The folks who ran the business were great and knowledgeable. I expected that I would see more of…read morethe penguins. I only saw tiny blurry specks in the water from very far away (even with binoculars), or I saw sleeping penguins in their box "homes" for a moment so as not to disturb them (understandable). Maybe it was because of the time of year (early January) that I didn't see very much activity? At the beginning of our adventure, we got a really nice view of the bay and learned about some of the history of the Banks Peninsula. It is such a beautiful place.

We had a fantastic time on the Pohatu Penguins sea kayak experience! Kevin and Ben are so…read morepersonable, knowledgeable and passionate about wildlife and the area. With them driving, we could admire the amazing views from the top of the hills around the backcountry of Akaroa. Our group were all first time sea kayakers and they made everybody feel completely comfortable. It was incredible to be surrounded by the turquoise waters of Flea Bay and get up close to the wildlife - we saw so many sea lions and little penguins! Very much recommend this tour!

The guides at Akaroa Guided Kayak Safari delivered an extraordinary guided kayak experience. I came…read moreinto Akaroa on a cruise ship, and the tenders were delayed in getting passengers onto shore. Akaroa Guided Kayak Safari handled the delay with no sweat, and our entire tour cohort was safely and efficiently oriented and placed into kayaks. They even had splash guards to keep us dry while in the kayaks. I'd never previously used a kayak with a rudder, which made steering a breeze. As for the tour itself, the Akaroa bay is breathtaking, and the kayak was probably the best way to see all the features along the coast. Our guide oriented us to the geological features, and I left with a real feel for the gorgeousness of the coastline along Akaroa. We even stopped for a swim and snack at a semi-private beach. One of the guides took photos, and emailed them to us at no additional cost, and the photographs did a wonderful job of capturing the experience - better than I would have done myself! I'm so glad I was able to do this tour, and recommend it for everyone coming into Akaroa.

This was a fun day with a variety of informative, entertaining activities. You travel across…read moreseveral areas of the city in a comfortable bus, and learn about old and 'new' Christchurch. If you do the tram on the same day -- you can do it later, if you'd like -- the total trip is about 6 hours. Our guide was excellent -- friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and adaptable. (I wish I'd written his name down so I could remember it several weeks later to give him a shout-out, because he was amazing!) One note that lunch is on your own during your time at the top of the Christchurch Gondola. I would definitely recommend this tour!

*Make reservations at least a month ahead of time.*…read more We booked the 90 min 5:00 pm dinner as our last dinner in New Zealand and I am so glad we did! It was such a fun, unique adventure! We were seated in a small table in the tram. Food (5/5): You were seated and immediately received a full glass of sparkling wine to enjoy. We had our appetizer (bruschetta) while we looked at the menu. The 5:00 pm seating only had three options for dinner - salmon, lamb and a pasta. We had the salmon and the lamb. I was so impressed that they were able to expertly serve the meals, which were warmed somehow in the very small kitchen area. The salmon was good and the lamb was cooked perfectly. We had the cheese plate for dessert and it was delicious. Service (5/5): The waiter was really kind and came by often to see if needed anything. They timed everything perfectly, even to collecting the wine glasses after the dessert. With such a small space, they made everything work effortlessly. Ambiance (5/5): It's a tram and it's so much fun to eat while setting the city. My favorite part was at the end, where you go through New Regent Street, where the tram is just inches from the diners. Some say it's arguably the cutest street in New Zealand. Take the time before or after the tram to explore this area.

As cheesy as it may seem, you will actually have a very good meal while riding about downtown…read moreChristchurch in an old-fashioned tramway car. Reservations a must! We got on-board just steps from our hotel and had an absolute jam riding around with a local friend of ours telling us about all the sights and happenings. The food was way better than expected under such cramped circumstances and the servers and tram crew could not have been more friendly. Was it touristy? Of course it was! But was it a great time and an excellent meal? You bet! When in Christchurch if you don't arrange for this excursion you are cheating yourself out if a great way to see the downtown area and a total blast of an urban dining experience. As those Nike folks used to like to say..."Just do it!"

