Christchurch Sightseeing Day Tour **International Antarctic Centre Option Available**

LT19: Christchurch Sightseeing - Morning tour (3 Hour)
LT19A: Christchurch Sightseeing - Afternoon tour (3 Hour)
Experience the grand architecture, beautiful gardens and scenic view points on a half-day city tour of Christchurch.

Morning and Afternoon departures available. The tour commences in the central city of Christchurch and covers the area which was completely devastated by the Christchurch earthquakes in February 2011. The 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 taking place. On leaving the inner city, the tour travels to Mona Vale a historic homestead and gardens. We then travel to the Sign of the Takahe, an historic building with a lookout providing spectacular views over the city, Canterbury Plains and to the Southern Alps. The tour then travels via the Port Hills and Lyttleton Harbour by way of the Sign of the Kiwi and Governors Bay to the Port of Lyttleton. The tour proceeds through the Lyttleton harbour tunnel to the seaside suburb of Sumner and cave rock before returning to the central city where the tour will conclude.

Should you wish you can upgrade your morning sightseeing tour to include admission to the International Antarctic Centre.  You can choose LT19IAH: Christchurch Sightseeing - Morning tour inc International Antarctic Centre.

LT19IAH: Christchurch Sightseeing - Morning tour inc International Antarctic Centre (6 Hours)
Experience the grand architecture, beautiful gardens and scenic view points on a half-day city tour of Christchurch.

Wander the Monavale Gardens with pretty ponds and water features, drive through the city centre once with its historic buildings and architecture now heavily destroyed and badly damaged by the Earthquake hitting the city in February 2011. See for yourself both the destruction of the central city and the rebuild that is taking place.

You will view the botanical gardens in the central city and the seaside suburb of Sumner.

Travel to the Sign of the Takahe to admire the spectacular views over the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps.

The tour then moves on to The International Antarctic Centre. This features a recreation of the atmosphere of Antarctica with a snow and ice experience, the blue penguin encounter, a 4-D Movie experience and an exhilarating Hagglund ride. The Penguins held here are birds that have been rescued and cared for, some since they were chicks. Due to physical disabilities that have left them defenseless, many of them would not have survived on their own back in the wild.

Transfers to and from the central city to the International Antarctic Centre are included. You will arrive at the International Antarctic Centre at approximately 12:30pm and can return to the central city at your leisure, either at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm or 4:30pm.