08.45 Meet and greet in Lyttelton township for your Christchurch Highlight Tour with working sheep farm experience
09.00 Depart Lyttelton and travel via the inner bays of Lyttelton Harbour to Governors Bay and then via Dyers Pass to the Sign of the Kiwi. Dyers Pass climbs up the old volcanic crater wall to the summit.
09.30 The tour arrives at the Sign of the Takahe, a Scottish-like castle that has a viewing platform providing magnificent views over the City of Christchurch, Pegasus Bay, the Canterbury Plains, and the Southern Alps. Access to the viewing platform is via a gentle 5-minute walk.
09.50 Depart the Sign of the Takahe for Mona Vale, a stately home and magnificent gardens.
10.10 Arrive at the front gate house of Mona Vale and stroll through the grounds, following the Avon River which acts as one of the property's boundaries. The coach will then travel around to the rear gatehouse where your tour guide will meet you once you have had the opportunity to explore the grounds.
10.30 Depart Mona Vale and travel into the central city of Christchurch which was completely devastated by the Christchurch earthquakes in February 2011. Your guide will explain both the history of the city and the effects of the earthquake, you will see for yourself both the destructive powers of nature and the rebuild which has and is taking place. The central city tour will conclude in Cathedral Square where you will be given time to explore this central part of the city on foot & time for some lunch.
12.45 The tour will depart Cathedral Square for a working sheep farm. Depending on availability the farm will be either west of the city in the foothills of the Southern Alps or on Banks Peninsula.
13.45 Arrive at the working sheep farm where you will enjoy the experience of sheep dogs working, rounding up the flock, and penning them in for you to touch, examine, and photograph. A sheep shearing demonstration has then been arranged for you, during the shearing demonstration the farmer will explain the different types of wool and how it is dealt with once shorn. Following the farm tour and shearing demonstration afternoon tea will be served with a choice of tea or coffee and a selection of homemade cakes.
15.30 Depart the farm and return to Lyttelton.
16.30 The tour returns to Lyttelton township where your awaiting shuttle transfers you back to your cruise ship.
Tour Duration 7.5 hours.
