Arrive into Christchurch

Choose through us how you arrive into Christchurch whether it is by air or land. We will ensure your travel preferences are in keeping with the arrangements we have made for you and we will make it easy to maximise the experiences you have chosen through us.

Our very special, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable host, local Geoff will be there to greet you personally and ensure your arrival runs to perfection. No delays in luggage or check-ins, everything is designed to run smoothly for you to maximise your journey with us.

As your luggage is stowed for you, sit back and relax and enjoy your private and very informative exploration around Christchurch with someone who can treat you to the “real” knowledge, the “real” stories, and the “real tips” on ensuring you know the Christchurch today, yesterday and through history.

Imagine after learning such interesting facts, arriving at your perfect evening retreat so you can freshen whilst Geoff arranges to have you taken and returned safely to your evening eatery when you are ready. Geoff as your personal concierge will have ensured the best table at the best place to dine all set up around his great knowledge of the local eateries and your favourites when it comes to cuisine.

Dine in the heart of the garden city and enjoy your company with each other before being returned to your gorgeous overnight escape with plenty of time to enjoy a great evening, a nightcap, and a perfect night’s sleep.

Day 2. Akaroa

Arise to a new morning with a delicious breakfast and enjoy a morning of peace, tranquillity and service.

When you are ready, begin your next adventure by popping into either your own car or the car we have arranged outside for you and self-drive the route we have specially designed to take in the 90-minute scenic drive to Akaroa via the picture perfect Lake Forsyth, Ellesmere and Banks Peninsula. Stop in at the quaint village of Little River, once centred around an old historic railway station now with Arts & Crafts, coffee and ice-cream. Or maybe you’d like to buy some fresh seasonal produce for the journey from the local orchard. Cheskin Orchard’s fruit bags are an absolute must as you make your way to the best hilltop view of Akaroa Harbour.

Continuing on your journey to Barry’s Bay for a brief visit to the local cheese factory with a taste of their extensive award-winning range. Try the aged Cumin Gouda or Peppered Havarti or perhaps a smooth Cheddar – a Barry’s Bay speciality since 1895 .

Arriving in Akaroa, this might be the time to stop in for a light lunch at one of our superb venues as you ready yourself for an incredible harbour cruise.

Climb on-board and head out into the deep blue harbour for a spectacular two hour discovery of Akaroa and it’s native wildlife. Now an extinct volcanic crater, allow your crew to show you secret sea caves and volcanic cliffs. Watch out for a special glimpse of the endangered Hector’s dolphins and White-flippered penguins before heading back to land.

A final outlook of this beautiful settlement to end the perfect day heads you to Summit Road, a moment to savour the view and reflect on a truly unique day. Once the sun has said its goodbye and a beautiful evening dinner has been shared at your discretion, take a short 30 minute drive to your secluded overnight accommodation and allow hosts Ron and Tanya to welcome you into their eco-green slice of heaven. They will share with you their story of Birdsong Lodge for a true experience of quintessential rural New Zealand. A fun and insightful evening before a peaceful nights rest.

Always on a mission of some description and with a colourful mix of job experiences behind them – from Dive and Boating Guide to Avalanche Forecaster to Motorbike Postie, to Hunting & Fishing Trip Expert, to Builder Par Excellence  –  Tanya and Ron will delight you with stories of how Birdsong Lodge evolved, of colourful local history, and of worthwhile places to visit nearby on your return to Christchurch. They will even take you on guided excursions of the district –  if you have time and enthusiasm.

Tanya and Ron participate in environmental responsibility through the generation of “green” electricity (the complex is powered by a private mini hydro power system and solar panels), and by maintaining and promoting a comprehensive recycling programme. Staying at Birdsong Lodge means you can be a part of the move to keep New Zealand a greener place.

Day 3. Christchurch Return

A hearty breakfast to start the day with a hot drink of coffee or tea, explore the mature forest and established garden encompassing 24 hectares of exotic plantings. From mature pine to cedar trees and wildflowers ripe for picking. After a refreshing morning, your hosts will ensure you are set on your way feeling replenished with full stomachs and happy hearts.

