The 11 Shore Excursions in Christchurch That Earn Their Price

1.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 209 reviews · from $62Our pick

Meet near Lyttelton port for a guided Christchurch outing with Mona Vale Gardens, earthquake recovery stories, Cathedral Square, Riverside Market, and wide views from the Sign of the Takahe. Guides such as Scottie and Joseph bring local detail and humor to the drive.

“Be sure of dates and weather. Tour provider is confusing. Booked tour. Received email correcting date but tickets with wrong date. Took several attempts to get ticket corrected. When weather interfered with ability to do our tour there was no consideration despite having booked several other tours. Enquired about change in time of tour without success. Can’t in good conscience recommend provider.”

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2.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Antarctic Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 194 reviews · from $114

Travel from Lyttelton with a local driver-guide such as Scotty or Joseph, stopping at the Sign of the Takahe, Mona Vale, Cathedral Square, Riverside Market, and the International Antarctic Centre. Expect Antarctic cold, blue penguins, a Hagglund ride, and a full day built around your ship’s schedule.

“The Antarctica Center was amazing! We had been to Antarctica the year before and the “freeze” room was very accurate. The guide is what brought it down to a 3. She spent every opportunity to talk about the trauma of the 2011 earthquake, including how many people died and she detailed the death of a baby because a TV fell on him. Seriously, this is a vacation. A very brief discussion of the earthquake in generalities would have been more than enough. She said her home had minimal damage so it was is if she was living vicariously through the suffering of others. Of course, the occasional digs at her…”

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3.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch & Willowbank Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 84 reviews · from $102

Travel from Lyttelton to Christchurch by air-conditioned coach with a local guide such as Joseph or Scotty. See city views, Mona Vale, Cathedral Square, and Riverside Market, then spend about two hours at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, including a guided kiwi visit.

“We liked Christchurch very much and the tour provided excellent highlights of the the city. We also enjoyed the interaction with animals in Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.”

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4.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Jet Boating

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · from $148

Travel from Lyttelton to Christchurch with a local guide, stop at the Port Hills, Mona Vale, Cathedral Square, and Riverside Market, then ride a jet boat through the shallow Waimakariri River. Guides such as Joseph, Diana, and Scotty add local stories, while port transfers protect your ship connection.

“Our driver/guide Rodney was a delightful guy and very knowledgeable. He went out of his way to accommodate us. Paul, our jet boat driver, was super and gave us a thrilling ride. I would highly recommend this tour for those seeking an adventurous and informative day”

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5.Lyttelton Shore Excursion – Waipara Wine Tour With Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · from $117

From Lyttelton, ride with Leisure Tours into North Canterbury’s Waipara Valley for tastings at three wineries and lunch at Waipara Springs. Guides such as Andrew, Tania, Joseph, and Caroline provide local commentary, with timing adjusted to suit cruise schedules.

“Caroline was our driver and she gave good commentary all the way round On time with 3 stops and a lovely lunch Drive each way about 1hour Lovely day out”

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6.Lyttelton Shore Excursion – City Highlights & Waipara Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 17 reviews · from $139

From Lyttelton, tour Christchurch with stops at the Sign of the Takahe, Mona Vale, and the earthquake-damaged cathedral. Then head north to Waipara for lunch and tastings at Waipara Springs, Torlesse Wines, and Georges Road Wines. Guides such as Tania, Rob, Di, Carmen, and Andrew are part of the experience.

“This tour was a good experience except for two of the three wineries that we visited. Our tour guide was great, and the small group atmosphere was very comfortable. We enjoyed the drive from Lyttleton to Christchurch, through the hills witRead more”

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7.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Arthur’s Pass Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · from $185

Travel from Lyttelton to Arthur’s Pass with a local guide, stopping at Toby Hill Farm for sheepdogs, shearing, and morning tea. You’ll also visit Castle Hill and Otira Viaduct Lookout before returning to the ship. Guide Jude has earned special praise for her driving, stories, and careful timing.

“Long bus ride out & back but well worth it for the views. Gorgeous! Definitely recommend including lunch since there are only two cafes in town. Our lunch was served as we arrived.”

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8.Akaroa & Banks Peninsula from Lyttelton(Private Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $496Top rated

Travel privately from Lyttelton to Akaroa with a local guide such as Jared, Gemma, or Ollie. See volcanic terrain, native bush, Little River, and the Giant’s House, with morning tea and time for lunch, shopping, or a requested winery stop.

“Jared planned a fantastic itinerary for our all day tour. His knowledge of the Akaroa history and environment was impressive. He prepared a Morning tea service and packed a picnic lunch that we enjoyed at the bay. Jared's attention to detail and flexibility made our day in Lyttelton quite memorable.”

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9.Inland Canterbury & Castle Hill Tour (Lyttelton Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $309

Travel from Lyttelton to Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti with a local guide, stopping in Darfield, Springfield, and at Lake Lyndon. You’ll explore giant limestone boulders, learn about Māori culture and geology, enjoy a picnic lunch, and return through Christchurch. Guides may include Gemma or Nathanael.

“This tour included a round trip through Canterbury Plains to sacred Maora rock formations. It included lots of elevated hiking which you should be prepared for. Be sure to bring your water bottles because none were provided for our group. The views were fabulous the driving speed to and from was scary to say the least! As far as recommending, maybe.”

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

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · from $167

Spend about eight hours touring Lyttelton and Akaroa by air-conditioned vehicle, with views of the Banks Peninsula, Lakes Forsyth and Ellesmere, a cheese-factory stop, and a two-hour Black Cat nature cruise. Port transfers are included, and lunch is available with the selected option.

“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 cRead more”

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11.Akaroa & Giants House Garden tour ex Lyttelton (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $340

Travel from Lyttelton to Akaroa with a group of up to eight. Local guides such as Jared, Gemma, or Michelle lead scenic stops at Gebbies Pass, Kaituna Valley, and Little River, with morning tea, café lunch, and entry to the mosaic-filled Giant’s House included.

“Our guide, Jared, was kind and accommodating. The area is stunning and he took us to some wonderful sites.”

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