Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Lyttelton, Christchurch
Search:

Christchurch Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Lyttelton, Christchurch

Wonderful picturesque views over to Lyttelton - Christchurch
Wonderful picturesque views over to Lyttelton
by rozehill
Lyttelton tips and photos posted by real travelers and Christchurch locals.

10km from City Center, through the Tunnel
• 16 Photos
• 11 Reviews

See all Christchurch Off the Beaten Path
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Lyttelton: The infamous Leper Colony
  • Tip Rating:
  • knerten
  • By knerten on July 20, 2004
  • Christchurch Page by knerten
  • Walkway on Quail Island - Christchurch
    Walkway on Quail Island
    by knerten
    Quail Island is an island just south of Lyttelton. There's a walk that will take you all around the island (2-3 hours), but there's a lot to see, and there's signs and stories along the way.
    Named after the now extinct native Quail, the island was used as a leper colony in the early 1900s and as a quarantine station by the early European settlers.
    There is public transport available to Lyttelton on the number 28 bus, taking around half an hour from the central city. The ferry service is provided by Black Cat from ?B? Jetty, follow the blue dolphin signs in the walkway across the bridge. It takes 10 minutes to the island. The ferry runs year-round, in the summer it makes to calls at Quail Island, in the winter only one, so you have the option of a 2 hour stay or a 5 hour stay (only this one in winter). However, the ferry is the same that runs From Lyttelton to and from Diamond Harbour all day, and if you're caught by bad weather, and you are too wet or too cold to wait for the ferry, you may call the ferry company and ask them to make an unscheduled call at Quail Island. They did that when I was there, but then we were the only 2 people on the island that day...
    Remember to bring your own food and drink, as there's nothing on the island to serve you, at least not in winter when I went there.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Christchurch?

    Read reviews about Christchurch Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Lyttelton: The lovely Port Town
  • Tip Rating:
  • fishandchips
  • Updated By fishandchips on June 27, 2007
  • Christchurch Page by fishandchips
  • Town with Cemetary in the middle - Christchurch
    Town with Cemetary in the
    middle
    by fishandchips, 2 more photos
    Lyttelton is a nice place to start a day trip around the harbour and to the various bays and places. Lyttelton can be approached from many directions with the most common either through the tunnel via Heathcote Valley or over the hill from Sumner.

    There are several places of note to visit including the Time Ball station, old Gaol and the Wonderbar.

    Once you are here you can continue on around the various bays including Rapaki, Cass, Corsair, Charteris (inlc Orton Bradley Park with Golf Course and great walks), Govenors and Diamond Harbour. Further round gets you to Purau and Port Levy.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Lyttelton
  • Tip Rating:
  • rozehill
  • Updated By rozehill on January 15, 2003
  • Christchurch Page by rozehill
  • Lyttelton - Christchurch
    by rozehill
    Visit the town of Lyttelton, population of 3100, was connected to the city in 1964 by a 2 km road tunnel and is now the South Islands main port. In the middle of the harbour are the fascinating islands, Quail ,and Ripapa which have an interesting history.
    Lyttelton Harbour is the northern of two sea inlets on Banks Peninsula which James Cook first sighted in 1770, thought was an island and named after naturalist Sir Joseph Banks. It had a violent beginning as a volcanic island that erupted 11 million years ago. Christchuch's first settlers landed in Lyttelton in 1850 and then made the historic trek over the Bridal Path to the "swamp", that is now Christchurch.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Lyttelton Harbour
  • Tip Rating:
  • martin_nl
  • Updated By martin_nl on September 24, 2004
  • Christchurch Page by martin_nl
  • Lyttelton Harbour - Christchurch
    Lyttelton Harbour
    by martin_nl
    From Cashmere we made our way to Lyttleton and it's stunning harbour. It was a very windy day and stopping at windy point look out wasn't the best idea. We were almost blown away, but the views of the harbour were great. The water in the harbour is of some special colour I had never seen before in the sea. It was funny since there was a big cruise ship of the Holland America Line, and being Dutch I thought that was quite a coincidence.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Lyttelton
  • Tip Rating:
  • keeweechic
  • Updated By keeweechic on August 2, 2003
  • Christchurch Page by keeweechic
  • Lyttelton - Christchurch
    by keeweechic
    Lyttelton is the lovely scenic port of Christchurch. It is a wonderful sight driving into Lyttleton from the hills and looking down.

