christchurch double decker bus city tour

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Christchurch by Double-Decker Bus

Lyttelton (Christchurch), New Zealand

Activity Level

Excursion Type

City Tour,Local Sightseeing

Wheelchair Accessible

Starting At

Minimum Age

Information Not Currently Available

Approximately 3½ Hours

Meals Included

Meals not included

Cross the port hills to the village of Sumner and head into the city center of Christchurch. Here you'll board an open-air kiwi double-decker bus (weather permitting) for a fun and informative 45-minute tour of Christchurch. You'll discover why Christchurch is known as 'the Garden City' and is considered one of the most English cities outside of England. Learn about Christchurch's fascinating history from pioneering days through modern times. View some of the areas affected by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and learn how Christchurch is now preserving some of its iconic heritage buildings. Your guide will share aspects of the exciting vision and plan to rebuild and restore the inner city, and will interweave the experience with stories and up-to-date information as you circuit the city. Key central landmarks include the Earthquake Memorial Wall, Cathedral Square, the Margaret Mahy Playground, the Avon River and the Cardboard Cathedral.

Visit the stunning Mona Vale Gardens in the Christchurch suburb of Fendalton. Set out on a guided walk through the gorgeous gardens. The homestead and gatehouse are both heritage buildings.

En route back to Lyttelton, you'll stop briefly at Sign of the Takahe -- an early 20th-century hikers' waypoint lodge built in neo-Gothic style -- for breathtaking views over Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and (on a clear day) the Southern Alps.

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Christchurch

Christchurch by Double Decker Bus

Adult from $79.99 Children (12 & under) from $59.99

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Discover Christchurch – Double Decker City Tour

Price on request

3.5 hours | Year round

Introduction

Today enjoy a fun and informative tour of Christchurch, on a London Double Decker bus!

Learn about Christchurch’s fascinating history from the pioneering days through to the modern day and learn how Christchurch is recovering from the devastating earthquake which has now become a major event in New Zealand’s history.

The tour then heads out to the beautiful seaside area of Sumner where you will have time to enjoy an ice cream on the beach, before heading to the Port Hills to enjoy breathtaking views over the city, Canterbury plains and out to the Southern Alps.

Prepare to explore a truly stunning city with both an epic and recent history.

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Double-Decker Christchurch City Tour – 213

Day 213 on the road, exploring christchurch by double-decker bus.

Today we are jumping on a double-decker bus tour of Christchurch City. If you like this video and want more inspiration for your New Zealand bucket list, then get yourself on our epic YouTube Channel !

Today we’re gonna be taking an open-top double-decker bus tour of Christchurch City.

This morning we are leaving the little township of Methven and are making our way to the largest city of the South Island of New Zealand which is Christchurch. We’re having a meet-up in the Botanic Gardens with the team from Hassle-Free Tours for a double-decker tour of the city but because we’re here early it gives us plenty of time to check out the beautiful rose garden.

Christchurch is known as the garden city of New Zealand it has tens of gardens scattered all around the city and it is known for having some of the most beautiful ones of the country but we’ll get back to that a little bit later on this week when we are gonna give ourselves plenty of time to explore this gorgeous Botanic Garden.

And despite the weather being really rainy our tour is right on time and we are jumping on with the team from Hassle-Free Tours in their doubledecker tour of the whole city of Christchurch.

Whatever the weather Robin and I are super keen on top of this open top double decker bus so we can ideal views all around the inner city of Christchurch.

Aside from being the Garden City, Christchurch is also known as being the most English city outside of England so it only seems appropriate that we are touring around in a big red double-decker bus just like as if we were in London.

Throughout this city tour we are seeing all the major highlights of Christchurch from Cathedral Square to the re:START mall which is a whole shopping mall made out of shipping containers.

However, a tour around Christchurch is a lot different to other city tours around the world. Christchurch has some earthquakes between 2010 and 2011 which really did devastate the city and you can see scars of that earthquake still evident seven years later.

We see some of Christchurch’s heritage buildings absolutely devastated by the earthquakes but nevertheless there is a lot of new builds here in Christchurch and a lot of examples of how the city has revived. We see one of my favourite streets here which is New Regent Street which is full of colour lots of cafes and a tramway going right through the middle. We also see a lot of street art as well just to show that this is still an awesome and vibrant city.

