Akaroa Shore Excursion: Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City Tour and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Overview
Inclusions
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
- Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship
- Entry/Admission - Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Akaroa Village Inn, 81 Beach Road, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand
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.
Stop At: Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Rolleston Ave, Christchurch New Zealand
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
Depart the Botanical Gardens for a brief Christchurch City tour highlighting city landmarks and the rebuild of city centre after the 2011 Earthquake.
Stop At: Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Road, Christchurch 8051 New Zealand
The tour then moves on to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. You will be given entry to the Wildlife Reserve and a guided tour of the reserves ‘Natural New Zealand’ with Kiwi viewing.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Banks Peninsula, 575 Summit Road, Christchurch 8081 New Zealand
Travel back to Akaroa via the Banks Peninsula to board your cruise ship.
Additional information
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Please note that activity times and schedules can be slightly amended depending on your cruise ships timetable.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
Very good tour and excellent driver who went out of his way to please us.
Very good tour and excellent driver who went out of his way to please us.
LOVED The wildlife preserve! VERY interesting.Would highly recommend it!
Not much to see in Christchurch except empty lots were buildings had been razed as a result of the earthquake 5 yrs ago. One stop, however, was a church that had severe damage as a result of the quake and left for ...
LOVED The wildlife preserve! VERY interesting.Would highly recommend it!
Not much to see in Christchurch except empty lots were buildings had been razed as a result of the earthquake 5 yrs ago. One stop, however, was a church that had severe damage as a result of the quake and left for viewing by the tourists. We did have a brief stop at the Maori museum in Christchurch were able to take a rushed tour there. wished we could have spent more time there.
While the scenery on the way there was fantastic new Zealand is a gorgeous country!, the area around Christchurch was flat and rather monotonous. Our driver did a good job of pointing out various things along the way, IE kiwi fruit growing, vineyards, sheep and cattle grazing and other facts about New Zealand.
In my opinion this tour provider should not ever be used again Our first van was 20 years old and broke down 5-10 minutes after leaving port.and developed a leak which the driver and manager denied. First, they found a bus to pick us up and take us to our first stop, a garden where we were giv...
In my opinion this tour provider should not ever be used again Our first van was 20 years old and broke down 5-10 minutes after leaving port.and developed a leak which the driver and manager denied. First, they found a bus to pick us up and take us to our first stop, a garden where we were given 15 minutes to see the garden and go to the rest rooms. At Willowbank, we had an abbreviated tour according to their guide. We eventually returned to the original van, which smelled from whatever leaked.
I was very disappointed in this trip. We started out in Akaroa with a drive to Christchurch. I was under the impression that we would have a guide to give us interesting info about the area. We did not have a guide, we had a driver. Our driver was very nice and polite, but he was a driver ...
I was very disappointed in this trip. We started out in Akaroa with a drive to Christchurch. I was under the impression that we would have a guide to give us interesting info about the area. We did not have a guide, we had a driver. Our driver was very nice and polite, but he was a driver and did not provide tour guide services. This should have been advertised as transportation service to the Christchuch area. The drive through the Banks Peninsula was pretty, but that was all it was, a drive with pretty views, no guide service. We arrived at Christchurch where our driver dropped us off for 30 minutes at the Botanical Gardens. These gardens were pretty, but not worth the time it took to get there. We then had a drive through Christchurch which was a huge waste of time and not very interesting. This drive consisted of driving through the business area and looking at the buildings under construction. A waste of time. We then headed to the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. I highly recommend this reserve. Unfortunately because so much time was wasted at the botanical gardens and the drive though the business district, we had minimal time at the wildlife reserve. We had a guide assigned to our group who was excellent but this part of the tour only lasted 45 minutes and he only took us through a small portion of the park. I asked the guide why the tour was so short and he explained that for him to show us the park it would take 2 to 2 1/2 hours. After this short tour we had one hour left before heading back to Akaroa and were given the choice to have lunch at the café or walk around independently to see the rest of the park. I chose to walk around the rest of the park and quickly bought a bite to eat at the café to eat on the bus. I felt extremely rushed. The Wildlife Reserve was very interesting. This tour would have been much better if we had skipped Christchuch and visited the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and had a guided tour through it.
I would highly recommend the Willowbank Willdlife Reserve but not the first part of the tour. Our tour driver wasn't good. He was boring. More time should have been spent at the Wildlife Reserve
I would highly recommend the Willowbank Willdlife Reserve but not the first part of the tour. Our tour driver wasn't good. He was boring. More time should have been spent at the Wildlife Reserve
This was a very informative and interesting tour. There was a bit of confusion as to which bus was going where at Akaroa but all sorted out at The Museum first stop. The tour around Christchurch was very informative. The Willowbank Wildlife Reserve was well worth a visit and as our group of 5...
This was a very informative and interesting tour. There was a bit of confusion as to which bus was going where at Akaroa but all sorted out at The Museum first stop. The tour around Christchurch was very informative. The Willowbank Wildlife Reserve was well worth a visit and as our group of 5 was the only group going here we had a guide from The Reserve just for us. Our guide was excellent. Our return trip to Akaroa was eventful when we had a double tyre blowout. We were about 20 minutes from Akaroa at this time so our driver phoned another driver in Akaroa and arranged for him to come and pick us up in his bus. We arrived in Akaroa later than expected but still ahead of the last cruise organised bus. Although not required it was reassuring to know if we were not back in time we would be taken to next port.