Private Day Scenic Excursion to Akaroa/Christchurch ex Lyttelton

Visit the last cheese factory on Banks Peninsula....where a variety of award-winning cheeses are produced every second day by hand. Sample some of the product and find out about the back-breaking process. The shop here has local food products such as olive oil and wine.

One of the many historic buildings in the old French village of Akaroa. A stroll through the historic village is relaxing and delightful as is a walk on the old wharf. Option of lunch (you buy) at Bully Hayes (nice NZ blue cod) or a cafe.

Option : This museum is free at present and includes the oldest house in Akaroa, a very French looking cottage from 1843 along with a concise look at Maori / whaling /French history in a small, well presented country museum.

The old railway station building now repurposed as a crafts co-op.....browse in this lovely country shop.

The gallery here exhibits some excellent and tasteful art from Banks Peninsula with a shop of unique offerings by local artists and artisans. The cafe provides unfailingly high quality food for a morning tea stop. On a hot day try NZ hokey pokey icecream !

Option of a city centre walk around 2 city blocks to absorb the new post earthquake building designs as they blend with the historic buildings being restored. Tourist Shopping.

The heritage part of Christchurch contains the largest number of neo-Gothic buildings in the Southern Hemisphere.

We pass Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens on our driving tour of the city centre area discussing the history, earthquakes and rebuild of Christchurch and many other things. Time permitting we could have a short walk here at the end of our day before returning to Lyttelton and your cruise ship.

We drive by or stop at this interesting building designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban....look for the almost 100 costruction grade cardboard tubes that give it its name as well as the shipping containers incorporated in the design.

We explore this interesting port town of artists, musicians, sailors and its history of Antarctic explorers such as Scott and Shackelton. The prison here was once the largest in Victorian New Zealand and it was these men who built the many rock walls in this, the oldest part of Christchurch City.