Akaroa Shore Excursion: Wildlife Reserve Tour

Kiwi viewing and Christchurch's rebuild, all in one port day

This guided shore excursion from Akaroa covers Banks Peninsula, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, a city tour, and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in a single 6-hour loop timed around your ship's schedule. Pickup and drop-off at Akaroa Wharf are included, along with entry to the wildlife reserve and a guided walk through its Natural New Zealand section to see kiwi, deer, wallabies, otters, gibbons and lemurs. The operator guarantees on-time return to your vessel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Akaroa to Christchurch and Wildlife Reserve

• Collect at Akaroa Wharf park
• Drive through Akaroa village and Banks Peninsula
• Arrive at Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• Explore Botanic Gardens for 30 minutes
• Brief Christchurch City tour
• Visit Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
• Guided tour and kiwi viewing
• Return to Akaroa via Banks Peninsula
• Board cruise ship

The Experience

You'll be collected at Akaroa Wharf at 10:30am and driven through the village and across Banks Peninsula—rolling hills, lakes and coastlines visible the whole way—before reaching Christchurch. The route itself is the first part of the tour, not just the getting there.

Once in Christchurch, you have 30 minutes to walk the Botanic Gardens on your own, then the guide takes you through the city centre, pointing out landmarks and explaining the rebuild after the 2011 earthquake. The tour then moves to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, where you get entry and a guided walk focused on the Natural New Zealand section. This is where you'll see kiwi—the national bird and the animal most visitors come to New Zealand hoping to encounter—along with deer, wallabies, otters, gibbons and lemurs in their enclosures. The return journey retraces Banks Peninsula back to Akaroa and your ship.

The whole day is built around cruise ship timing. At booking, you'll provide your ship's name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time, and the operator plans the schedule so you're back at the wharf with time to spare. The tour runs 6 hours total and includes a local guide throughout.

What’s included

• Local guide throughout.
• pickup and drop-off at Akaroa Wharf.
• entry to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve.
• guided walk through the Natural New Zealand section.
• 30 minutes at Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
• city tour of Christchurch landmarks.
• guaranteed on-time return to your ship.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Leisure Tours

Is this one for you?You're on a cruise ship and need the whole day planned and timed for you—this tour picks you up at the wharf, covers four separate stops, and returns you with time built in for your re-boarding, so the logistics are already solved and you're not watching the clock.

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Top questions

What time does the Akaroa shore excursion start and end?

Pickup is at 10:30am at Akaroa Wharf. The full tour takes 6 hours, so you'll return to the wharf by mid-afternoon, with timing adjusted to your ship's re-boarding schedule.

Will I definitely see kiwi at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve?

Willowbank's Natural New Zealand section is specifically set up for kiwi viewing, and the guided walk takes you through it. Kiwi are nocturnal and can be elusive, but the reserve's setup is designed around showing them to visitors.

How much time do I get at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens?

You have 30 minutes to explore the Botanic Gardens on your own before the guide leads a brief city tour of Christchurch's landmarks and rebuild efforts.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Transportation is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller; infants must sit on an adult's lap.

What animals will I see at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve?

The reserve's Natural New Zealand section features kiwi, along with deer, wallabies, otters, gibbons and lemurs. The guided walk focuses on these species.

What happens if my ship's schedule changes after I book?

Activity times and schedules can be slightly amended depending on your cruise ship's timetable. Notify the operator of any changes, and the tour will be adjusted to fit your ship's revised docking and re-boarding times.