Akaroa Cruise Excursion - Christchurch City & Antarctic Center

Discover Banks Peninsula and the city of Christchurch, enjoying convenient roundtrip transportation from your cruise ship in Akaroa. Visit famed botanical gardens, witness the devastation from the 2011 earthquake, and see penguins at the International Antarctic Center.

Depart from Akaroa and travel along the Akaroa Highway, with breathtaking views of Akaroa Harbour, Little River, Lakes Forsyth and Ellesmere, the Southern Alps, and the Canterbury Plains. Arrive in Christchurch and stop at the city's famed botanical gardens.

Afterward, take a brief sightseeing tour of the damage inflicted on the city's landmarks by the devastating 2011 earthquake. See the destruction for yourself and learn about the long rebuilding process.

Visit the International Antarctic Center, featuring an icy recreation of Antarctica's atmosphere. Enjoy an exhilarating ride on a Hagglund—a vehicle used to navigate volatile combinations of snow, water, and ice. Encounter the center's blue penguins, rescue penguins that could not survive in the wild and were raised by the center from a young age. At the end of your visit, return to Akaroa and board your cruise ship.