1-Day Robinsons Bay Bliss: Gardens to Alpacas

by Mia

May 8, 2024 · 1 min read

Embark on a delightful one-day journey to Robinsons Bay, where nature's beauty and unique attractions await. Begin your day with a peaceful stroll through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, where you can immerse yourself in a variety of plant collections for two hours, surrounded by the vibrant colors and fragrances of meticulously curated flora. Next, let the gentle currents of the Avon River guide you through Christchurch's heart for an hour, offering a tranquil experience as you admire the city from a different perspective. Conclude your day with a visit to Shamarra Alpacas, a charming farm set against the picturesque backdrop of Akaroa's rolling hills. Spend an hour here getting up close with these friendly creatures, learning about their care, and perhaps even taking home a soft alpaca wool souvenir. This one-day itinerary is a perfect blend of relaxation, nature, and unique animal encounters, all within the stunning setting of Robinsons Bay.

Top 6 Hotels in Robinsons Bay

TOP 1

Beaufort House Akaroa

5/5

14 reviews

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TOP 2

Loch Sloy Farmstay

3/5

0 reviews

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TOP 3

La Voyageur Apartments

3/5

14 reviews

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Akaroa Country House

4/5

1 review

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Club Lavaud

3/5

0 reviews

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Akaroa FyrneBrooke House

3/5

0 reviews

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Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1

Christchurch Botanic Gardens - Avon River - Shamarra Alpacas

1 Day in Robinsons Bay Itinerary: Day 1

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Begin your Robinsons Bay adventure amidst the lush landscapes of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Nestled in the heart of the city on Rolleston Avenue, this verdant oasis offers a serene start to your day. Spend a couple of hours wandering through the meticulously curated collections of exotic and native plants. The gardens are a living gallery, showcasing the floral artistry and horticultural diversity that New Zealand is renowned for.

Attraction Info

Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
Suggested tour duration: 2-3 hour
Open from 4/1-9/30,7:00am-6:30pm;Open from 10/1-10/31,7:00am-8:30pm;Open from 11/1-2/28,7:00am-9:00pm，The opening hours of various areas in the botanical garden may be different, please see the official website for details.

Recommended Nearby Restaurants

TMR Restaurant & Bar

4/5 · 8 reviews

1.6 km from attraction

Under The Red Verandah

4/5 · 12 reviews

3.3 km from attraction

50 Bistro

4.3/5 · 3 reviews

0.7 km from attraction

Open Late

Strawberry Fare

4/5 · 27 reviews

1.2 km from attraction

Great Wall Restaurant

4.2/5 · 5 reviews

1.2 km from attraction

Cafe SisMo

4/5 · 5 reviews

1.2 km from attraction

5 min，1.54 km

Avon River

Flowing from the botanical beauty, your next stop is the tranquil Avon River. Just a stone's throw away, this picturesque waterway is perfect for a leisurely one-hour stroll or a punt ride, offering a unique perspective of Christchurch's charm. The river, lined with weeping willows and dotted with ducks, provides a peaceful interlude before you continue your journey.

Attraction Info

Christchurch, New Zealand
Suggested tour duration: 1-2 hour

1 h 20 min，74.69 km

Shamarra Alpacas

Conclude your day with a delightful visit to Shamarra Alpacas. A short drive from the city will bring you to this enchanting alpaca farm, where you can spend an hour interacting with these gentle creatures. Located at 328 Wainui Main Road, Akaroa, the farm not only offers the chance to meet and learn about alpacas but also boasts stunning views that make for an unforgettable end to your Robinsons Bay itinerary.

Attraction Info

328 Wainui Main Road, Akaroa 7582, New Zealand
Suggested tour duration: 1-2 hour
Open from 11:00am-4:00pm，Tour times: 11am, 1pm and 4pm，Tour Days: 7 days per week (closed on Christmas Day)

Recommended Nearby Restaurants

French Peak Vineyard and Accommodation

/5 · 0 reviews

1.7 km from attraction

Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese

/5 · 0 reviews

3.3 km from attraction

Where to Stay Tonight

4.2/57 Reviews

Akaroa on the Beach

4.2/5Very Good7 Reviews

Akaroa

|4.22km from Shamarra Alpacas

4/537 Reviews

Bruce Waterfront Apartments

4/5Very Good37 Reviews

Akaroa

|4.52km from Shamarra Alpacas

Top Things to Do in Robinsons Bay-2024

TOP 1

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

4.6/5 · 259 review

Based on 6,808 review

Highlights:

