Lyttelton Cruise Excursions: Christchurch Sightseeing with Sheep Farm

The trip we booked was not the trip we got! The trip as advertised; Sign of the Takahe Mona Vale Gardens Cathedral Square Riverside Market Toby Hill Farm What we got? A long drive in a very poor van with no leg room straight out to Arakawa so that 6 people could get out and catch their Black Cat Excursion?? We were left to wander around for 45 minutes before continuing on to Coombs farm for the sheep demonstration and tea. This was the only good part of the tour. The setting was idyllic and the farmer’s wife made us a lively afternoon tea in her garden. I understand they run a B&B as well and would highly recommend it. I will never book with Leisure Tours again.

The tour operator changed this tour and didn’t tell us. We did not get what we signed up for. They apparently combined our tour with a jet boating tour and they changed the sheep farm we visited to accommodate the jet boating people. The result was we missed all sightseeing in Christchurch. The van was very old and very uncomfortable. Everyone complained that their knees hurt, and there was no legroom. The tour operator seemed unsure of what he was supposed to do. We drove well over an hour and a half to a town on the water so the jet boating people could get off Then he took us to a sheep farm COMBS farm, which was lovely. He did not tell us how long we would be there. We did get a demonstration of the dog, bringing the sheep down the hill into a paddock and sheep sharing demo. The farmer explained everything and we got to touch the animals which was wonderful. Their place is idyllic. His wife was so sweet. She made tea and coffee and scones and biscuits for us and we sat outside in just the most peaceful place you’ve ever seen, it was stunningly beautiful there. They were very gracious. They also run a B&B (Combs Farm) so if you’re ever in the area and want to stay there, I would recommend it. Then back in the awful van to go collect the boating people and an hour on our own in a town we didn’t plan to visit. Cute but nothing to do except walk around aimlessly to kill time. Back in the awful van more than an hour back to Christchurch where the driver pointed things out as we whizzed by them. The tour description listed several stops in Christchurch and we didn’t get any of them because of the time wasted in unknown town. I’d be happier if they had told us our tour was changed and gave us the opportunity to cancel but there was no communication about the change. Id wish for a refund but that wouldn’t compensate for completely missing Christchurch. It took 3 days for my knee to stop hurting from the awful old van. Here is what we DID NOT get (from tour description) Stop At: Sign of the Takahe, 200 Hackthorne Road, Cashmere, Christchurch 8022, New Zealand Best spot to admire some spectacular views over the City, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps. Duration: 30 minutes Stop At: Mona Vale, 63 Fendalton Rd Riccarton, Christchurch 8004 New Zealand Time spent walking through Mona Vale Gardens with its picturesque Gardens, Ponds & river. Duration: 30 minutes Stop At: Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand Time spent on foot exploring Cathedral Square Duration: 30 minutes Stop At: Riverside Market, 96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand Very dissatisfied. Only good thing was Combs farm.

Quite a bit of driving, the upside is experiencing the stunning scenery and hearing about New Zealand. We really enjoyed the Sheep farm visit. Seeing the working dog, sheep shearing and delightful Tea and cookies. Lovely gardens at the farm. ChristChurch was a drive by today, fine with me but not as advertised.