The folks who ran the business were great and knowledgeable. I expected that I would see more of…read morethe penguins. I only saw tiny blurry specks in the water from very far away (even with binoculars), or I saw sleeping penguins in their box "homes" for a moment so as not to disturb them (understandable). Maybe it was because of the time of year (early January) that I didn't see very much activity? At the beginning of our adventure, we got a really nice view of the bay and learned about some of the history of the Banks Peninsula. It is such a beautiful place.

We had a fantastic time on the Pohatu Penguins sea kayak experience! Kevin and Ben are so…read morepersonable, knowledgeable and passionate about wildlife and the area. With them driving, we could admire the amazing views from the top of the hills around the backcountry of Akaroa. Our group were all first time sea kayakers and they made everybody feel completely comfortable. It was incredible to be surrounded by the turquoise waters of Flea Bay and get up close to the wildlife - we saw so many sea lions and little penguins! Very much recommend this tour!

My wife and I were here in November on a tour, and participating in a Maori paddling on the Avon…read moreRiver was one of the experiences. It is a local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or 'waka'. This was also a totally new experience for us, but to be honest, I didn't enjoy it like I did the Antarctic Adventure, which we just came from and was fun. Our group was split into two, with two Maori, one at the front and one at the back of the 'waka'. Part of it was their efforts to teach us to paddle, and and having us play a game while you hold a paddle, and the Maori yells out 3 commands: Clap your hands and grasp the paddle; Drop the paddle to your right so the person standing on your right picks it up while you pick up the paddle to your left; and then vice versa to your left. We had to practice for about 20 minutes. Finally, we got into the boat and paddled upstream for a while, as the Maori talked on different subjects. However, we couldn't hear his voice in the back of the boat very well, and coupled with the accent ... Also, some of us periodically got our paddles tangled with others. Anyway, we finally went back downstream quite a bit and eventually docked. After we gathered together, the 4 Maori gave out some songs in a very loud voice and that was it. All in all, many of us on the tour didn't think too much of it. I'm sure some others would have enjoyed it.

The team made the PADI open water a relaxed and enjoyable experience. Although relaxed they did…read moreensure you could compete all the key skills, to keep you safe. But you never felt pressured and they were happy to help you repeat a skill until you got it right. Overall professional instructors and a great company to help with your dive experience. Give them a go you won't go wrong!

Loved this short stop at the Cracroft Reserve and the Sign of the Takahe…read more Cracroft Reserve is a great park to stop and take in a panoramic view of Christchurch, Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps. Stop at the Sign of the Takahe rest house and then walk up the paved trail to the viewing platform. There is a stainless-steel table at the top with directional arrows pointing out landmarks. Sign of the Takahe is a neo-Gothic style historic building that was built as a rest and refreshment stop for the walking trails of Port Hills that overlook Christchurch and Lyttelton. It is one of four planned stops. The others included the Sign of the Kiwi, the Sign of the Bellbird and the Sign of the Packhorse. Construction began in 1918, but took another 30 years to complete. The building is named after the endemic flightless native bird, the Takahe. Built during the Great Depression, cost savings were implemented. Local stone was quarried and then hand chiseled into blocks. The heavy Kauri wood beams in the entrance hall were salvaged from a former bridge. The timber ceilings came from packing cases. The fireplace is an exact replica from historic Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. Walk along the paved walk to breathe on the crisp morning air and enjoy a beautiful view overlooking Christchurch. Thanks to our tour guide, Scotty, for this magical experience.

