Lyttelton Christchurch

The ship is scheduled to dock at Lyttelton Inner harbor. Lyttelton's town center is within walking distance.

The cruise terminal for Christchurch is located in Lyttelton, a historic port town approximately 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) southeast of Christchurch.

One is not allowed to walk out of the port area for security reasons, so the local port authority provides a shuttle between the passenger terminal and the i-SITE Information center at the center of Lyttelton.

The port Lyttleton which was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake.

The new Lyttelton Port $56 million cruise ship berth, has been completed in 2020.

Lyttelton harbor is a beautiful scenic harbor located right beside the city of Christchurch. It offers the visitor spectacular scenery, a fascinating Maori and European history and an abundance of recreational opportunities. you can experience Lyttelton harbor for yourself by driving the short distance through the Lyttelton Road Tunnel or over the Port Hills.

Lyttelton harbor is the northern major sea inlet on Banks Peninsula, the one prominent feature on the coast of Canterbury, New Zealand. Banks Peninsula was once a volcanic island and Lyttelton harbor the sea-filled crater of a volcano that erupted 11 million years ago.

In the middle of the harbor lie three fascinating islands - Quail, Ripapa and King Billy

South Island's leading port, is connected to Christchurch by road and rail tunnels. Wooden houses cling to steep streets above the harbor, bustling with cargo vessels, freighters, sailing yachts and sightseeing launches. Several 19th-century churches add to the town's historic attractions. The Canterbury pilgrims, who arrived in four shiploads at Lyttelton in 1850, made a historic trek across the Port Hills to establish Christchurch. Today, walkers still enjoy the old Bridle Path trail. Hundreds of modern-day pilgrims make the nostalgic hike between Lyttelton and Christchurch annually on the Sunday nearest December 16.

The cruise lines will provide a shuttle from ship-side to Christchurch city. It will be 'affordable', depends on the cruise line and will not be more than $NZ 15. It will go to the Bridge of Remembrance on Cashel Street, and will take about 25 minutes. The time of the last shuttle back is unlikely to be known by us in advance, but the outbound shuttle driver will know. For planning purposes, you can get the time the ship leaves Lyttelton from the Port Company's website. Click on Cruise in the left hand pane and look for your date and ship.

Tours booked through the cruise line will pick up and drop off at ship-side, or as otherwise advised.

There will be a free shuttle from the ship which will drop passengers on the south side of Norwich Quay, Lyttelton. Here you can meet friends to pick you up, or join a pre-booked local tour, or just walk into Lyttelton township, where there are a few shops and coffee places, and the Information Centre. The shuttle back to the ship goes from the north side of Norwich Quay.

Local buses depart from the south side of Norwich Quay. They only take NZ cash and the local travel card, however, there will be Metro staff at the shuttle stop to sell you $NZ 10 bus tickets valid for the entire network for the day. These can be purchased with credit or EFTPOS cards or NZ cash. There will be additional buses (#8 Special) to take you to Christchurch bus exchange. You can use any bus with your day ticket, including the standard #8 which also goes to the bus exchange and then on to the airport, passing the Antarctic Centre, which is a potential visit. The journey is about an hour.

You will need to take the shuttle back to your ship from Norwich Quay. The local bus cannot take you to your ship.

Christchurch is South Island's premier city and lies about 20 minutes by car north of Lyttelton. Often described as "the most English city outside England," the busy capital of the province of Canterbury is known for its relaxed ambiance and unhurried pace. Its English character is very much evident in the fine neo-Gothic stone buildings such as the Arts center, the Canterbury Museum and the Christ Church Cathedral. The latter is the city's dominating landmark, serving as a reminder of the important role the Church of England played in the settlement of this part of New Zealand. Locally, Christchurch is known as the "Garden City" for its…

Canterbury Museum Regarded as one of the finest museums in the Southern Hemisphere, the museum is a treasure house of Canterbury and New Zealand lore. Its main attractions include a replica Christchurch street typical of colonial days, and a Hall of Antarctic Discovery containing a fascinating collection of articles used by Antarctic explorers. The Pacific Hall displays exhibits detailing the three voyages of Captain Cook, as well as mementos collected during his travels. Canterbury museum is due to close to be refurbished shortly, will be closed 5 years but a smaller "pop-up" is planned.

Shopping in Lyttelton is rather limited, but Christchurch offers plenty of shopping opportunities. Main shopping for central city located along the river and Cashel Mall, not far from Cathedral Square. Shuttles are dropping passengers on Cashel street so straight ahead to the new rebuilt areas. The Arts center features studios showcasing the works of artisans. This is one of the few places where a wide range of local crafts is represented under one roof. Have a look at the pottery, bone carvings, pewter, sculptures and jewelry.

The New Zealand dollar is used in New Zealand. A few traders do accept foreign currency, particularly in tourist destinations. The conversion from US dollars to NZ dollars is approximately US$1=NZD1.30.

Automatic teller machines (ATMs), locally known as 'the hole in the wall', are available in just about every town.

English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages of New Zealand. English is universal, and is written with Commonwealth ("British") spelling.

The emergency telephone number in New Zealand is 111.

Many public libraries have public Internet access. Generally there is a charge. Some Starbucks and mcDonalds for free WiFi.