines before arriving in Christchurch.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
After boarding our coaches from the Akaroa Port, we'll take you through to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens & Christchurch Museum via the scenic Banks Peninsula. Explore on your own for 30 minutes.
What‘s Included
Hagglund ride
Local guide
Port pickup and drop-off
Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship
Food and drinks
Options
Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and the International Antarctic Centre
Reviews
135 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Christchurch
Ruth B,,Feb 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Christchurch worth going but would have been better to go with ship. Guide was not good At time management or organization. We missed a lot looking for parking. Antarctica exhibition was great.
Not enough time to see the International Antarctic Center
Sweeps86,,Mar 8, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Today was a bit problematic. I would not recommend this tour. Some of it was Leisure Tours and some was the International Antarctic Center. We were asked to arrive at 10:15am to leave at 10:30am. At 10:45am we were still waiting for people who never arrived. So the 90 minute drive to Christchurch was fast and furious. No time for the Botanical Gardens. It was never even mentioned. Arriving in Christchurch we split into 3 groups and with a quick talk through town arrived at the International Antarctic center (IAC). First thing the IAC tells us the Hagglund ride is not included even though it is stated in the description. Finally they give in after an argument. Now we are on a race to see as much of the center as we can in 90 minutes since that is all the time we have in order to get back to Akaroa in time for our departure. We didn’t get to have the penguin experience, didn’t see the huskey presentation and despite standing in line for 30 minutes of our previous time we got turned away from the Hagglund the 2nd time and could not wait any longer we had to go. In summary the drive is too long to have enough time to see the attraction and the attraction was way overbooked today. Find something closer to the port. There was some discussion of partial refund from the IAC but I’m not holding my breath
Worth a visit, but, check numbers taking part
BrianD832,,Feb 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00A fascinating tour round the area which was, unfortunately, spoiled by some appalling rain!! The driver did well keeping us entertained and we all felt sorry for him!! The trip included the Antarctic exhibition - however, Leisure tours refused to take us there as there weren't enough people on the trip - I was angry!!!
This excursion was a lot...
Helen B,,Mar 23, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00This excursion was a lot of fun. The Antarctic centre was an amazing experience. Do ride in the hugland was a great experience as well. Loved the whole tour .
Outstanding Service and Real Nice Tour
Tom H,,Jan 16, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00We started off with a mix up between the time and place we should be to begin the tour and the tour left without us. To save our day Kevin from Leisure Tours drove us along the tour route personally and caught us up to the tour bus by lunch in time to join the bus to the antarctic research center. I tried to add pictures but they wouldn't load. We are grateful to Kevin and the culture of excellence in customer service at Leisure Tours.
Christchurch
David W,,Mar 27, 2020
- Review from Viator
2.00Not so great. We spent most of our time driving to and from Christchurch. Once there, we had time to visit the Antarctic Center. We were given 15 minutes to visit the museum and Gardens. Not close to enough time.
Wonderful day!
Nina S,,Mar 17, 2020
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a wonderfully knowledgeable guide and driver who took us from Akaroa on the Banks peninsula to Christchurch. I was very interested in the rebuilding of the city after the earthquake. The botanical garden was a welcome stop after an hour long bus ride and the Antarctic Museum was fascinating. The Haglund vehicle ride was a hoot. The museum cafeteria was the only lunch option with very limited time, choices and service. Otherwise a wonderful day in New Zealand.
Christchurch and Antarctic
Frances Janet,,Feb 25, 2020
- Review from Viator
4.00I would have left a 5* review and Scotty and the guide at the Antarctic Centre were both excellent but had to deal with a majority of passengers who were in a group of Spanish speakers who did not understand English. This meant they talked a lot among themselves on the bus while Scotty was giving us information and they kept lagging behind at the Antarctic Centre. Really interesting to learn about the problems they have had in Christchurch and the reasons for recovery taking a number of years. Scotty had an enormous amount of knowledge to share with us. The Antarctic Centre visit was good but seemed a bit rushed due to problems mentioned above.
Too rushed and too little to recommend
Tracie C,,Feb 24, 2020
- Review from Viator
2.00Sadly left late from the port due to waiting for others has very little time it seemed in Christchurch and even less at the arctic centre which was horribly rushed no time to even eat... the guide was hard to hear as we were constantly overlapping with other groups and it all felt a bit something and nothing. Wish we had spend more time on either Akoroa or the Christchurch area.... a quick drive around Christchurch was not worth the hour and a half to get there and ten minutes toilet break at the museum before being whisked off to the arctic centre. Wouldn’t recommend it was the most expensive of our tours and the least enjoyable.
Fantastic tour
Jerinette W,,Feb 19, 2020
- Review from Viator
5.00Scotty was a great guide. We were lucky the cafe at the Antarctic center was pretty empty so we all were able to have a bite to eat. Loved the Hagglund ride!
From NZ$200.00
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