The 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Christchurch, South Island

See the best of New Zealand’s stunning South Island on this unforgettable 8-day tour! Traveling by private luxury vehicle you’ll visit all the highlights of this amazing destination on an counter-clockwise route from Christchurch. Explore Arthur’s Pass, see West Coast rainforests from Franz Josef Glacier, and visit Mount Cook and Queenstown. Customize your tour to your preference with a range of optional activities (own expense) including helicopter rides, mountain walks, bungee jumps and more! The service that we provide is a private luxury tour service, not a large group tour. Other than our friendly tour staff you will not be sharing your tour with anyone outside of your own party so you can rest assured that this is your tour and we’ll do exactly what you want to make it your perfect trip. With a round-trip transfer from Christchurch Airport or your local hotel plus seven nights of accommodation included, this adventure-laden tour enables you to see the South Island with ease.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Private tour, Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), Live commentary on board, Professional tour guide (who is also the driver), Transport by private vehicle and all fuel charges, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Round-trip airport transfer (Christchurch), 7 nights accommodation in your selected category of hotel

Exclusions: Gratuities, Optional activities, Personal expenses, Food and drinks, not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner)

Enjoy your private day tour to picturesque town of Lake Tekapo that lies in the heart of Mackenzie country. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations that provide exquisite views. Visit the iconic Church of Good Shepherd & Sheepdog Statue in Lake Tekapo. Admire Lake Pukaki & the stunning views of Mount Cook from a distance. Soak up & unwind in Tekapo Springs offering Hot Pools, Spa, waterslide & aqua play area for kids. Tour Highlights: • Sample award-winning cheese at a local cheese factory in Geraldine • Visit the iconic Church of Good Shepherd and Bronze Sheepdog Statue in Lake Tekapo • Admire Lake Pukaki, the largest lake in Mackenzie region, and stunning alpine scenery • Visit to a Salmon Farm. • Drive to the summit at Mt. John Observatory. • Soak in the renowned Tekapo Springs with alpine scenery.

Inclusions: Private tour (i.e. only for one party), Professional guide., Transport in luxurious van (2017 or late model Mercedes Benz), Hotel Pick up and Drop Off., Complimentary Hotspot WIFI., Complimentary light refreshments., Hotel pickup and drop-off., Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Meals.

Discover Hanmer Springs on a private day tour from Christchurch including a visit to the Thermal Pools and wine tasting. Upgrade to include a thrilling jet boat ride or a relaxing 90-minute hot stone massage. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Discover the picturesque village of Hanmer Springs nestled in the Southern Alps • Savor Pinot Noir and Riesling with wine tastings at three Waipara wineries • Soak in the renowned thermal waters of Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa • Thrill yourself with 360-degree spins on an optional and exciting jet boat ride • Pamper yourself with an optional traditional hot stone ritual massage

Inclusions: Private Tour (i.e. only for one party), Hotel pick-up & drop-off., Wine-Tasting at 3 Wineries., Jet Boating (if option selected), 30 minutes use of Private Indoor Thermal Pools., 90 minutes Traditional Hot Stone Ritual Massage (if option selected), Professional guide., Transport by air-conditioned late model Mercedes Benz vans., Complimentary light refreshments., Complimentary Hotspot WIFI.

Exclusions: Meals.

This day excursion takes us across the Canterbury Plains around 50 miles to Porters Pass (just under 1000 m and higher than Arthurs Pass) and into the Southern Alps. Mountain lakes and wide braided rivers pass through ancient glacial valleys. After about 2.5 hours we reach Arthurs Pass National Park and its beech forests. We drive to the top of the pass and divide looking over into the rainforests of the West Coast, then stop in AP village here for lunch.Time permitting we have a quick tour of Christchurch on the return trip.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch, Coffee and/or Tea

