Akaroa French Festival Tour

Enjoy touring the revitalized central Christchurch on the historic tram so much to see.

Discover the Riverside Markets with a huge variety of eating establishments and places to sit and enjoy looking out across the Avon River and mature trees, you can even meet the local wildlife and resident eels who love attention and food.

Enjoy a two-course lunch in one of the central city’s top locations

Get a sense of Canterbury’s early history with a visit to Ferrymead replica township.

Enjoy the port hills gondola ride and time to lookout over the city with views of the northern coastline, beaches, Lyttleton Harbour and southern alps.

Enjoy a tiki tour to the seaside towns of Sumner and Lyttleton before arriving at your accommodation at The Muse Art Hotel in central Christchurch, a free evening to dine as you please tonight.

Inclusions, Christchurch tram and gondola ride, two course lunch, Ferrymead entry, city touring and accommodation.

Breakfast in the hotel.

9.30am pick up to begin our adventures on Banks Peninsula  

We will travel through regenerating natural areas of native tussock grasslands to Okains Bay on the eastern side of Banks Peninsula to see the extensive collection of Maori and Colonial artifacts, before reaching the French village of Akaroa for our two night’s stay in a four-bedroom modern spacious holiday home with outdoor deck overlooking Akaroa harbour.   

Central Akaroa is Opening Night! The party starts with a Powhiri and brief speeches on the Festival Rotunda. Then the market food vendors and festival bars will open, and the night market begins. Our brand-new Café Monet will be serving delicious French Gin Cocktails and very French Food.

Champaign Breakfast in our accommodation overlooking the harbour.

8.30-10 am We will join the Festivities which start on the beach with a fantastic historic re-enactment celebrating all people who came to Akaroa to start new lives in beautiful Horomaka. Hear their stories, celebrate their arrivals, and share their heritage.
Akaroa Community Arts Council and Michael Hurst plus the Wellington Sea Shanty Society and World Famous Mulletman will lead the cast of brave locals telling the histories of their ancestors.

French themed market stalls to stroll around town, talks to listen to.

No visit to Akaroa is complete without a stop at the famous Giant’s house with its 6-star garden of significance statis, delight for the senses. An extraordinary and unique experience.

We will have an early dinner before an entertaining evening at Le Cabaret variety show, a  mixture of Can, Can dancers, comedy and the wonderful Lady Killers with Tina Cross, Suzanne Lynch and Jackie Clarke, a night not to be missed.

Inclusions

Breakfast, Dinner, Giants Garden entry and cabaret show.

Champaign Breakfast in our accommodation overlooking the harbour.

Tour with our local guide to see the best of the historic houses and hear the interesting history of the town.

12.30pm Discover the breathtaking beauty of Akaroa Harbour on a 2-hour luxury catamaran cruise. With a small guest capacity, you’ll enjoy a personalised experience as you cruise past sea caves, towering cliffs, and volcanic rock formations. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to see the rare Hector’s dolphins, fascinating birdlife, New Zealand fur seals, and White-flippered penguins.

Returning to Christchurch late afternoon to the Christchurch Muse Art Hotel and a special evening experience onboard the immaculately restored 1920s tramcar is New Zealand’s only dining tram to be treated to four courses of premium local cuisine and attentive service.

Breakfast in the hotel this morning then you are free to make your own arrangements for onwards travel