Top 6 City Tours in Christchurch

1.Christchurch Gondola and Tram City Tour Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 725 reviews · 1 day · from $46Our pick

Use a full-day hop-on-and-off pass on Christchurch’s antique trams, with live English commentary and stops near Riverside Market, the Botanic Gardens, Cathedral Junction, and Canterbury Museum. Add a roundtrip gondola ride to Mount Cavendish for views over Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbour, the Canterbury Plains, and the Southern Alps. Transport between the city and gondola costs extra.

“Had the best day ever. Up the top in the Gondola and fish and chips at the cafe, then jumping on and off the tram exploring the city of Christchurch. My only concern was ,as a 67 yr old, having to get on the Gondola while it is still moving. Quite scary for anyone who isn't fleet of foot”

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2.Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 256 reviews · from $167

Travel from Christchurch to Akaroa by air-conditioned coach, passing Lake Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth, Little River, and Banks Peninsula viewpoints. In Akaroa, enjoy free time, optional restaurant lunch, Barry’s Bay cheese tasting, and a two-hour Black Cat catamaran cruise for Hector’s dolphins, seals, seabirds, and other marine life. Guides vary by departure, including Jude, Pete, Stephanie, Craig, and Scotty.

“A wonderful day out. Our guide Scotty was informative and knowledgeable, funny and a great driver. Akaroa was charming and picturesque. The catamaran cruise was fun. It was a beautiful drive with amazing views and the last stop at Barry’s Bay Cheese was delicious!”

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3.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City Sights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 209 reviews · from $62

Travel from Lyttelton port into Christchurch with a local driver-guide such as Scotty, Joseph, or Larry. See Mona Vale Gardens, hear how the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes changed the city, and take in wide views from the Sign of the Takahe. Central-city free time includes a chance for lunch.

“This tour went over the Dyer Pass which gives great views of Christchurch. I enjoyed the walk through Mona Park and the bus did a circuit of the city where all the sights were pointed out and the earthquake history and damage were explained.”

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4.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch Sightseeing with Antarctic Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 194 reviews · from $114

Travel from Lyttelton into Christchurch with a local driver-guide such as Scotty or Joseph. See hilltop views, Mona Vale Gardens, Cathedral Square, and Riverside Market before spending two hours at the International Antarctic Centre, including rescued blue penguins, a simulated blizzard, and a Hagglund ice-vehicle ride.

“We had a good time and enjoyed the guides. The Antarctic experience was a lot of fun but we ran out of time to visit the souvenir shop. We can recommend this excursion.”

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5.Ōtautahi: Christchurch Small-Group Inner City Food Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · from $133Top rated

Amiki Tours takes you through central Christchurch for about two and a half hours, starting at the Bridge of Remembrance. Expect Māori and European history, earthquake-rebuild stories, lunch, local drinks, chocolate, honey, and gelato. Guides such as Ash, Emily, and Riwai Grace add personal local insight, with groups capped at 12.

“Most informative, educational and enjoyable. Lunch and ice cream were excellent. Recommendations of further places to visit were appreciated. Highly recommend the tour. Thank you Riwai for an excellent tour”

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6.Canterbury: Mount Aorak/Cook Sightseeing Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 7 reviews · 30 min · from $230

Fly from Mount Cook Airport with Southern Lakes Helicopters for a 30-minute shared trip over Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Your pilot provides English commentary as you pass New Zealand’s highest peak, view icebergs on Tasman Terminal Lake, and land in an alpine setting. Warm clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a camera are useful.

“Amazing service by Cain at the counter. We were booked for the morning flight that was cancelled due to cloud cover. Disappointed we decided to linger around and hiked up one of the trails to view Mount Cook. Before leaving, we decided to try one last time to see if there were any vacant spots available for the afternoon flights. Cain proved to be a gem, he booked us on the next available flight at 3pm and we had one of the most memorable experiences because of him.”

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