Southern Alps Experience
See the best of Canterbury on a scenic drive and train ride.
Enjoy an approximetely four hour stunning scenic drive up to Arthur’s Pass. Stop at Homebush where the old stables surrounded by eight acres of woodland gardens offer a fascinating glimpse of colonial farming. Next, board the world famous Tranzalpine Train at Arthur’s Pass. A spectacle of unrivalled scenery unfolds as you travel across viaducts and through tunnels in the heart of the Southern Alps. Mountains, native rainforest, and river gorges adorn this remote region of New Zealand. Leave Arthur’s Pass National Park, which encompasses 24,000 acres of rainforest, pass the town of Springfield and enter the Canterbury Plains on the way to Rolleston.
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Location
Akaroa
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Tour Code
AK1000
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Duration
9 hours
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Price
Adult from $399.99
Children (12 & under) from $329.99
- Lunch included!
- Snack included!
Photo opportunities abound!
Refreshments
Enjoy a country-style morning/afternoon tea at Homebush and a boxed lunch on the Tranzalpine train
Please wear comfortable flat-soled shoes, clothing suited to the weather conditions, a hat and jacket, plenty of biodegradable sunscreen and bring bottled water
Tour may operate in reverse order
All tour times are subject to change. Please check your tickets which are issued onboard for any amendments to tour departure times
No room to store wheelchairs on the train. Guests must be able to climb the 3 steps into the train
Have you found a better price somewhere else for your purchased Shore Tour?
Our Best Price Guaranteewill match it by refunding the difference in the form of Onboard Spending Money for your cruise.
Fresh from the Wharf Cooking Experience
AK1085
Akaroa
5 hours
Adult: $299.99pp
Child: $299.99pp
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Banks Peninsula & City Drive
AK1135
Akaroa
5 hours
Adult: $159.99pp
Child: $139.99pp
Board your motor coach and skirt the bays bordering historic Akaroa Harbour. Drive to Manderley Farm on Lake Forsyth. The historic farmhouse, dates to 1876. Manderley is renowned for fine Merino sheep and champion sheepdogs. Enjoy tea in the gardens and observe a demonstration featuring the farm’s prized collies. Continue through the township of Tai Tapu to Christchurch for a brief stop. After your city visit, travel back past Tai Tapu and Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth to Hilltop. This overlook is perched atop the rim of the caldera forming Akaroa Harbor. Descend to the harbor and your ship.
Akaroa History Safari
AK1145
Akaroa
3 hours
Adult: $169.99pp
Child: $169.99pp
A fascinating historical and cultural experience designed by Princess Cruises and inspired by local expert Hollie Hollander awaits on this three-hour exclusive adventure. Your local guide, Marie Haley, was born and raised on her family’s farm on Banks Peninsula. Begin at the site of Takapuneke to learn the story of the infamous Te Rauparaha massacre that led to the Treaty of Waitangi. Continue on to Onuku Marae, where this treaty was first signed. At the Britomart Monument, learn directly from a French descendant about the “Race for Akaroa,” and at Heritage Park, stop for panoramic photos and a light refreshment. Next, at the Hinewai Reserve and the Wildside Conservation Project, delve into the business of sustainable sheep farming in New Zealand, learning directly from a farmer’s daughter. On to Pa Nga Toko Ono, one of the oldest visible Maori pa (fortification) sites in New Zealand. Finally, pause at Otanerito Lookout, then return to port.
