Arthurs Pass and Southern Alps Day Excursion from Port Lyttelton or Christchurch
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Arthurs Pass and Southern Alps Day Excursion from Port Lyttelton or Christchurch

By E S Tours
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Ages 0-120
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Private transportation
What's not included
  • Lunch
  • Coffee and/or Tea


Start:Traveller pickup offered.
    Pickup details
    • The cruise ship is in the customs secure area in Lyttelton Harbour and so you have to catch the free Lyttelton Shuttle shipside and get off at the Norwich Quay Bus Stop just through the security gates..a 5 min trip....look for a sign with your name on it.
    Port pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.
    • Port Lyttelton ( the port of Christchurch BUT we do not pickup at Akaroa on this tour)
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Not wheelchair accessible
      • Pushchair accessible
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 151856P3

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Most travellers can participate
      • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 151856P3

      From
      $1,790.36
      per group (up to 11)
      Select date and travellers

      Similar experiences

      Itinerary
      • 1
      • 2
        Pass by
        Christchurch Botanic Gardens
      • 3
      • 4
      • 5
      • 6
        Pass by
        Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
      • 7
      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • E S Tours
        56
        Christchurch, New Zealand
        Joined in November 2011
      • Jrcharlie
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great value, small group tour with knowledgeable operator.
        What an amazing tour. We came in on P & O Explorer. We were dropped at the Tourist Information Centre in Lyttleton where we had the good fortune to meet Dermot who did a tour to and around Christchurch. This tour is a local tour, full of local knowledge both past and present. We were taken on back roads with lots of information. Our tour of Christchurch was very informative, including lots of information about the earthquake. This was an amazing value, small group tour.
        Written 24 February 2023
      • Karlie M
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Tour from Akaroa
        We booked E S Tours to do a tour from Akaroa to Christchurch when our ship arrived on March 14th. I had corresponded with Dermot via email prior to this. His responses were quick and much appreciated. We arranged to meet on the dock (we were a group of 11) and true to his word Dermot was waiting for us. We left the itinerary in his hands and we were not disappointed. His commentary and knowledge like the views we were seeing was amazing. I know I speak on behalf of everyone in our group and we could not recommend Dermot and E S Tours enough. Was the highlight of our cruise. Thank you Dermot
        Written 28 March 2020
      • F3634WAlukec
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Unique Experience
        Dermot Hall took us on a day tour around the city of Christchurch and Akaroa. Dermot was very knowledgable about the area and gave us terrific insight on the Christchurch earthquakes of 2011. This tour was one of the best highlights of our experience on the Carnival Spirit. The tour was well priced, and provided us a wonderful experience.
        Written 24 January 2020
      • CarolnBarry14
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Day Tour of Christchurch from Akaroa
        Dermot Hall was at the wharf in Akaroa to meet us off the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship. December 2019 His full day tour with loads of information and stories was so very interesting. The mini bus was very comfortable and the stops along the way for pictures were fantastic. Dermot knowledge and information is of wide interests. The help of where to find things in Christchurch was much appreciated and his stories and pictures of the 2011 earthquake were sometimes of personal encounters, plenty of facts and figures and all with passion. Thank You Dermot, your tour is a great way to explore the region. Good value as well. Carol, Barry, Pauline & Dennis
        Written 22 January 2020
      • SummerfieldCruiser
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Wonderful
        We were blessed with good weather so we were able to travel to the summit between Akaroa and Christchurch. Dermatologist was a terrific guide, kept up and informative narration all the was to Christchurch. Our stops were well timed, just the right amount of time allowed. I you don’t take this tour you will regret it.
        Written 26 December 2019
      • Diane S
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        From Akaroa to Christchurch - Wonderful Day!
        Thank you, Nick, for your enthusiasm and expertise as our guide for this tour! After the horrible terrorist attack, I appreciated even more the time we had in Christchurch and the historical and practical knowledge that Nick shared with us. And, no question, this area of NZ is beautiful!
        Written 20 March 2019
      • redsal
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Enjoyable and informative day with Dermot
        It was a pleasure to spend the day on the E S Tour from Akaroa to Christchurch, accompanied by Dermot (MD). His local knowledge, professional approach and friendly style made the day a pleasure. We saw stunning scenery, historical and interesting sites and Dermot answered any questions we had as we travelled. Comfortable and air conditioned van with plenty of stops for photos / shopping / refreshments, allowed time to really get to know the area and city of Christchurch. Highly recommended. Photo taken on one of our photo stops....amazing scenery.
        Written 19 March 2019
      • Cathy P
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Akaroa to Christchurch —Stunningly Beautiful New Zealand Scenery. 🚗🚗🚗
        Why fly 16+ hours to get to New Zealand? One reason for us was to see the NZ scenery. The drive between Akaroa to Christchurch could be one of the most stunningly beautiful drives in the world! We saw many wonderful sites on our 21 day journey to Australia + New Zealand. However, the highlight so far, after 15 days, is the sightseeing on a 7 passenger van ride between Akaroa and Christchurch. Dermot Hall, our tour guide and operator of ES Tours, (a former educator) gave us an 8 hour tour from Akaroa to Christchurch that was way above our expectations. 😊😊😊👏👏👏😊😊😊