In total we spend over an hour going all around the city centre of Christchurch stopping at almost every major landmark both historical, touristic and even places where the earthquake struck so hard.

In my mind Christchurch is a really underrated city in the mind of most backpackers. Most backpackers think that this is the best place to work work which is true there is heaps of work in the area and it’s also a pretty cheap city to live in there is also a lot to do around the town and this is why we decided to take a tour around the city just to get a bit of an overview on everything there is to do here and be able to plan the best trip ever for this week that we’re gonna be spending in Christchurch.

Our next stop for this tour is in the suburb of Port Hills and this really cool point is a hilltop viewpoint called the Sign of the Takahe lookout. There we can see all the surrounding area or at least if it was a beautiful weather we could have seen that but right now we only see clouds so after taking a couple of pictures we hop back in the bus for our next destination.

Throughout this tour our guide Ross has been giving us non-stop commentary of everything we’re seeing as we are driving through Christchurch and he’s telling us now about the next suburb we’re gonna be heading to which is Sumner Beach.

Sumner Beach is not only a famous surf spot here in Christchurch it’s also backed by these awesome volcanic cliffs and we’re gonna be exploring more of Sumner Beach as Ross is parking up the Double-decker bus and giving us about 15 to 20 minutes to check out the area.

As you can see by the weather it’s clearly not summer in Sumner but we get the time to explore Cave Rock which is a volcanic cave right on the side of Sumner Beach and it gives us much welcome shelter form the rain.

Rock Cave is pretty cool and pretty fun to explore but Sumner itself is also an amazing suburb of Christchurch. It’s the perfect summer resort where you can get your ice cream your fish and chips walk alongside the beach hand-in-hand with your lover all those summer activities are done by people living in Christchurch right here in Sumner.

And funnily enough we are not the only ones looking for shelter from the rain under this cave. We see also some little native bird it’s really cool to spot some wildlife while doing a city tour of Christchurch that’s quite ironic when sometimes hiking in the most remote forests of the country we can’t find anything.

We wrap up our tour right back in the city centre of Christchurch and we are now making our way to Jucy Snooze where we’re gonna be spending the night.

Look how cool that is. I love it. I don’t have to talk to a single person to do all of that.

Tomorrow we are crossing the majestic Southern Alps in one of the 10… oh hell… Tomorrow we’re crossing the majestic Southern Alps in one of the world’s 10 best ahhhhh.

Tomorrow we’re crossing the majestic Southern Argh!!

Tomorrow we’re crossing one of the majestic … not one of the… train journey arghhhh!

NZ Travel Vlog

• Day 1 - Day 50
• Day 51 - Day 100
• Day 101 - Day 150
• Day 151 - Day 200
• Day 201 - Day 250
• Day 251 - Day 300
• Day 301 - Day 350

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Christchurch Sightseeing Tour by Classic Double-Decker Bus

What You'll Experience

These Hop on Hop Off 'Soaring Kiwi Tours' are the very best way to experience the 'magic' of Christchurch!  With a mix of open and closed top double-decker buses, you will ride in comfort and style, enjoying spectacular views from the top deck. See first-hand the exciting rebuild that is taking place after the devastating 2011 earthquakes. Enjoy fantastic views from the top deck of our double decker-buses, while being entertained by the commentary from our local Kiwi guides. Chose from our 1 hour Central Tour Route or 2 hour Discover Route or for the complete tour take advantage of the savings with our Combo Tour Pass. 48 Hour Combo Passes also include free entry to Quake City!

Central Tour:

The Central Tour red loop is operated on an open top double decker bus and is a one hour long tour, or you can choose to spend all day hopping on and off at the different stops along the way. On this tour you will see how the earthquakes have completely changed the Christchurch central city landscape and you will see and learn about the exciting rebuild, which is now well underway.

Central Tour Route includes the Canterbury Museum, Mona Vale, Westfield Riccarton Mall, Cardboard Cathedral, Christchurch Catholic Basilica, Margaret Mahy Playground, Cathedral Square, and Earthquake Memorial/The Terrace.