Had a fantastic experience at Orana Park! For just under $30, you can spend a day visiting…read moredifferent animals and interacting with them. The feeding schedules were timed so efficiently that it helped lead you throughout the park at the perfect pace. Although the variety is small compared to other zoos, the focus on the wildlife was great. It was fun going through the bird sanctuary and seeing a Kea asleep on the rail just a foot away from me. The lions, tigers, kiwi, and giraffe feeding are real highlights! The on-site cafe had a wonderful variety of great food and the gift shop had a huge assortment of souvenirs that don't break the bank! There was seating inside the cafe, nice outdoor picnic spots, and also extra activities to do while visiting Orana. The highlight of my experience was being able to hand-feed the giraffes! WOW. We wanted to do the lion encounter however they were sold-out. Next time I go, I'll be sure to pre-book the lion encounter! According to my friend who brought us to Orana, depending on the season and if you're lucky, you can have the opportunity to pet baby cheetahs. The volunteers were fantastic and full of knowledge. If you're ever in Christchuch, go check out Orana Wildlife Park. A unique and amazing experience- well worth the money.

This is the 'zoo' of Christchurch, and it's huge! While it doesn't have a huge range of animals -…read moreit mainly sticks to farmyard, elephants, lions, tigers, giraffes, hippos, monkeys etc it still is a great day out. It even makes you feel a little like you're on safari! There is a bus that drives around the park to take you from place to place if you'd rather that than walk. There are a few food outlets, but once you get deep into the animal areas you generally have to walk back to the main entrance to find the food. It's definitely stroller friendly, and there are a few good areas for smaller kids, like the farmyard where you can pat alpacas, sheep and goats.

Beautiful park in the center of Christchurch with hidden history…read more Around 1000 an early Māori tribe used the area along the river for food gathering. In 1850, Christchurch was surveyed and this area was used the economic centre or marketplace. Here was the first post office, police station, jail, work stores, immigration barracks, and a market hall. In 1896 the park became more of what you see today. Famous landmarks include the Captain James Cook statue, Queen Victoria statue, H. L. Bowker Fountain, and the Victoria Square Poupou. It also features the country's oldest cast iron and stone bridge, now known as the Hamish Hay Bridge. There's plenty of large shades trees to keep you cool as you stroll through the park on a summer day. Especially as the Avon cuts through the center. Take your time and wander, there are several historic markers to read. Just past the bridge is a flower bed that is a clock.

Jellie Park is an incredible recreation center in the heart of Ilam. With plenty of acres of land,…read moreJellie Park has room for an indoor and outdoor pool area complete with a separate diving pool and multiple slides as well as an intense training center and plenty of recreation fields. Parking is a bit of an issue as the lot is small (there is overflow during the dry summer months). Jellie Park is a great way to get out, be social or get fit as there are exercise classes, swim lessons or space to just lay out and enjoy the sunshine. Recently they held the Weet-Bix TRYathalon for over 2200 kids (with families camped out in support) and the grounds were more than capable to handle the crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Jellie Park!

Loved this local gem in Christchurch…read more Mona Vale was renamed by Annie Quayle Townend after her mother's house in Tasmania. Annie inherited one million pounds as the sole surviving child in her family. This made her the richest independent woman in 1905. Mona Vale was originally called Karewa when it was built in 1899-1900. Townend added the gatehouse, more land and gardens and a Fernery to the property. Ferneries are quite popular in New Zealand. After her death, the property went through several owners including the Church of Later Day Saints. When the church tried to sell the property to a private developer, there was a major public outcry. Community fundraising helped to turn the homestead into a beautiful public park and gardens open for all to enjoy. Our guide, Scotty dropped us off at the Fendalton Road gatehouse. So nice to able to walk along the Avon River enjoying the weeping willows and the agapanthus until we reached the rose garden. The rose garden is gorgeous. Love all the different varieties. Also interesting to visit the Fernery which seem to be quite popular in New Zealand. So many different varieties of huge ferns. Loved seeing the purple cardoon, artichoke thistle, and large yellow garden dahlias. A beautiful walk though the park in Christchurch,

What a beautiful garden. We only saw just a little bit of it as our guide wanted to show us the…read morefernery. It really is a greenhouse full of ferns. The gardens right outside are gorgeous. The tulips were in full bloom and amazing. They were nearly the size of my hand. I would have loved to have taken a picnic or have afternoon tea in the Gardens. Christ church is full of many beautiful parks and this is certainly one.