This is a private small group tour for up to 9 people. The route from Akaroa to Christchurch takes you over the old volcanoes of Banks Peninsula with varied scenery (farms, sheep, volcanoes, harbours, lakes, villages) and there is 1.5-2 hours driving time (90 km/50 miles) each way. We are happy to customise your tour to include attractions such as the International Antarctic Centre or Willowbank Wildlife Park (cost extra) , etc. We are locals and give an in-depth commentary covering the volcanoes, NZ and local history, earthquakes etc. The route is more or less like a figure "8" so the scenery is always changing and we cover a lot of places of interest on this day excursion to Christchurch and back. We have you back at Akaroa Wharf at least 1 hour before the last tender.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch, Coffee and/or Tea

This is a private transfer by a professional chauffeur. We can tailor your tour to meet any special requests within the time period. Our tour lasts for 6 hours and includes: transfer from Akaroa to Christchurch (90 minutes); transfer from Christchurch to Akaroa (90 minutes - depending time of day) and approximately a 3 hour tour of Christchurch including time for your lunch, morning or afternoon tea if required. Your driver will arrange to meet you in Akaroa, transport you to Christchurch for your tour and return you to Akaroa. Professional Chauffeur driven luxury vehicle / limo / limousine New Zealand Transport Agency licenced (this vehicle is not a taxi)

Inclusions: WiFi on board, Private transportation, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions:

Benefit from bespoke customised itineraries (fully inclusive - accommodation, transport, activities, attractions) - we are Travel experts who know what the guidebooks don't. We specialise only in New Zealand touring. This sample itinerary below shows you the very best of our North and South Islands. Please note we have deliberately included some two and three night stays - in some premier locations so that you can immerse yourself into, and enjoy, some real Kiwi culture - with the locals! We can help with International flights and comprehensive Travel Insurance. We are proud to be accredited by Tourism New Zealand as a 100% Pure New Zealand Travel Specialist. We are also Qualmark accredited, Tourism New Zealand’s official quality assurance organisation, providing a trusted guide to quality travel experiences. Also, we have many highly satisfied visitors who have traveled with us - you can see our very positive 5 - Star Trip reviews on our website - Try us - you'll like us!

Inclusions: Luxury accommodations, land transport, airport meet & greet service, 24/7 Freephone helpline

Exclusions: WiFi, food, drinks, laundry, any airfares (unless specified in itinerary).

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be behind the controls of a helicopter? Our Introductory Trial Flight packages are great just for fun, or could be a first step towards discovering if this is a career for you. Fly with an instructor who will guide you through the take-off, flight, and landing phases of helicopter flight in one of our Guimbal Cabri Helicopters.

Inclusions: Certified tour guide and also tour driver.

Exclusions:

Discover Christchurch from a whole new perspective when you fly over the city. See the progress of the massive rebuild and the abandoned suburbs from the 2010/2011 earthquakes. Then on the way back head over Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour for a dramatic view of the port and coastline. Our pilots will personalise this experience for you by sharing their local knowledge and insights of our big backyard as you fly over remarkable sights and landmarks, including; Burnside Park, Lancaster Park, Sumner Cliffs and more. We have plenty to share with you and can’t wait for you to experience it.

Inclusions: Scenic flight

Exclusions:

Discover the picturesque Southern Alps, one of New Zealand's most iconic land features. Fly over the immense checkerboard of the Canterbury Plains, across the tresses of the braided Waimakiriri River and to the sheer sides of a steep gorge to touch down at Chest Peak. Sitting at just under 6,500ft, the peak dwarfs most other mountains in the region. Take in breathtaking, 360 degree vistas stretching from as far as the eye can see, including the Blockbuster backdrops of Castle Hill, the Lees Valley, Flock Hill Station and beyond. All our pilots proudly call Canterbury home and will share their wealth of knowledge and personal anecdotes as you fly near their much-loved and noteworthy spots.

Inclusions: A landing on Chest Peak - one of the highest mountains in the Canterbury Region

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