From the owner: Wings Over Whales Kaikoura provide whale watching flights, scenic air tours and private aircraft…read morecharter. Our professional and experienced team deliver a friendly flying experience, where the comfort and safety of each passenger is paramount. Whale watching by aeroplane offers a unique perspective and the opportunity to view whales and dolphins in their natural environment. From the air passengers can experience the true magnitude of the world's largest mammal, the whale. These animals can reach an impressive 18 metres in length and weigh up to 60 tonne! Wings Over Whales Kaikoura operate high-winged aircraft, which allows each person their own window seat and optimal, unobstructed viewing.

This is the perfect tram ride to experience while in Christchurch. The conductor gives you the…read moreentire history of the town. It takes you around the entire town and you can get off and on through out the day. It's a great way to experience ChristChurch.

The perfect hop on and hop off tour of Christchurch, the tram takes about an hour to do its circuit…read morearound the city. Stops at Cathedral Square and Victoria Square and the Botanic Gardens and the bus interchange and more. The tram pass is a one-day unlimited ride and it's only NZD$35. You won't want to do a full circuit all at once - the seats aren't that comfy. But jump on and jump off as you get to sites that you find interesting! [Review 385 of 2024 - 38 in New Zealand - 21418 overall]

Loved this local gem in Christchurch…read more Mona Vale was renamed by Annie Quayle Townend after her mother's house in Tasmania. Annie inherited one million pounds as the sole surviving child in her family. This made her the richest independent woman in 1905. Mona Vale was originally called Karewa when it was built in 1899-1900. Townend added the gatehouse, more land and gardens and a Fernery to the property. Ferneries are quite popular in New Zealand. After her death, the property went through several owners including the Church of Later Day Saints. When the church tried to sell the property to a private developer, there was a major public outcry. Community fundraising helped to turn the homestead into a beautiful public park and gardens open for all to enjoy. Our guide, Scotty dropped us off at the Fendalton Road gatehouse. So nice to able to walk along the Avon River enjoying the weeping willows and the agapanthus until we reached the rose garden. The rose garden is gorgeous. Love all the different varieties. Also interesting to visit the Fernery which seem to be quite popular in New Zealand. So many different varieties of huge ferns. Loved seeing the purple cardoon, artichoke thistle, and large yellow garden dahlias. A beautiful walk though the park in Christchurch,

What a beautiful garden. We only saw just a little bit of it as our guide wanted to show us the…read morefernery. It really is a greenhouse full of ferns. The gardens right outside are gorgeous. The tulips were in full bloom and amazing. They were nearly the size of my hand. I would have loved to have taken a picnic or have afternoon tea in the Gardens. Christ church is full of many beautiful parks and this is certainly one.

Canterbury Trails is a very conscientious company, and has a variety of interesting tours around…read morethe region. (In an example of their conscientiousness, they delivered a letter for us to our hotel the day before our tour, welcoming us, reminding us of the logistics, and passing on additional clothing suggestions.) If their staff is anything like our guide, Tia, they have some of the best staff members around. We did the Akaroa Day Tour with Nature Cruise, which was a wonderful day trip even though we were not able to do the nature cruise due to inclement weather -- sleet, hail, high winds, snow, and heavy rain. Despite the latter hitch, we still had an outstanding day, thanks to New Zealand being beautiful, fun New Zealand, and to our wonderful, responsive, friendly, warm, knowledgeable guide Tia. We started out with a pretty drive through the mountains -- with amazing views before then snow rolled in, but then still pretty -- on the way to Akaroa, where we wandered the wonderful tiny town, shopping at excellent stores recommended by Tia in response to our interests, and had an excellent lunch at Bully Hayes. Afterward, in lieu of the boat trip (which was cancelled in late morning), Tia recommended the Antarctic Center -- which was great fun! -- and took us to a couple more unique shops in response to our interests, all while keeping up friendly discussions and telling us informative stories about Christchurch and New Zealand. I know I keep raving about her in this review instead of the broader company, but Tia was our primary representation of the company. Beyond our tour being excellent, my family all thought that our time with Tia felt like spending a day with a friend who was a tour guide as opposed to 'just' a friendly tour guide -- that meant a lot to us.