Our Tours
We have been serving the cruise ship industry as independent operators from Akaroa since 2007. Akaroa Christchurch Tours is a division of Christchurch Tours
Akaroa to Christchurch via Birdlings Flat
Departs around 10.00am (but we are flexible). We head along highway 75, around the Bays of Akaroa Harbour with a hill stop for a cruise ship photo. Then it is over Hilltop, down to Little River for a coffee stop, then past Lake Forsyth and into Birdlings Flat Beach, a unique gravel beach extending for 100 miles. Leaving Birdlings Flat we travel past Laker Ellesmere and onto the Canterbury Plains before arriving from the Southwest into Christchurch for a stop in the city centre for an hour to have lunch. After lunch we take in a tour of the new city centre including the Cathedral, Cardboard Cathedral and memorial to the earthquake victims. We return via Tai Tapu to Akaroa.
$120 per person.
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Christchurch Wine Tour
Departs between 9.00am and 10.00am. Follows the same route as the tour above up to the turnoff for Gebbies Pass. We then continue onto a winery just before Tai Tapu village, then another one nearer Christchurch. We then travel to West Melton to visit another winery with a complimentary platter lunch. After lunch we take a tour of central Christchurch.
$230 per person.
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Okains Bay Tour
Departs anytime up to midday. We travel around the Akaroa Harbour Bays, then up to the top of the old volcano with a stop at the top. Then down into Okains Bay to visit the Maori/Colonial Museum, described as the best in New Zealand. We also visit the shallow and sandy beach, after which we climb back onto the Summit Road and proceed all the way round to Hilltop, before returning to Akaroa via the Barry’s Bay Cheese Factory.
$85 per person.
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Local Akaroa Harbour, Bays, Hilltop and Summit Road Tour
Departs any time up to 1.00pm. We travel around the bays of Akaroa Harbour for a cruise ship photo stop. Then it is around to Duvauchelle for a climb to the Summit Road with views either side of Banks Peninsula. Then down to Little River on the other side for a 30 minute stop. On leaving Little River we travel along Lake Forsyth to the amazing gravel beach of Birdlings Flat. Back up to Hilltop and down to Barrys Bay for a visit to the Cheese Factory, returning via Duvauchelle to Akaroa.
$70 per person.
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Little River Farm Tour
Departs any time up to 12pm. We travel around the bays of Akaroa Harbour for a cruise ship photo stop. At Duvauchelle we Climb to the Summit Road with views and photo opportunities of both sides of Banks Peninsula. We descend from Hilltop to Manderley Farm (Little River/Lake Forsyth) for a sheep dog herding and shearing demonstration. We then return to Akaroa.
$105 per person.
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Mountain Bike Tours and Hire
You can now join us on our fantastic mountain bike tour (passive riding), or you ca n simply hire a bike for a ride around Akaroa.
Our premier tour departs Akaroa between 10.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. for Motukara (towards Christchurch) where the Little River Rail Trail starts. Then it is on to the bikes for a ride along the old rail line towards Little River, passing alongside both Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth. This 22 km flat section offers fantastic views, farm animals (sheep) and abundant birdlife. We then have lunch at Little River village, after which we load the bikes back on our trailer for the trip up to Hilltop. Then its bikes off for an easy undulating ride along the Summit Road for the most amazing views down both sides of the old volcano, before dropping down to the Devauchelle pub. After a rest, its bikes back on for a return to Akaroa. This is more than just a bike tour. It is an amazing day out sampling what is the best that New Zealand has to offer.
Approx’ 4.5 hours. $250 per person.
And if you just want to take it very easy, you can hire a bike for a ride around Akaroa. $60 per person per day, $45 for a half day and $35 for two hours.
We operate 14 Avanti Montarri 2 bikes of various sizes with both hydraulic and disc brakes, as well as 4 kids bikes. We provide adjustable helmets and easy rider cushion seats.
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Two Day Overnight Tours
Pack on overnight bag and join us for two days on land.
We offer you two choices, one going South from Akaroa and arriving in Dunedin the next day, and the other going North from Akaroa arriving in Picton the next day. If your cruise ship is going north to Wellington, you also have the choice of catching an evening flight from either Picton or Blenheim to meet up again with your cruise ship.
Cruise ship going South
Going south we depart from Akaroa and travel across the Canterbury Plains to meet up with the inland scenic route along the foothills of the South Islands mountains, stopping in Geraldine for lunch. Then it is on to Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook/Aoraki with a chance to fly around New Zealand’s highest mountains and largest glaciers. Late afternoon we travel on to Omarama for an overnight stay. Next morning we tour along the Waitaki Valley before arriving in Oamaru for lunch. After lunch we tour Oamaru’s historic seafront area before departing to arrive in Dunedin in time for a tour of the city before arriving in Port Chalmers to meet up with your cruise ship again.
$275 per person per day. 20% discount for groups of three or more.
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Cruise ship going North
Going North we depart Akaroa for Christchurch with a tour of the Earthquake damaged central city and Residential Red Zone. Then it is on to the Waipara Valley for a wine tasting at either the Pegasus Bay Winery or the Waipara Hills Winery. Whilst in the valley we pop into the Waipara Springs Winery for a combined platter lunch and wine tasting. After lunch we travel on to Kaikoura for an overnight stay. Next morning there is the option to go whale watching. Then it is on to Blenheim, the largest wine growing region in New Zealand, made famous for its Sauvignon Blanc. Whilst in Blenheim there is the chance to visit Sit Peter Jackson’s World War 1 collection of fighter aircraft or taste a few more wines. Later in the day we travel on to the port town of Picton. For those going to Wellington, we take you to either the airport at Blenheim or Picton for your afternoon flight (air fare not included).
$275 per person per day. 20% discount for groups of three or more.