Discover Tour:

The Discover Tour blue loop is a two hour tour operated on a Classic London closed roof double decker bus. This tour travels into the ‘red zone’ which is a residential area where more than 6000 homes were demolished after the earthquakes.

Your guide will talk about the many exciting opportunities that are being explored to redevelop this area. The

 tour then heads out to the beautiful seaside area of Sumner where you will have time to enjoy an ice cream on the beach, before heading to the Port Hills to enjoy breathtaking views over the city, Canterbury plains and out to the Southern Alps.

Discover Tour Route includes the Canterbury Museum,Residential “Red Zone”, Sumner Village, and the Sign of the Takahe/Port Hills. 

Combo Tour Pass (Central Tour + Discover Tour):

Explore the very best that Christchurch has to offer with one fantastic combo pass. Enjoy both tour routes and SAVE. 48 Hour Combo pass includes FREE Quake City Museum Tour. There is no better way to spend a day in Christchurch! 

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Review: The Big Bus Tour in New York City

I absolutely loved the Big Bus Tour in New York City. It’s the best way to go sightseeing in an open-top, hop-on hop-off, top-rated tour and explore the best New York attractions !

If this is your first-time visiting New York and you want to see all the top landmarks, this double-decker tour bus will take you there.

The Big Bus Tour in New York

You may be wondering if a hop-on hop-off bus is worth it. Absolutely, yes!

If you consider the time and money spent on transportation costs, waiting for buses, navigating the subway (which can be confusing for visitors), and getting from one point of interest to another, it is worth every dollar!

I had a great visit to New York City on Big Bus Tour. My goal was to show the city to some friends from Italy who were visiting the US for the first time.

Since we only had about two days to spend together, the hop-on hop-off was undoubtedly the best decision.

From our experience, we’ll answer commonly asked questions about the Hop-on Hop-off bus while visiting New York City.

Google Reviews

Why take the big bus tour in new york.

While seeing New York from the open-top deck of the double-decker bus, the city unfolded block by block with panoramic views from every angle.

As we traveled through the streets, the sights were unobstructed and new visual backdrops were revealed.

The towering skyscrapers and colorful billboards filled the air with excitement and as the cityscape continued to change, it gave a grand feeling to the experience.

I especially enjoyed being able to relax from the upper deck of the bus while taking in the energy of city scenes.

Because I also live in a large city, the rhythm felt familiar from the elevated vantage point .

Car horns were honking, crowds traversed through the streets and there was an endless hum of activity.

Best of all, the tour gave me the chance to interact with other travelers who were seeing New York while waiting for the tour to began.

We struck up conversations and exchanged stories, insights, and recommendations during our stay in New York.

How Much is the Big Bus Tour in New York

The regular price of an adult and child ticket is $60.00 and $50.00, respectively. However, you can use the link below for discounted fares.

Get discounts for the Big Bus Tour NYC  here .

How Long is the Big Bus Tour in New York

The round-trip New York City Big Bus Tour takes about two hours from start to finish.

The bus is the perfect solution for visitors worldwide because they offer pre-recorded audio narratives and translations in five languages — French, German, Spanish, Italian, and English.

Are There Toilets on the Big Bus

No. Unlike charter buses, you won’t travel long between stops. So the best thing to do is exit at a stop, find a public restroom, see an attraction, if desired, and then catch the next bus.

If you are not sure where to find one, ask a Big Bus guide on the street. The driver may also have some suggestions.

Charter buses come equipped with a bathroom because travel is expected to be for a much longer period.

How Does the Big Bus Tour Work in New York City

The tour offers three options for purchase — 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day.

When you decide the number of days of your tour and purchase your ticket, the clock starts when your ticket is scanned while boarding the bus for the first time.

The ticket is good for 24, 48, or 72 hours. So, if you have a 1-day ticket and board the bus at 11:00 AM on Monday, it can still be used until 11:00 AM on Tuesday.

We found a ton of touring options for sightseeing in New York.

Aside from the extended period, the 2 and 3-day tickets also offer discounted bike rentals.

