Leisure Tours · Akaroa
Leisure Tours collects you at the tender landing, drives you up to the crater rim and round to a family sheep farm, where a farmer and his dog round up the flock and shear one in front of you. Pick it if your ship is in Akaroa for a few hours and you want something short, local and nothing like a cruise.
This tour is built for cruise passengers, and the listing says so: at booking you give your ship's name, docking time, and disembarkation and re-boarding times, and the schedule can shift with the ship. Leisure Tours, a Christchurch coach company, picks you up at the port and drives up toward the Summit Road for photo stops above the harbour, then on via the Hilltop and Barrys Bay to Coombe Farm.
The farm is the main event, about an hour of it. The farmer's dog rounds up the flock and pens it so you can touch and photograph the sheep; then comes a shearing demonstration and afternoon tea, which guests describe as scones with jam and cream on the farmhouse lawn. It's a family farm, not a show park. Groups are capped at 22, and the listing marks the tour as wheelchair accessible.
Two honest notes. The reviews are old: all 11 date from 2019 and 2020, so check the latest feedback on the booking page before you rely on them. And it's 2.5 hours at $67 per person in US dollars, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If you'd rather see the dolphins in that time, Black Cat and Akaroa Dolphins both leave from a short walk from the tender landing. The listing includes a "worry-free shore excursion guarantee" to get you back to your ship.
Your guide collects you as you come ashore; times follow your ship's schedule.
Up toward the Summit Road with photo stops over Akaroa Harbour.
A stop at the top of the pass with views down both sides of the peninsula.
A short stop at the cheese factory at the head of the harbour.
Sheepdogs round up the flock, a shearing demonstration, then afternoon tea before the drive back to the ship.
★★★★★It was fascinating to watch Hugh's dog do his job. Hugh explained a lot about the industry, the sheep and the wool. We were invited back to his yard where his wife had hot tea and scones with clotted cream and jam waiting for us. I highly recommend this trip for all ages.
★★★★★The drive was gorgeous and not too long or unnecessary. The photo op stops were perfect for pictures to cherish. The sheep farm was impressive as it is owned by one small family (not a large corporation).
★★★★★The shearing demonstration was good, I thought he had done it relatively fast, but he said the professionals he uses would have done 4 in that amount of time. Tea and scones provided by his wife was a nice touch.
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It's designed for cruise passengers: the booking asks for your ship's name and times, and the tour runs around them. Independent visitors should look at the alpaca farm instead.
The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and the listing includes a shore excursion guarantee. Times can shift slightly to fit your ship's schedule. Our shore excursion guide explains the tender logistics.
A sheepdog rounds up and pens the flock, you can touch the sheep, the farmer shears one, and then there's afternoon tea.
The listing marks it as wheelchair and stroller accessible, with accessible transport. Confirm your needs when you book.
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Sheepdogs, a shearing demonstration and afternoon tea on a Banks Peninsula farm, timed around your ship.
Shore Excursion: Akaroa to ChristchurchThe tender landing to Christchurch and back: gardens, the rebuilt centre and the coast, with long hours on the coach.★ 3.8 · 6 hours · from $84
Akaroa Dolphins Harbour Nature CruiseThe most-reviewed cruise in Akaroa: a family catamaran, 35 guests at most, a boat dog and a glass of wine.★ 5.0 · 2 hours · from $81
Shamarra Alpaca Farm TourAn hour feeding and cuddling alpacas on a farm across the harbour. Self-drive only: there's no transport.★ 4.9 · 1 hour · from $36