Now, depending on your time of leaving will determine what other wonderful activities could be added into your day to maximise your time away. Do ask us about horse riding, nature walks, swimming with the dolphins, scenic helicopter flights, sea and harbour kayaking, ATV rides, alpaca farm tours…the list is endless! And of course we can make the most amazing little coffee shops and lunch venues serve you the most incredible food en route as you road trip back to Christchurch.

This the perfect three day – two-night getaway in which you will not only know Christchurch much more intimately but you will have been able to take our level of experience, networks, and hosting skills and incorporate the same into a journey like no other. Of course, your experience with us does not have to end there!

Extend your journey through us by visiting other destinations including Kaikoura, Maruia, Arthurs Pass and Mt Cook – Aoraki for the best way of maximising your time in the South Island. We can customise any journey to suit you by tailoring length of time and location, departing Auckland, Christchurch, or Queenstown.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Discover New Zealand’s most English like city and its distinctive history from Gothic revival-architecture, the significant series of earthquakes over 2010-12 to the city’s most newly built structures. Christchurch has a unique story to tell, this story is best told by our trusted and professional host Geoff. A true local, he will share his very own passionate and personal experiences with you. Whether you have already visited Christchurch or are yet to arrive, this is a truly memorable tour of exclusive insight and background of the histories that have shaped the city and the surrounding Canterbury region – insight and value you simply cannot encounter on your own.

Stand and re-trace the steps where the first-ever European Pilgrims landed on the 16th of December 1850. Following the pilgrims path and local Maori history, Geoff will take on a special visit to Rapaki Bay, Lyttelton Harbour and view a unqiue Maori Marae in a beautiful tranquil setting.

On Saturday’s visit the Lyttelton Farmers Market which Geoff personally founded in 2001 and rated by Lonely Planet as one of New Zealand’s best before being driven to the picturesque Governors Bay, home to world-acclaimed children’s author Margaret Mahey. Fall in love with this beautiful settlement with one of the best Chocolaterie shops in New Zealand.

Explore the vast Canterbury Plains with a special visit to the Sign of The Takahe. An English styled Manor house designed by J.G Collins, one of the oldest architectural firms in New Zealand before being completed by Englishman Harry Ells in 1949. Appropriately named after the flightless native New Zealand bird, the Takahe.

Going on to visit ‘Deans Bush’ and the historic homestead, the only remnant of the original forest that covered the Canterbury plains, escaping huge fires that swept across the province during the Moa hunting period over 600 years ago.

Move into the 21st century and view the brand new, vibrant Christchurch as Geoff takes you through the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 visiting the moving White Chair memorial and temporary cardboard Anglican Cathedral built in place of the city’s much beloved Christchurch Cathedral. Importantly, also passing by Al Noor Mosque showing our respects and meeting one of the most inspirational survivors of the Mosque shootings – Farid Ahmed. His story and resilience will leave you in awe.

After a chance to freshen up at your accommodation, enjoy a gorgeous evening meal at a restaurant of your choice where your pre-booked table is awaiting your presence. Indulge in fine dining and the best of Canterbury cuisine before Geoff chauffeurs you back to your evening accommodation for the perfect evenings rest, the Britten Stables. A refurbished boutique luxury bed and breakfast where Kiwi mechanical engineer John Britten built his famous V1000 model motorbike. Relax in the contemporary ambience and allow your warm and knowledgeable hosts Isabelle and Tim to share with you their unique family story, an iconic slice of kiwi history.

Geoff has been involved in Tourism since August 1992. He is a past member of the Canterbury Tourism Council where he represented the local Adventure Tourism Industry operators. Geoff is extremely passionate and caring about what he does, and together with fellow awesome Kiwi staff, promises to give you the very best holiday experience possible while you explore our beautiful land, Aotearoa – New Zealand. Geoff is a past competitor in the famous “Coast to Coast” Endurance Race – World Championship event and has competed in numerous Marathons and Multi-sport races. Geoff absolutely loves our world – famous great outdoors, our majestic mountains, beautiful lakes and rivers, fiords, glaciers, ancient rain forests, golden sandy beaches, our unique Maori Heritage and much more. Geoff feels privileged to be able to share New Zealand’s beauty and special uniqueness with you.

