08.45 Meet and greet in Lyttelton township for your Christchurch Highlight Tour with Jet Boating on the Waimakariri River.
09.00 Depart Lyttelton and travel via the inner bays of Lyttelton Harbour to Governors Bay and then via Dyers Pass to the Sign of the Kiwi. Dyers Pass climbs up the old volcanic crater wall to the summit.
09.30 The tour arrives at the Sign of the Takahe, a Scottish like castle which has a viewing platform providing magnificent views over the City of Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps. Access to the viewing platform is via a gentle 5 minute walk.
09.50 Depart the Sign of the Takahe for Mona Vale, a stately home and magnificent gardens.
10.10 Arrive at the front gate house of Mona Vale and stroll through the grounds, following the Avon River. The coach will then travel around to the rear gate house where your tour guide will meet you once you have had the opportunity to explore the grounds .
10.30 Depart Mona Vale and travel into the central city of Christchurch which was completely devastated by the Christchurch earthquakes in February 2011. Your guide will explain both the history of the city and the effects of the earthquake, you will see for yourself both the destructive powers of nature and the rebuild which has and is taking place. The central city tour will conclude in Cathedral Square where you will be given time to explore this central part of the city on foot & time for some lunch.
12.45 Depart Cathedral Square for the Lower Waimakariri River ( a wide braided river ). The jet boat experience, known as the “Braided Blast” is with an expert jet boat driver who will drive the boat at speed and execute turns and spins in water that is often only centimetres deep. Experience the thrills of jet boating through shallow, shifting, ever changing shingle bottom steams
14.45 Depart Jet Boating and return to Lyttelton via the Eastern Suburbs, the estuary and finally the beach suburb of Sumner with its sand and surf beaches and the Pacific Ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.
15.20 A stop will be made at a viewing platform on the harbour side of Evans Pass which overlooks the ports container and coal terminals and affords great views of both the harbour and the historic Timeball station.
15.30 The tour returns to Lyttelton township where your awaiting shuttle transfers you back to your cruise ship. Tour Duration 6.5 hours .
