Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Twin Harbour Tour (Lyttelton & Akaroa)

Overview

Available languages

English

8 hours

Mobile ticket

A shore excursion highlighting the magnificent scenery of the Banks Peninsula and its twin harbours of Lyttelton & Akaroa. From Lyttelton travel through the harbours inner bays through Gebbies Pass, Lakes Ellesmere & Forsyth and onto the hilltop overlooking Akaroa Harbour. Enjoy a two-hour nature cruise in Akaroa Harbour, with usual sightings of the rare Hector’s Dolphins and other native marine wildlife, followed by an optional lunch at Bully Hayes. In the afternoon, visit a cheese factory and stop on the hills overlooking Christchurch for great views of the city and Canterbury Plains.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Wheelchair accessible

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Lunch - (if option chosen)

Lunch

Driver/guide

Sightseeing nature cruise

Air-conditioned vehicle

Port pickup and drop-off

Food and drinks, unless specified

Gratuities

What To Expect

Leisure Tours

The default start time is 8.30am or up to 1 hour after your ship commences disembarkation, depending on what time your ship docks.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Akaroa

This day tour explores the Banks Peninsula and the twin harbours of 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 views of Christchurch from the Sign of the Takahe situated on the hills directly above the city. 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 hilltop which enters into Akaroa. The stop at the hilltop affords a magnificent view and photo opportunity of the entire Akaroa Harbour.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Twin Harbour Tour - No Lunch

Full day tour of the twin harbours without lunch included in the price.
Pickup included

Twin Harbour Tour - With Lunch

Full day tour of the twin harbours with lunch included in the price.
Pickup included

Reviews

3.25

4 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Wonderful scenery!! The dolphins, seals and birds fantastic!
555kikic,
Mar 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
We loved each aspect of this tour. The drive had beautiful scenery. The boat trip was a highlight filled with more fantastic views and wildlife 😊. The lunch so pleasant and delicious!! Do not hesitate to book this tour!!
Eco tour of Lyrtlwton & Akaroa
bkh2014,
May 16, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
If this was the Eco tour-it was the most amazing day! Our tour guide and driverTania put her heart and soul into making sure everyone was taken care of, didn’t get lost, had the best experience and treated us like family. We saw lots of dolphins, seals, shore and sea birds, helicopters spraying the mountainside, Tania is a valuable asset to leisure tours and I hope to do another excursion with her! Awesome day Thank you
Not received refund after trip was canceled due to weather conditions
LuchiDing,
Jan 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
I received msg from TripAdvisor, due to bad weather, this trip was canceled, but I have not received any update on refund my payment for this trip!
Disappointed in this tour
Shirley W,
Oct 31, 2022
- Review from Viator
3.00
We found it difficult to meet the bus although we followed instructions given. Had to phone the company who came and picked us up. Along with another group who were booked on the same tour. The drivers then conducted several head counts to see which group would go on which bus. We were crammed into the bus, with the four people in the back seat sitting slightly sideways to fit. Not very comfortable conditions as it was 2 hours each way. We didn’t stop at the advertised cheese factory stop as apparently there were too many people there. Stopped for a photo opportunity at a cafe/bar where our guide told us we could use the toilets, however staff very rudely told us we had to purchase something first. Boat trip was great, met all expectations, however the guide asked us to walk to ticket office where he read out our names and gave us our tickets, before we could explore town or go to lunch. Not sure why he couldn’t have just picked up our tickets for us. Commentary was almost non existent, and this was commented on by most on the tour. I have been on lots of tours in Aust and overseas and this is the very first time I have been disappointed and the first time I have given unfavourable feedback. Not very well organised with the guide unaware of the ship’s boarding time. Would not recommend. We were not collected or returned to the port as we had expected, but used the shuttle bus provided by the ship to meet up with the tour.