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens was built in July 1863, and the natural wetlands and sand dunes of that year have been transformed into beautiful gardens full of flowers. The botanical garden covers an area of 30 hectares and has 10 subsidiary gardens with different styles, with more than 10,000 kinds of local or introduced plant species, most of these subsidiary gardens are located in the Avon River Basin. Rose garden, herb garden and many other gardens of different styles. If you enter the botanical garden from Rolleston Avenue on the side of the Canterbury Museum, you can enjoy the annual flower bed gardening exhibition, and then walk through the grassy arrowing lawn Arrive at the Rose Garden. There are more than 250 kinds of roses in the garden, which are colorful and fragrant, showing the luxurious beauty of roses. The nearby herb garden, filled with various culinary and medicinal plants, is quite worth a visit. Next to the rose garden is the New Zealand Garden, which showcases the charm of various New Zealand native plants. Seven other greenhouses display exotic plants such as cacti, succulents, tropical orchids and carnivorous plants.

TOP 2

International Antarctic Centre

4.5/5 · 146 review

Based on 2,891 review

Highlights:

Christchurch is an important gateway to understanding the Antarctic. The International Antarctic Centre is located near Christchurch International Airport. It was opened on September 28, 1990 and is operated by the Christchurch International Airport Group. Here, you can learn about the history, geology and other knowledge of the Antarctic Circle through sound, light and electricity. 1. The architecture of the International Antarctic Center is inspired by the special landforms of Antarctica such as icebergs and glaciers. The interior of the museum is also designed according to the Antarctic climate and ice and snow. Walking into the International Antarctic Center, the first thing you see is the outdoor conditions of the Antarctic base and the field photos and information sent back by Scottrade Base that day. 2. The Antarctic storm cabin, which has real snow and low temperature manufacturing fans, allows you to experience the cold of minus ten degrees Celsius in Antarctica, and simulate the strong wind when the snowstorm comes. Before entering, you will need to change into warm clothes and shoes. 3. Watch the feeding show in the penguin introduction area and then go down to the penguin introduction area and the feeding show. Here you will see the world's miniature Omalu blue penguins, very cute. If you are very interested in these blue penguins, you can take a tour of encountering penguins, and walk into the background to understand how the facilities in the penguin isolation area work, the living and eating habits of the penguins, and get close to them.

There are seats on the bank of the river section, you can sit down and rest for a while when you are tired from walking. Take an English-style gondola to visit the scenery on both sides of the Avon River. If you have enough time, you might as well take a British-style gondola (Punting) to go boating on the Avon River, swaying slowly on the calm river, and enjoy the pleasant time. At the same time, you can enjoy the charming scenery along the way, which is very romantic. The boarding point is Antigua Boat Sheds, and during the 30-minute journey, the boatman will tell you about the history or anecdotes of the coastal scenery. Blankets, umbrellas and even a thermos are provided on board, so you can go rafting even in the cold winter months. You can also rent rubber boats and kayaks to explore the Avon River on your own.

Shamara Alpaca Ranch is located in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, about 80 kilometers from Christchurch. Take an alpaca ranch tour, you can have the opportunity to pet the alpacas, direct the alpacas into the sheep pen, and get up close and personal with the lovely alpacas. Also, the view from the ranch overlooking the beautiful Akaroa harbour is gorgeous. Drinks and home-baked biscuits are served in the ranch's barn, and the Alpaca Shop also sells a dazzling array of New Zealand-made alpaca handwovens.

TOP 5

TranzAlpine: Scenic Train Christchurch - Greymouth

4.4/5 · 28 review

Based on 3,578 review

Highlights:

The Alpine Scenic Train tour travels between Christchurch and Greymouth, traveling from coast to coast in New Zealand. From the comfort of your carriage, admire the intersecting farmland of the Canterbury Plains, as well as the spectacular gorges and valleys of the Waimakariri valley. The train will then climb the majestic Southern Alps to Arthur's Pass National Park and descend through lush beech rainforest to the west coast town of Greymouth - a great base for exploring Punakaiki and its popular glaciers . The comfortable carriage has huge panoramic windows.

* All user reviews in this article have been translated by machine.

* The information above is subject to change at any time. For the latest information, please check the websites of hotels and attractions.

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