Professional Host Geoff Venning

This is an experience that has been designed to take the heavy lifting out of trying to decide where to go and what to do.  Instead Love My New Zealand makes it easy within our huge network of premium partners along with our superb hosting skills to deliver an already designed journey that you can simply go and enjoy. Here is what we include:

Luxury Accommodation

Beautiful and private luxury accommodation is included for your first and second evening. An evening dinner is fully included on night two and subsequently breakfast on both mornings. Please note dinner on evening one is at your discretion.

Private Concierge and Professional Host

Private and professional concierge Geoff who will personally meet you either as you arrive into Christchurch airport on a regional flight or indeed at a predetermined location if you are driving in your own vehicle.  Settling in at your accommodation before your professional host drives you through the history of Christchurch in either our vehicles or even your own, it really is at your discretion but a time to allow your knowledge of Christchurch to be expanded.

Organisation and On-going Service

A private booking system to ensure you have the perfect table at a restaurant that suits your culinary desires and that you are taken there and returned privately so that you can enjoy a wine or even two without the worry of driving or indeed that you have the same person who really cares about your experience making sure you arrive back safely.

Car Hire

If transport is required it will be served up in a luxury modern air-conditioned vehicle (designed for your comfort and safety) whether you have flown in and require Geoff, your local professional to host you in our gorgeous vehicle or indeed if you need us to provide one of our hire vehicles with great industry rates we shall pass on to you, which by the way, will be delivered to you for the morning of day 2. Please note this option is only included if required, simply let us know.

Cheese Tasting at Barry’s Bay Cheese

Your late morning cheese tasting is definitely included. Handcrafted in New Zealand using fresh Banks Peninsula milk from local grass-fed cows. Taste a range of cheese’s and learn the secrets to their award-winning range.

Akaroa Harbour Cruise

Your special Akaroa Harbour Cruise is included in your journey, a two-hour experience and opportunity to see the endangered Hector’s Dolphins and wildlife whilst exploring the extinct volcanic crater.

Not Included:

• Day one – Your evening dinner due to everyone having a different requirement is not included.

• Any flights are not included however, we will be happy to arrange those flights on your behalf or indeed to work with you to make sure that all flights work appropriately in with your schedule.

• Day two & three – We have not included lunch as we would rather leave it to you to choose according to your own tastes and preferences. However we do have many local suggestions to make so please don’t hesitate to ask for our favourites!

Price Per Adult from NZ$990.00 GST Incl.

Extend your journey to 5 days 4 nights and save $200 per person with an exclusive private 3 night stay in Little River, your boutique accommodation 40 minutes from Akaroa. Your private hosts Ron & Tanya will ensure your every need is catered too and with the new private hot tub for you to enjoy you’ll never want to leave.

The perfect base to relax and explore from, let us guide you to the best hidden gems, local businesses and amazing things to see and do as you make the most of your escape. Car hire for your additional two days is also included in the special offer.

Price Per Adult from NZ$1,670 GST (down from $1,870)

Love My New Zealand can tailor any element of your journey to your wishes. Choose from our menu of experiences below and enquire about how we can customise your experience with us.

• Kayaking
• Swimming with Dolphins
• Guided Forest Nature Walk
• All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Rides
• Alpaca Farm Tours
• Thrilling Tandem Skydive
• Bungy Jump
• Christchurch Scenic Helicopter Flight
• Punting on The Avon River

We also offer Multi-Day Tours to Kaikoura, Arthurs Pass, Maruia and Aoraki Mount Cook. We can tailor any South Island journey to suit you and extend your experience with us, please indicate your interest in the booking form below.