The buses run every 20 minutes on average. However, the first stop at the M&M store can be a long wait during peak season.

You can exit or board at any of the designated stops as much as you want.

The only exclusion is the one-loop tour Night Tour which is a panoramic non-stop tour.

Where to Catch the Big Bus Tour in New York City

During the tour, the buses only stop at designated stops.

Your ticket is good for as long as the buses operate during the day and it may be used on both the red and blue routes.

When you board, make sure you get a hop-on hop-off New York bus route map!

Big Bus NYC Red Route

The red route sightseeing tour covers lower Manhattan and you’ll see many landmarks like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Wall Street, the Chrysler Building, and General Grant’s Tomb.

You can catch a tour at any one of the following bus stops and you can get your tickets in advance of boarding.

1 – M&M’s World – 7th Ave & W 48th St (Outside M&M World & Majestic Deli)

2 – Times Square East – W 42nd St & Broadway (at Knickerbocker Hotel)

3 – Empire State Building / Korea Town – 5th Ave & W 32nd St (at CVS Pharmacy)

4 – Flatiron District – 5th Ave & W 23rd St (at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop)

5 – SoHo – Broadway and Spring Street (at Nike Store)

6 – Chinatown / Little Italy – 100 Lafayette Street (near the corner at Walker St)

7 – Brooklyn Bridge – Park Row & Beekman St (across from 33 Park Row)

8 – Wall Street / Charging Bull – Broadway & Wall St (Southwest corner near Rector St)

9 – Statue of Liberty / Battery Park – State St and Bridge St (at Subway Entrance)

10 – Circle Line Sightseeing – 12th Ave & 40th St (opposite Pier 81)

11 – Times Square North – 7th Ave & W 50th St (at Majestic Deli)

Big Bus NYC Blue Route

The blue route covers upper Manhattan, and half of the ride is mostly views of Central Park. You can switch to the blue route at red stop #2.

We recommend changing routes at stop #11 (the Majestic Deli) where you can take a break and have a nice lunch.

12 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art – 5th Ave & E 83rd St (near 83rd St)

13 – Central Park Zoo – 5th Ave & E 66th St (opposite 845 5th Ave)

14 – Columbus Circle – Central Park & Columbus Circle (SW corner of Central Park)

Tips and Things to Know Before You Go

The bus has two levels, the upper level offers panoramic views of the city but be careful of overhanging traffic lights and trees. Don’t stand while the bus is in motion.

• After you find a seat, check the audio to confirm it is working.
• Snacks are allowed. Bring a frozen bottle of water and protein bites to keep you energized.
• When on the upper deck, cover up with sunscreen to protect your skin on hot sunny days.
• If you are a family of 3 or more, take seats across from one another so you’ll have views and photos from both sides of the bus.

Tourists were lined up at stop #1 at least an hour before departure and the line extended the entire block and rounded the corner.

We decided to see other points of interest and returned around 11:00 AM.

The wait to board the bus was about 20 minutes. It was a relaxing ride and there we saw so much!

By the time we reached stop #9, we were pumped and ready to exit the bus so that we could explore the city! And you probably will be too.

Here’s the secret sauce that really made the experience memorable. Exit at stop #9 and take a FREE ferry to Staten Island.

To see the Statue of Liberty, stand on the left side of the boat. When returning, stand on the right side.

Traveling on a budget? Read my review of the Westside YMCA Hotel !

Final Thoughts About the Big Bus Tour in New York City

Overall, the tour was a pleasant way to see New York city and when you are on the upper deck, you hardly notice the traffic.

Some other advantages of seeing the city by bus include:

• Avoiding parking hassles. I mean, who actually drives in New York?!
• Photo opportunities. With the open-top or large windows, you have excellent photo opportunities as you pass by iconic landmarks and cityscapes.
• Comprehensive sightseeing of major landmarks and attractions within two hours.
• You can get local recommendations from the guides who operate the bus.

I usually opt for a hop-on hop-off bus when I am short on time or to get my bearings in the city before deciding what to do.

Either way, when you take the tour bus, it doesn’t appear impossible to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

Happy Travels!