Cruise Season 2024-2025
Cruise Season 2024-2025
As Lyttelton is a Customs Port, you cannot walk from the cruise ship into Lyttelton - you must catch a shuttle.
Shuttle to Lyttelton
There are free shuttles departing from the cruise berth which will drop you into Lyttelton and drop you on Norwich Quay.
The shuttle frequencies are "on demand".
Shuttle to Christchurch
Passengers can pay to take a shuttle direct from the cruise berth into New Zealand's second largest city, Christchurch. The shuttle to Christchurch drops passengers off at The Bridge of Remembrance on Cashel Street. Shuttles are organised, operated, and priced by the cruise lines - contact your local cruise line or ask on board the cruise ship what these prices will be.
The shuttle frequencies are "on-demand".
Wheelchair Access
There are shuttle buses which are wheelchair accessible, sometimes there may be a wait for a wheelchair accessible bus to arrive.
Pre-Booked Independent Tours
Passengers who have pre-booked independent tours (this is any activity not booked as a shore excursion through your cruise line) departing Lyttelton, must shuttle to Norwich Quay in Lyttelton to meet their tours or private transfers.
Christchurch Gondola
Passengers who wish to travel to the Christchurch Gondola can take a pre-booked shore excursion directly from the cruise berth to the Gondola return. Check with your cruise line.
You can shuttle to Lyttelton from the cruise ship and bus to the Gondola using Metro’s Route 8 Port-to-Port bus, although cruise ship passengers are asked to use shuttles where they can, respecting locals who rely on public transport. The bus only accepts cash and is unable to process credit or debit cards. It is requested that cash notes of $20 NZD or under are to be used for paying for bus fares.
Other Transport Options
As well as taking the cruise shuttles, or buses - there are a number of Taxi companies and Uber that can drive to Lyttelton to pick cruise passengers up - some more info on this in link below:
https://nzpocketguide.com/
Local Buses
There are also local public transport options available, however we would ask any cruise ship passengers to please use the shuttle services provided, respecting locals who rely on our public transport for their daily lives.
If you are to use the bus, it is requested that cash notes of $20 NZD or under are to be used for paying for fares.
Cash fares:
- $4 Adult
- $2 Children (5-18 years)
- Children under 5 are free
When a fare is purchased, you are entitled to one free transfer using your ticket receipt. You can use your transfer on any Metro bus service within the two-hour transfer period. The free transfer ticket does not include the Diamond Harbour Ferry.
Local bus options include:
Route 8 Port-to-Port
This bus can be caught from Lyttelton at Norwich Quay to access Christchurch city and the Antarctic Centre/Airport.
Route 155 Eastgate/Lyttelton shopper service
This bus will take you to Ferrymead and you can then catch Route 3 bus to Sumner or in the opposite direction to Christchurch City Centre, the Hospital and on out to the airport.
If you stay on the 155 bus it will take you through to Eastgate where you can connect with the Orbiter and several other routes.
Route 3 Airport or Sheffield Cres to Sumner
The Complete Metro Bus Network can be viewed here.
Diamond Harbour Ferry
A ferry can be taken across Lyttelton Harbour to Diamond Harbour, a small township across the water. There is a cafe or two, and areas to walk to get a different perspective of the Harbour.
To get to the Diamond Harbour Ferry, walk down Norwich Quay to the overbridge that is at the Norwich Quay and Oxford Street intersections (you will see a restaurant called SUPER on the corner of this intersection). Walk past Super over the overbridge/ road (that goes over the port train tracks). At the second set of stairs on the left - walk down these and follow signs onto the Diamond Harbour Ferry Wharf. You can also walk all the way over the overbridge/ road and turn left, to avoid taking the stairs, and walk down towards the Diamond Harbour Ferry Wharf).
Cash or Eftpos (including contactless payment) is accepted on the Ferry, though they may not have change for large cash notes.
The Ferry ride is a 10 minute trip to Diamond Harbour Wharf. To get into the township, there are steps and hill walk (which is the easier route), or a steeper hill walk if you avoid the steps.
More information on the Diamond Harbour Ferry (scroll down the page in the link to find timetables): https://www.blackcat.co.nz/diamond-harbour-ferry/
More information on Diamond Harbour: https://diamondharbour.info/