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Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour with optional International Antarctic Center Admission

star-3.510 Reviews
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour with optional International Antarctic Center Admission
Discover Christchurch Sightseeing Tour with optional International Antarctic Center Admission
Sign of the Takahe

From $50.20

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Number of travelers
1 Adult2 Adults3 Adults4 Adults5 Adults6 Adults7 Adults8 Adults9 Adults0 Children1 Child2 Children3 Children4 Children5 Children6 Children7 Children8 Children9 Children0 Infants1 Infant2 Infants3 Infants4 Infants5 Infants6 Infants7 Infants8 Infants9 Infants
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
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Safety measures
icon3 hours  (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English

Overview

View the highlights of Christchurch on a 3-hour city sightseeing tour that introduces you to the architecture, gardens and waterways of ‘The Garden City.’ You’ll drive past significant landmarks in the city center; meander around ponds and perennial gardens at Mona Vale Gardens; visit the seaside enclave of Sumner; and marvel at the vista over the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps from the ‘Sign of the Takahe.’ Choose a morning or afternoon departure, and upgrade to include the International Antarctic Center with an optional Hagglund vehicle ride.
  • Comprehensive sightseeing tour of Christchurch
  • Wander the beautiful landscape of Mona Vale Gardens
  • See historic buildings and architecture
  • Travel through seaside suburb of Sumner
  • Spectacular views over the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps
  • International Antarctic Center (if option selected)
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From $50.20

Lowest Price Guarantee
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Local guide
Live commentary on board
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hagglund ride (if option selected)
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Departure Point

Traveler pickup is offered

Start your 3-hour tour with hotel pickup in Christchurch, and board the comfortable coach for sightseeing in the central city. Listen to your guide’s informative commentary as you cover the central city highlights such as the Museum and Art Centre, the Bridge of Remembrance and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens alongside the Avon River.

Depart the city for nearby Mona Vale, a historic homestead undergoing renovation from the 2011 earthquake. You have time to explore the 13.5-acre (5.5-hectare) landscaped gardens while strolling past lovely trees, ponds and fountains.

Next, travel up to Sign of the Takahe, a historical manor-turned-restaurant tucked away in the Cashmere Hills. From the vista point, look out over Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps before returning to the city via Lyttelton Port. Pass through the harbor tunnel to see Sumner Beach and Cave Rock before returning to the CBD where the tour ends with hotel drop-off.

Optional Upgrade 1: International Antarctic CenterCombine your Christchurch sightseeing tour with admission to the International Antarctic Center — only available with the morning departure. Your entry ticket includes the Snow and Ice Experience, which recreates atmospheric conditions of Antarctica with an indoor storm complete with blizzard audio, lightning and arctic winds. Meet a couple dozen blue penguins — the smallest penguins in the world — at the Penguin Encounter. 

Optional Upgrade 2: International Antarctic Center and Hagglung rideIf you’d like, opt for an exhilarating Hagglung ride: it’s an extreme all-terrain adventure on an amphibious vehicle that traverses through water, across an ice pack and over a crevasse to emulate conditions scientists face while riding across Antarctica.
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Leisure Tours
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

Reviews

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Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-9 of 10 reviews
star-5
Awesome guided tour. I was the only...
Johannes J
, Feb 2018
Awesome guided tour. I was the only one on the tour and my guide was Cally. She was wonderful, passionate about Christchurch and informative. Cally incorporated the touristy parts; restaurants, bars etc but I loved the historical and scenic aspects most, which formed a majority of the tour. Great morning!
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star-5
We were very lucky to be the only...
Stuart R
, Apr 2016
We were very lucky to be the only two people on the tour so had complete attention from the guide, he was brilliant from beginning to end.
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star-1
The bus we travelled around in had...
Susan Kathleen D
, Apr 2013
The bus we travelled around in had broken rear suspension and we bounced around very uncomfortably. The bus was dirty and needed some inside fixtures repaired. The driver was friendly but appeared disinterested. Christchurch is still devastated from the 2011 earthquake and there is not much to see as the driver kept pointing out where buildings had once been. Very disappointing tour.
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star-2
We thought we would stop for longer...
John V
, Aug 2010
We thought we would stop for longer periods of time at more places.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-4
Very nice tour through the city and up...
Paul C
, Jul 2010
Very nice tour through the city and up to the lookout and the harbour. Wouldn't recommend the Antarctic Centre unless you have children with you.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-2
The guide was difficult to understand...
Ray L
, Mar 2010
The guide was difficult to understand - he had a heavy English accent. His knowledge of Christchurch was very good, if you could understand him. He was polite but did not have any enthusiasm for his job. It is just a job for him. He said that his job is truck driving. Unfortunately, I was not very happy with the tour operator. As we were the only couple to take the optional International Antarctic Center admission, the guide wanted us to make our own way back to our accommodation. We were not happy about this. We were picked up from our accommodation in the first place! When I asked what public transport would take us back to our accommodation, the guide did not know - he just expected to leave us at the Antarctic Centre to make our own way back to our lodgings in a strange country! The guide then contacted who I presumed to be his boss and said he would pick us up in 2 hours and take us back to our accommodation. He did do this. This tour left a sour taste with us.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-3
The bus driver did not communicate very...
Kenneth A
, Mar 2010
The bus driver did not communicate very well what there was to see in Christchurch other than lots of suburbs and shops. There was no information on tourism, history or information about Christchurch.
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star-4
I have done this tour before but had...
Suzanne
, Oct 2009
I have done this tour before but had not done the Antarctic Center, which was fantastic.
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star-4
Fairly basic tour of Christchurch and...
Rajeev R
, Sep 2009
Fairly basic tour of Christchurch and nearby areas. It could be better, but it covers most of the key sights.
... MoreLess

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