The Nature's Trail · Christchurch
The Nature's Trail sends a driver-guide to your Christchurch address and spends seven to eight hours taking your group alone to Akaroa and back, with stops at the museum, the Giant's House mosaic garden and Barrys Bay cheese. Pick it if you want your own car and your own pace, and you're happy to book the harbour cruise yourself.
This is private transport with a guide, not a package. The Nature's Trail picks you up at a place you arrange in Christchurch, then drives about 84 km to Akaroa past Lake Ellesmere and Little River, and over the Hilltop into the old volcano. The listed stops are the Akaroa Museum (25 minutes, free), The Giant's House (40 minutes, entry not included) and Barrys Bay Cheese (25 minutes, free tasting). Bottled water is in the car.
The important bit: no harbour cruise is included. If dolphins are the reason you're going, book Black Cat, or Akaroa Dolphins yourself and tell the guide your sailing time. A guest who did just that wrote that the dolphin cruise was fantastic and that you should book it. Remember to leave 30 minutes for check-in. With 7 to 8 hours in total and about three of them on the road, a two-hour cruise and lunch fit, but only just with all three stops.
The price on Viator is from $154 per person in US dollars, for your group only. The Giant's House charges extra: NZ$35 per adult and NZ$20 per child in 2026, open 11 am to 4 pm from October to April and to 3 pm in winter. Only 12 reviews so far, all five stars, and guests name their guides and praise how they tailored the day. It isn't wheelchair accessible, and the winding road over the Hilltop is no fun for anyone prone to car sickness.
Your guide meets you at the place and time you agree when you book.
Past Lake Ellesmere and Little River, then over the Hilltop with the harbour below.
Tastings at the cheese factory at the head of the harbour. Cheesemaking runs on weekdays from September to May.
25 minutes in the free Akaroa Museum, 40 in the Giant's House mosaic garden, and time for lunch or your own cruise.
The drive home, about 90 minutes, with photo stops if the light is good.
★★★★★Great trip , everything went well…. Dolphins cruise takes 2hrs (to arrive 1/2hr ahead of departure time) is fantastic & you should book it … Giant house was very nice to visit (closes at 4pm)… so artistic
★★★★★Excellent tour. Jorge was fantastic - very professional, accommodating, and has a great personality. He loves New Zealand and proudly introduced us to many lovely sights, tailorng the tour to our specific interests.
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No. The listing covers the car, the guide and the stops. You book a cruise yourself (from $76 on Viator) and the guide fits the day around it. Our day trip guide compares the tours that do include one.
About 84 km, roughly 90 minutes each way via State Highway 75, Little River and the Hilltop. The last stretch is steep and winding.
The stop is, the ticket isn't. Entry costs NZ$35 per adult and NZ$20 per child in 2026.
Per person: from $154 in US dollars, though only your group rides in the car. Check the total for your party on the booking page.
Ready to book
Your own driver from Christchurch to Akaroa and back, with stops at Barrys Bay, the museum and the Giant's House.
Small-Group Akaroa Day with LunchEight guests, a guide, lunch and Banks Peninsula back roads. The dolphin cruise is optional and costs extra.★ 5.0 · 7 to 8 hours · from $337
Swim with Dolphins Day Trip from ChristchurchCoach from Christchurch, a dolphin swim in a 5 mm wetsuit, then cheese at Barrys Bay. October to April only.★ 3.8 · 9 hours · from $224
Akaroa Nature & History Private TourThree private hours with a seventh-generation local: Takapūneke, Ōnuku and the bays, for your group only.★ 5.0 · 3 hours · from $349