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Private tour in Christchurch Dermot H
8 Day tour with private guide - Best of the South Island
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7 days
1 hour
1
Tour date
Start time
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7 days
1 hour
1
Dermot H.
4.9
Guide rating
83
Reviews
Tours delivered
3 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.
Explore Christchurch / Franz Josef Glacier/ Queenstown ( Milford Sound)
Overview of your Christchurch tour
So, you are considering a South Island tour. Well, let me be your guide and let's explore the most scenic part of New Zealand! I am passionate about nature and history and have been a South Island guide for over 20 years . . this tour follows a logical circular route so you will enjoy all the magic of this island : beautiful locations like the Pancake Rocks, hidden gems with amazing views such as Mitre Peak in Fjordland. . . perfect for those photos to take home. You will experience the best of the South Island scenery from the farming plains of the east across the grand Southern Alps to the rainforests of the West Coast. . . . finishing up either in the adventure capital of Queenstown or returning to Christchurch via the MacKenzie Country lakes. . . . Christchurch - Arthurs Pass - Punakaiki - Franz Josef Glacier- Fox Glacier - Wanaka - Queenstown (-Christchurch). (options : Milford Sound+cruise and/or Trans-alpine Train from Christchurch to Greymouth)
Your Christchurch tour itinerary
DAY 1 : Pick-up Christchurch Airport. City tour. DAY 2 : Day visit to Akaroa. . . option of Black Cat Nature Cruise ( 2 hours). . . highly recommended tour for its scenery and dolphins in this old volcanic crater DAY 3: Chch -Rubicon Valley Farm (sheep farm show) - Arthurs Pass - Punakaiki (5 hours driving , 250 miles across the island ). . . . option - catch the Trans-alpine Train and I will meet you in Greymouth DAY 4 : Franz Josef Glacier-Haast Pass-Wanaka-Queenstown (6 hours driving, 230 miles). DAY 5: Queenstown (local tour) OR OPTION 1 : Qt - Milford Sound+Scenic Cruise (Real Journeys) OPTION 2 : Qt - Doubtful Sound+Wilderness Cruise (Real Journeys) DAY 6 : Arrowtown and Qt Tour (Kawarau Bungy Bridge etc. ), shopping Day 7 : Queenstown-Lake Pukaki ( Mt Cook visible in good weather across lake) -Tekapo-Chch. . Mrs Jones Orchard Day 8. : Drop-off Chch Airport I can create a customized tour for you in case you have any special requests or if you are more than 11 and need a larger vehicle.
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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.
Transport details
Type: Private Transportation
Our LTNZ licenced vehicle is a modern 2013 Toyota Hiace Minibus with 11 passenger seats and a microphone for commentary.
What's included
What's not included
Meeting location
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide:
- You can request a different meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout process.
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EnglishActivity level
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7 days
1 hour
1
Tour date
Start time
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7 days
1 hour
1
Tour date
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Explore more of Christchurch
Book with a deposit
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- 30 days before your tour date, the remaining balance is automatically charged.