Private tour in Akaroa Dermot H
4.8
(29) reviews
6 hours
30 minutes
1
6 hours
30 minutes
1
Dermot H.
4.9
Guide rating
83
Reviews
Tours delivered
8 hrs
Avg. response time
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.)
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Dermot H.
Be entertained by the birdlife, the lambs and sheep as well as the fabulous views from these ancient volcanoes. You will love the quaint villages, French history and rural scenery that will make you realise you have experienced a very special and unique corner of the South Island. In fine weather you cannot but be impressed by the light and colours of the lakes, sea, volcanic outcrops and grassy fields. 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 can't miss Christchurch, the "Garden City" and third biggest in the country! This is a suggested tour. . . . . we are very happy to include other options such as Birdlings Flat (gemstone beach, Sumner Beach, The International Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Park (see kiwis), Air Force World, Wine-tasting etc. . . . time permiting
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Dermot. He took us to very scenic spots between Akaroa and Christchurch, saw highlights of Christchurch, and listened to his informative commentary along the way. He helped my disabled wife to enter and exit the van and handled our electric wheelchair. We can highly recommend Dermot. Harvey F
Dermot was fantastic! He was very easy to work with, easy to be with, and by the end of our day, we felt like we had made a new friend! He made arrangements ahead of time for our group to visit Christchurch. His attention to detail provided security for us, and allowed everyone to relax and enjoy, knowing we were in good hands!
Dermot, was great and showed us a great time and very accommodating and learned a lot. we loved Antarctic which is a must see. he is friendly and makes you feel like he knows you. we seen as much as we could and he makes that happen. I would highly recommend him.
Wonderful!!! Dermot was our guide/friend and did a wonderful job. He added so much to our vacation; meeting us right when we left the ship and filled our time with amazing adventures including beautiful vistas and interesting places. Some of the best memories of our 15 day trip are becauses of Dermots knowledge and joy for what he does. Don't miss out.
Dermot delivered a really good day in a city that had been devasted from the quake. He did the best he could under diff weather conditions. It rained mist of the day but he made sure every part of our tour was seen. Great hard. Tough conditions.
We had a great tour of Akaroa and Christchurch. Beautiful area. Very knowledgeable about the area. Strongly recommend.
Our Christchurch Day Tour for cruise ship passengers starts in Akaroa usually around 9AM when we meet you at the end of the wharf after your arrival by tender from your cruise ship. - We take a leasurely journey through Akaroa, Banks Peninsula over scenic extinct volcanic rims to Christchurch taking stops at the Hilltop for photos, Barry's Bay Cheese Factory (sample some !), Little River (art gallery/craft co-operative) and Sign of the Takahe. - From high on the Port Hills the Southern Alps can be seen 50 miles away across the Canterbury Plains. - The Botanic Gardens and Canterbury Museum are in the centre of the city. . . . you have some free time here to explore. - We can walk up close to Christchurch Cathedral and check out the new inner city. Find out about the 2011 quake and future plans for the Garden City. We drive back through the New Zealand farmland countryside (sheep, cows, birdlife etc. ). You are back in Akaroa about 4pm. Feel free to contact me if you would like to customize this this tour!
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Our vehicle is a modern air-conditioned Toyota HiAce 2013 tour vehicle with microphone for guide commentary and adjusting seat backs.....Maximum capacity is 11 passengers. If you are more than 11 and need a larger vehicle I can create a customised tour for you.
Akaroa, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Airport: ,Cruise: Akaroa,ByGuide: You will be taken by tender from the cruise ship to Akaroa Wharf.....look for me holding a sign with your name on it....at the land end of Akaroa Wharf
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6 hours
30 minutes
1
6 hours
30 minutes
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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