        Written 5 March 2019
      • johndT7193UW
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Akaroa and Christchurch Day tour
        Glad we decided to go with Dermot on his small group day tour from Akaroa to Christchurch, taking along amazing views via Summit Rd (where the large tour buses can't go). Dermot was very knowledgeable and we all had an amazing time. Highly recommend!
        Written 25 January 2019
      • Judygolfing
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A great tour
        I had worked with Dermot to schedule this tour. Our guide was Nick and he was wonderful! We went to Christchurch and he explained to us all the damage from the earthquake that happeded an few years ago. Nick was very accomodating and stopped along the way to take pictures. We had a wonderful lunch, if you are on a cruise ship and visit this port, you will not be disappointed in a tour with ES Tours. Thanks again Nick and Dermot for a wonderful day.
        Written 9 January 2019
      • Chrisste1
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great trip
        We boarded the bus after arriving by cruise ship. It was a very good tour, and great to be in a 1967 London bus. We saw some great views, the guides where very good.
        Written 3 January 2019
      • SolarAraras
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A Beautiful Tour with a Great Guide !
        Guide Dermot Hall is the most dedicated, knowledgeable, friendly guide we have ever encountered. He took us up the ridge road between Akaroa and Christchurch so we could see the snow-capped NZ Alps in the middle of the South Island which were visible 50 miles away with decent weather. He was perfect in every way, ie he guided us without talking too much and cramming too much info into our heads in a short time. Bravo, Dermot !!!
        Written 23 November 2018
      • Vinnysmom
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Best experience with tour agency. Over and beyond expectations.
        Dermot was a pleasure to work with and helped us pick the perfect excursion for our cruise ship group, Christchurch and Banks Penninsula. Our guide, Nick, added depth to the breathtakng scenery by sharing his own experiences of the earthquake. Christchurch is still rebuilding which made touring challenging. We had lunch in a restaurant overlooking people punting on the river and had a peaceful walk through the botanical garden. And a beautiful ride back to charming Akaroa. So far this is just an excellent tour. It wasn’t until I was back in Akaroa and realized i had misplaced my hand bag along the way that I saw what really made this agency special. I was able to call Dermot who calmly took charge. He located Nick and they came to where I was waiting. I was pretty upset but Dermot managed to help me remember what was in the purse and tracked it down to the restaurant in ChCh. He took me to a local pharmacy to try to replace somethings and got us to the last tender in plenty of time getting our contact info before we left. One would think that he had more than discharged his duties when the ship took off. Instead, he went to the restaurant got the bag, sent me a detailed inventory of its contents, mailed what I needed, and managed to transfer money to cover what I had left behind. His support and reassurance and quick thinking saved the day. These are the people you want in your corner if anything goes awry. The tour was great but the kindness is what left an even more lasting impression.
        Written 17 February 2018
      • CatrinaE
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great day trip from Akaroa port to Christchurch
        We met Nick on the pier where he was selling his tour. It sounded interesting enough and we booked it on the spot. He had 6 people going and off we went. He was quite chatty and entertaining. He took us first to the original port of Christchurch, Lyttleton where he lived. He showed us some of the town and told us about the earthquake. It had hit Lyttleton very hard as well and damaged the port (which is why Akaroa is used fro cruising now) The port in Lyttleton is now again being used for freight only. We then drtove on to Christchurch and Nick explained about the houses being more or less rebuilt but the 2 main cathedrals are still in ruins.Very sad. We passed one area where there were 186 white chairs (arm chairs, kitchen chairs, a variety of chairs) as a memorial to the 186 people who died on that spot. Very impressive. All in all the tour was great. Highly recommended.
        Written 23 January 2018
      • Susan H
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great day trip from Akoroa to Christchurch.
        We only had one day to see this area and Dermot made the most of it! He was very knowledgeable and looked after our every need. He walked with us thru the amazing Gardens and took us to the Cardboard Catherdal. He told us about the earthquake in 2010 and show us the progress to rebuild. The 6 of us traveling together had a memorable day with him!
        Written 10 January 2018
      See all 56 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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      5.0
      5.0 of 5 bubbles1 review
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      Hermeone_Lee
      27 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dermot was highly professional and knowledgable. He was safety-conscious, and navigated the mountainous roads and one-lane tracks with ease. His vehicle was spacious, clean and comfortable. He knew the best places to eat, rest, take walks and snap good photographs. E.g. we stopped at Castle Hill, which looked exactly like a Lord of the Rings scene, although it was not the actual set. While he was a good conversationist as he drove, he also let us take naps when we needed it. He was accommodating towards our requests to tweak the itinerary, including last minute requests, like jet boating on the Waimakariri River. As a result we enjoyed our day trip to the Pass!
      Written 4 December 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for coming on my tour with your family......glad you liked jet-boating and the Arthur's Pass scenery !
      Written 2 April 2020
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      Arthurs Pass and Southern Alps Day Excursion from Port Lyttelton or Christchurch provided by E S Tours

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