Discover Akaroa and Banks Peninsula on a day trip from Christchurch. Explore breathtaking scenery from coastline to farmlands. Visit Little River Gallery, Barry’s Bay Cheese Factory, and meet wild Penguins at Flea Bay Akaroa.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 9 hours
- Starting time 9:00 AM
- Skip the ticket line
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
- Pickup included
- After hotel pick up the bus will depart at the scheduled time from Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Ave (near the corner of Worcester Blvd), Christchurch Central, Christchurch. Look for a distinctive black Mercedes minibus
- Small group
- Limited to 15 participants
Experience
Highlights
- Journey from Christchurch to explore the Akaroa and the Banks Pensinula
- Experience a nature safari courtesy of the experts at Pohatu Penguins Habitat
- Enjoy scenic stopovers at spectacular lookouts, a boutique art gallery, and an award-winning cheese factory
- Travel in comfort by minibus with free onboard WIFI and USB charging ports
- Savor a scrumptious special lunch, plus morning and afternoon tea refreshments
Full description
Enjoy a full day adventure taking in the breath-taking scenery of the rugged Banks Peninsula coastline and farmlands. Stopover at scenic lookouts and visit quaint Little River Gallery as well as the award-winning Barrys Bay Cheese factory at Duvauchelles.
The highlight of the day is encountering wild Penguins at Flea Bay, Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula. Discover the penguin colony in their natural habitat at remote Pohatu (the largest Australasian Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand). Your tour includes a catered lunch, refreshments, and expert guided tour of the penguin colony by a local family of conservationists. Learn about the area’s rich history, native flora and fauna, and Pohatu’s unique penguin conservation program. Be greeted by the farm's friendly pet sheep and see White-Flippered penguins as the people of Pohatu monitor nesting sites.
If visiting between mid-November and mid-February, you may even be lucky enough to see rehabilitation efforts such as supplemental feedings and swim therapy. Pohatu have been conserving the Little Penguins for over 30 years and have 4 conservation awards for their efforts in penguin conservation, protection, and monitoring. Spending time with Pohatu even helps the preservation of these beautiful birds for future generations.
Includes
- Return transport by comfortable minibus
- Experienced guide
- Live commentary
- Scenic stops
- Lunch
- Morning and afternoon tea refreshments
- Nature safari at Pohatu Penguins Habitat
- Complimentary WIFI and USB charging ports
- Admission to the quirky Giants House at Akaroa
- Choose between the standard 2-hour nature safari, or the special extended 4-hour option, which incorporates all standard tour activities plus additional highlights such as visits to the spectacular cliff-tops, red beech forest, fur seals, and an exploration of Flea Bay.
COVID-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All required protective equipment is provided
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- Customers must keep distance in vehicles
- The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Important information
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- Rain gear
Know before you go
- You may be in contact with domesticated animals (e.g. sheep) including feeding, patting and grooming. The availability and or accessibility of baby animals is not guaranteed
- Hotel pickup and drop off can be arranged directly with the local operator from centrally located hotels with sufficient notice
- New Zealand weather is unpredictable at any time of the year. Whilst you'll be warm inside the bus, dress or prepare for all seasons as much of Canterbury is surprisingly remote. Wear walking shoes or boots with good grip soles that can cope with a bit of mud in wet conditions
