Private tour in Akaroa Dermot H
5.0
(4) reviews
6 hours
30 minutes
1
6 hours
30 minutes
1
Dermot H.
4.9
Guide rating
83
Reviews
Tours delivered
8 hrs
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I am a Private Guide that offers Private tours specialising in the Christchurch and Akaroa area. I have been guiding visitors around the South Island since 1996. This is a remarkably diverse and beautiful island and I consider myself to have the best job in the world! I have travelled a lot myself and genuinely find visitors and their individual stories interesting. My aim is to offer a very personal small group tour which is flexible. . . . . and I hope fun. My most popular tour these days is from cruise ship visitors arriving at Akaroa wanting a Day Excursion to Christchurch and the local area in my 11 seater minibus. . . . . but I also offer tours up to 10 days long all over NZ to Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Dunedin, Queenstown, Milford Sound, the West Coast, Abel Tasman or any number of other stunning destinations. My passions are food, cooking, sailing and of course travel. As an ex- teacher I hope I can share with you a bit about the interesting human and natural history as well as the various cultures of this unique land. I am happy to run GEOCACHING TOURS for interested groups. . . . . . . . and have access to 22 / 33 seater buses for larger groups. Passenger Service Licence #0227492 with Private Hire Registration (both SPSL and LPSL), Drivers Licence (1,2,4,6 with Passenger Endorsement), member of the NZ Bus and Coach Assn and ProGuides NZ. Vehicle operates with Certificate of Fitness (renewed every 6 months) and Certificate of Loading (note: this is a legal requirement for tour operations in NZ). Red Cross Comprehensive First Aid Certificate. Bus and Coach Assn Public & Carriers Liability Insurance (Lowe, Scholum and Jones). Japanese Profficiency Test Level 3. Bachelor of Science (Auckland University), Diploma of Secondary Teaching (Christchurch), Cert. TESL (Massey Uni.)
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Akaroa means "Long Harbour" in Maori . . . it is a quaint village situated in the harbour of an inactive volcano, part of Banks Peninsula on the east coast of the South Island. . be entertained as we explore some of the scenic Eastern bays . . go back in time, finding out about the Maori, French and European history of this unique area. I will bring my knowledge as an ex-teacher and as a local of 35 years to weave the geographic features and the history of the colourful characters who have lived here into a series of stories so that you finish your day with an understanding of past and modern New Zealand. You will be impressed by the smaller bays indenting the coast creating an area of great natural beauty and a timelessness that take us back to the colonial times and before. Our route follows the best of the "Mail Run" plus other bays of interest. Visit the last cheese factory on Banks Peninsula (sample some) and have the option of tasting some local wine. . you can't miss this secret corner of New Zealan
Dermot is so knowledgeable and great to listen to. His vehicle is very comfotable and the audio system made it very easy for us all to hear. He was very attentive to our group's interestes and customized his routing to accomodate. He's first rate!
Dermont drove us (two US couples) from the of Akaroa to Christ Church Cathedral on Feb 26th- he shared the historic founding and development of the area from the French to present- Toured the scenic Little River and Banks region, passing extinct volcanos and harbors. Most meaningful was his coverage of the Christ Church tragedies, almost decade ago- its impact on NZ and its people and the rebuilding efforts from both the earth quake and racist attacks. All done with sensitivity and context.
Dermot was an absolutely fantastic guide! His knowledge about Akaroa and the surrounding area was a terrific enhancement to what is already a beautiful area and he was incredibly flexible in accommodating what can be a quite unwieldy group of 8. It is obvious that Dermot is passionate about his hometown area and it shone through in a way that made our time with him one of the most memorable of our trip. He was also great with the camera, helping us to preserve those cherished memories. Thank you again!
Dermot was flexible on the itinerary which allowed time to see Christchurch. We had been there thee decades earlier long before the fatal earthquakes. He also added the personal touch to those lives lost rather than quoting statistics. I work with earthquakes every year and he was able to weave that aspect into his tour of a city rising from the ashes.
-Akaroa Village Tour (find out about its French history and buildings such as the lighthouse, oldest cottage etc. and the people who live there today) -Summit Road/Crater Rim at 1500 ft/500 m. . . . scenic stop providing spectacular views of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa Harbour -Okains Bay. . . see the oldest general store in New Zealand still operating (great icecream stop on a hot day !). . . . opportunity for a stroll on the beach here or visit the Okains Bay Museum (colonial/maori history) -Little Akaloa Bay (visit a lovely small chapel) -Barry's Bay Cheese Factory (the last on Bank's Peninsula ! Sample some local cheese !) -Little River Cafe (lunch stop) . . . . you can browse in the adjacent Art Gallery and Crafts Shop. -Birdling's Flat (explore this ocean beach of multi-coloured gemstones on foot) -Option of wine-tasting at the end of the day (with Renan at French Peaks Winery or Meniscus Wines). . . this area is well known for its excellent pinot gris, reisling, rose etc.
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6 hours
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