LYTTELTON HARBOUR
LYTTELTON HARBOUR DISCOVERY CRUISE
Visiting the port of Christchurch? Then we invite you to join our Lyttelton Harbour Discovery cruise. The port is just a 15-minute drive from the city centre giving you the option to do both in one day! The harbour was formed 11 million years ago when a massive volcano erupted, and the sea filled its crater. Now extinct, the harbour is filled with fascinating history, from its Antarctic links, Maori culture and the early settlers. There is also the chance to discover amazing coastal marine birdlife and on occasion the world’s rarest and smallest dolphins – the Hector’s dolphin.
SCHEDULE & PRICE
$89
Adults 16 years and over
$35
Children 5-15 years
(Under 5’s cruise for free)
Operating on cruise ship days
(please see the calendar below for availability and schedule)
ENQUIRIES
For all enquiries please call us on 0800 436 574 or email us on [email protected]
QUAIL ISLAND
Christchurch’s very own island escape is waiting for you. Spend a fascinating full or half-day exploring Quail Island by taking our Quail Island ferry. Take your lunch and swimming costumes with you for a great family day out. Please note we have a new booking system which requires you to select both a departure and return ticket.
SCHEDULE & PRICE
$35
Adults 16 years and over
$15
Children 5-15 years
(Under 5’s cruise for free)
Operating daily departures
(please see the calendar below for availability and schedule)
ENQUIRIES
For all enquiries please call us on 0800 436 574 or email us on [email protected]
AKAROA HARBOUR
AKAROA NATURE CRUISES
Journey to the enchanting French village of Akaroa, the gateway to our daily expeditions. Akaroa is a 90-minute coach ride over the stunning hills of Banks Peninsula. Your Black Cat catamaran will await to welcome you and host you as you cruise through the belly of an extinct volcanic crater. Encounter Hector’s dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, coastal birds and more. This multi-award experience has been voted the Number 1 Wildlife experience in New Zealand.
SCHEDULE & PRICE
$109
Adults 16 years and over
$49
Children 5-15 years
(Under 5’s cruise for free)
10.45am and 1.30pm All year round
ENQUIRIES
For all enquiries please call us on 0800 436 574 or email us on [email protected]
SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS
Dive into the blue waters of Akaroa Harbour and encounter the world’s rarest dolphin, Hector’s dolphins, on their terms. Voted by Lonely Planet as one of the top ten marine mammal experiences in the world, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable experience in the true wild. We offer a Hector’s Dolphin guarantee policy for every trip taken with us.
SCHEDULE & PRICE
ADULT – $219
16 years and over
CHILD – $189 swim
(8-15 years)
A Child swimmer MUST be accompanied by an Adult swimmer in the water
SPECTATOR – $109
(5 years and over)
Under 5’s can spectate for free as long as they have an accompanying adult spectator.
ENQUIRIES
For all enquiries please call us on 0800 436 574 or email us on [email protected]
HOW TO FIND US
YOUR CRUISE SHIP WILL PROVIDE A SHUTTLE SERVICE DIRECTLY FROM YOUR BOAT TO THE LYTTELTON INFORMATION CENTRE
HOW TO GET TO LYTTELTON
We are located at B Jetty, Lyttelton Harbour. From your drop-off point at the Lyttelton Information Centre, please follow the path down the hill towards the port. You will see footprints on the pavement and signs which guide you to Black Cat Ferries; over the bridge and down the stairs to your left.
HOW TO GET TO AKAROA
Canterbury Leisure Tours provides transport to Akaroa. They will pick up cruise ship guests from the Lyttelton Information Centre. This is the local drop-off point when you disembark your ship.
YOUR QUESTIONS LYTTELTON SHORE EXCURSIONS If you have booked our Lyttleton Harbour Discovery Cruise directly through your cruise ship then you will be transported directly to where you need to go. For passengers that have booked directly with us please take the shuttle to the Lyttelton Information Centre where you can easily walk to B Jetty where your trip will depart. AKAROA SHORE EXCURSIONS Please book directly with Canterbury Leisure Tours. They are running a daily departure to Akaroa that includes an Akaroa Nature Cruise or Swimming With Dolphins. This will pick up from the Lyttelton Information Centre drop-off point Bring a phone or camera to take some fantastic photos. We recommend that you also bring warm clothes as it can be cool on the boats or the island, especially with the prevailing sea breeze. If visiting the islands we recommend comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle. There are toilets on each island but no facilities to purchase food or drink. Please note eating whilst walking around Ripapa Island is prohibited as this is sacred Maori land. Eating is not permitted on Ripapa Island as this denigrates its tapu (sacred) status. If visiting the islands we recommend comfortable walking shoes, and a water bottle. There are toilets on each island but no facilities to purchase food or drink. If joining our Lyttelton Harbor Discovery Cruise or Akaroa Nature Cruise you are welcome to bring food. Both boats have a bar serving New Zealand wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. Complimentary tea and coffee are included. Both our Lyttelton Harbour Discovery Cruise and Akaroa Nature Cruise spend two hours on the water. The Quail Island and Ripapa Island trip takes approximately 20 minutes to reach each island. Each trip is a separate boat that departs from B Jetty. The boat does not stay at the islands whilst you are there. You will have just over 90 minutes on Ripapa Island and the choice of either a morning or full day on Quail Island before returning to the jetty for your return departure. We will help you board a wheelchair for our Lyttleton Harbour Discovery Cruise and Akaroa Nature Cruise. Please note the Black Cat boat based in Akaroa has narrow steps down to the toilets. We don’t recommend Ripapa Island for anyone in a wheelchair because there are no tracks on the island and no wheelchair access to the fort, outbuildings or upper terrace. In addition, the jetty steps are steep for those in a wheelchair. Quail Island has rough walking tracks, steps and is steep in parts. If you are accompanied by people who are physically able to help with this you can visit. The award-winning Black Cat Cruises is not only an acclaimed success in New Zealand’s tourism industry but also internationally recognized as an eco-tourism pioneer. We hold the honour of being the first to introduce cruises in Akaroa, and we're proud to be acknowledged as New Zealand’s very first eco-tourism operator. Our Nature Cruises and Dolphin Swimming experience depart from the stunning Akaroa harbour which is only a 90 minute scenic drive from Christchurch. The Diamond Harbour and Quail Island ferry depart from Lyttelton in Christchurch.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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