    There are lots of little coves and boat moorings and you can reach Lyttelton by driving through the road tunnel or over the Port Hills.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Christchurch?

    Read reviews about Christchurch Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Lyttelton: LYTTLETON HARBOUR
  • Tip Rating:
  • kiwigal_1
  • Updated By kiwigal_1 on October 22, 2004
  • Christchurch Page by kiwigal_1
  • Lyttleton Harbour - Christchurch
    Lyttleton Harbour
    by kiwigal_1
    The town of Lyttleton and Lyttleton Harbour are situated over the hill from Christchurch. The view from Banks Peninsula is really amazing. The best way to see the view is to drive up.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Walking track
    rozehill
  • Updated By rozehill on January 30, 2003
  • Christchurch Page by rozehill
  • Wonderful picturesque views over to Lyttelton - Christchurch
    Wonderful picturesque views
    over to Lyttelton
    by rozehill
    From the roadside there is a wee walking track about 10 minutes down to see the shore

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Time honoured tradition
    TheWanderingCamel
  • Updated By TheWanderingCamel on April 9, 2008
  • Christchurch Page by TheWanderingCamel
  • Lyttelton - Christchurch
    by TheWanderingCamel
    Lyttelton Time Ball Station harks back to an historic maritime practice that was a vital part of safety at sea. Dropping the time ball is a ritual that followed the invention of the chronometer - the instrument that meant ships at sea could navigate their way across lines of longitude with an accuracy - and resultant safety - never before experienced in maritime history. Invented in 1829, the time ball's function is to give ships in harbour a signal by which to set their chronometers with complete accuracy. Once a feature of ports everywhere, first the radio telegraph and then electronic technology have seen time balls removed and nowadays there are only about 60 left all around the world.

    Like the vast majority of timeball stations Lyttelton dropped its ball at 1pm. The ball was raised half way at 5 minutes to 1 to signal the ships in the harbour and then raised to the top. The moment the ball began to fall signalled the precise Greenwich time by which maritime chronometers are set. Lyttelton's timeball came into service in 1876 and continued to drop daily until 1934 when radio signals took over.

    Although the castle-like building was put to various uses after that it wasn't until 1978 that it was fully restored and opened as an important part of Lyttelton's maritime history and one of only 5 functioning timeballs in the world.

    Open: Daily October- -5.30pm. May-September - Wednesday to Sunday 10-5.30.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Worth the the drive on the winding road
    rozehill
  • Updated By rozehill on January 30, 2003
  • Christchurch Page by rozehill
  • Pleasant - Christchurch
    Pleasant
    by rozehill
    Visit Diamond Harbour

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lyttelton: Diamond Harbour
    rozehill
  • Updated By rozehill on January 30, 2003
  • Christchurch Page by rozehill
  • Stoney beach - Christchurch
    Stoney beach
    by rozehill
    Walk down to see the beautiful stoney beach

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Christchurch Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 119 - Photos: 81
    Things To Do
    Tips: 495 - Photos: 741
    Nightlife
    Tips: 44 - Photos: 28
    Transportation
    Tips: 94 - Photos: 80
    Restaurants
    Tips: 169 - Photos: 172
    Shopping
    Tips: 43 - Photos: 39
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 127 - Photos: 201
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 13 - Photos: 11
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 31 - Photos: 15
    Local Customs
    Tips: 43 - Photos: 43
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 11 - Photos: 9
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 45 - Photos: 46
    General Tips
    Tips: 142 - Photos: 161
    Flights
    Tips: 18 - Photos: 0

    Best Christchurch Travel Deals

    Top 5 Star Resorts
    Luxury Resorts Per Your Needs & Style. Bid Now To Get Special Rates

    Crowne Plaza Christchurch
    Christchurch Hotels. Book Online Or Call 877-270-1395

    Holiday Inn Christchurch
    Official Site. No booking fees. Low internet rate guaranteed.

    Luxury Accommodation
    Award Winning Boutique Hotel In Christchurch, NZ

    Christchurch Hotel
    Cheap 4* Accommodation Deals. Up to 75% Off! Book Online & Save.

    Sponsored Links

    More Christchurch Travel Deals

    Luxury New Zealand Travel
    High End Travel to New Zealand Stay in Upscale 5 star Resorts

    Christchurch Hotels
    Compare Christchurch hotel deals Book now and save!

    Luxury Holidays : A&K
    A&K, World's Premiere Luxury Travel Company. Official Site.

    Sponsored Links


    Christchurch Hotels





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.