Your day begins with you being met by your driver/guide on the wharf beside your ship prior to touring the historic township of Lyttelton, to then depart the region of Lyttelton (Christchurch City's port) travelling the harbour side road around the many scenic Volcanic Peninsula bays including the spectacular elevated views of the long extinct Volcanic Crater, The Canterbury Plains and Christchurch City before travelling inland over the Canterbury Plains and into the foothills of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Alps Mountains. 

Whilst the destination is the alpine village of Arthurs Pass, the getting there is an experience one will remember for years on. The journey include the viewing of very high productive farmland region New Zealand with both its dairy and sheep farm activity. You will pass through a number of typical New Zealand small rural townships, one of which boasts ownership of a magnificent local 'pie-shop' bakery - a stop being a must to experience its freshly made range of cakes, pastries, breads and of course our famous New Zealand meat pies. 

Soon after passing through the last of the rural townships you will commence the steep climb into the Alps by way of a number of highway road passes and on to a number of inland Canterbury's  'high country' lakes that are extremely popular with both local and overseas anglers. On arrival into the Arthurs Pass region and for those that wish, there is an opportunity to partake a relatively easy 'hike' to view the famous Punchbowl water fall that cascades out of the Alps. Then after regaining one's appetite following the "pie-shop" stop, Arthurs Pass offers lunch-time dining of either a café or that of a licensed restaurant. The journey back to the ship is by way of the highway travelled earlier in the day but with the travel being in a opposing direction the magnificent scenery takes on a new perspective. 

Should a hike into the Punchbowl water fall not appeal, one may include in the day an adrenaline rush by embarking on a river gorge jet boat ride - the jet boat being a New Zealand invention that enables high speed travel in just a few inches (cm) of water. On conclusion of your visit into the Southern Alps, on reaching Christchurch your journey will return to Lyttelton by way of an alternative route inclusive of a section of Christchurch's central city. All our tours are by luxury mini-coach driven by experienced driver/guides who provide an extensive commentary about the day's experience and New Zealand in general. 

Your travel is not by large coaches that result in reduced flexibility and delays brought about by the stragglers associated with larger group travel.

Duration approximately 7 hours with your day tour returning to the ship well ahead of the scheduled departure time.