Coast & villages
Akaroa & Banks Peninsula
Enjoy winding coastal roads, harbour views, the charm of Akaroa and time for a leisurely café stop or an optional local experience.
Enquire about this day →Private day tours · Ōtautahi Christchurch · Te Waipounamu
The South Island,
your way.
From the open Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps and Arthur’s Pass. Discover the landscapes of Te Waipounamu with your own Christchurch-based private guide.
Nau mai · Welcome
A more personal way to explore Canterbury.
Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Private Tours offers relaxed, flexible day trips for visitors who want to see more than the usual highlights. Travel with Robyn, discover beautiful places, and enjoy the freedom to stop whenever something catches your eye.
Private guiding since 2018 · Christchurch departures · Itineraries tailored to you
Featured experiences
Four ways to spend a wonderful day.
Photographs depict the named destinations. These are starting points, not fixed schedules. Every private tour can be adjusted to your interests and available time.
Alpine scenery
Arthur's Pass & Castle Hill
Head towards the Southern Alps for dramatic mountain scenery, short scenic walks and the extraordinary limestone formations at Castle Hill.
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Wild coast
Kaikōura & the Coast
Follow the coast north for ocean views, mountains and opportunities to explore the region's remarkable marine environment. Wildlife activities can be arranged separately, subject to availability.
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City & gardens
Christchurch & Surrounds
Discover Christchurch's gardens, neighbourhoods, history and nearby viewpoints, with a relaxed itinerary shaped around your interests.
Enquire about this day →Images are provisional design placeholders, not verified photographs of the destinations. Destination-specific licensed images will be added before launch.
The Lord of the Rings · Canterbury high country
Journey to Edoras — Mount Sunday.
Visit the spectacular filming location of Edoras, capital of Rohan, from The Lord of the Rings. Mount Sunday rises from the broad Rangitata valley beneath the Southern Alps, surrounded by the real landscapes that brought Middle-earth to life.
This is a longer, remote high-country excursion from Christchurch, best suited to guests who can devote a full day. Access, weather, road conditions and walking requirements are discussed before booking. The film set was removed after filming; the extraordinary landscape remains.
Enquire about Edoras
Mount Sunday / Edoras, Canterbury. Photo: lumoplank, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons).
Arriving by cruise ship?
Private shore excursions from Lyttelton & Akaroa.
Welcome to Canterbury. Whether your ship calls at Lyttelton, on Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour, or at Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula, you can explore with a private local guide rather than joining a large coach tour.
Lyttelton cruise arrivalsExplore Ōtautahi Christchurch, gardens, scenic viewpoints or a tailored Canterbury day trip, subject to your time ashore.
Akaroa cruise arrivalsDiscover Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, harbour scenery and local experiences with a personalised shore itinerary.
Designed around your shipTell Robyn your vessel, arrival and all-aboard times, and where your ship tenders or docks. Pickup and return arrangements must be confirmed before booking.
Port calls and access arrangements vary. Return-to-ship timing is planned with a safety margin, but no guaranteed ship connection is implied.
Meet your guide
Explore with Robyn.
Private Tours is a Christchurch-based guiding business with a personal approach to discovering the South Island. Robyn helps guests shape their day around what matters most to them, whether that's scenery, local stories, food, gardens or simply enjoying the journey.
Rather than following a rigid group schedule, you'll have the flexibility to make the day your own.
Ask Robyn a question
Portrait sourced from Robyn's tourHQ profile; please confirm permission to reuse it on this website.
Travel comfortably
Your day, your pace.
Travel with your private guide in a white 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid. Pickup arrangements, stops and the pace of the day are discussed when planning your tour.
Tour pricing and inclusions are quoted individually. Activities, meals and any additional costs will be clarified before you confirm.
Looking further afield? Extended South Island journeys, including the Mackenzie Country, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Queenstown and Wānaka, can also be discussed on request.
Current touring vehicle
2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid
White · Comfortable private travel
Representative 2023 model, not Robyn’s actual vehicle. Photo credit: Kia / Edmunds. Replace with a licensed or owner-supplied photograph before public launch.
Just your groupA private experience without a large group itinerary.
Flexible planningDiscuss the sights, stops and activities that interest you.
Christchurch departuresConvenient pickup arrangements agreed in advance.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions.
Are the tours private?
Yes. The itinerary is planned for your own travelling party rather than a scheduled group tour.
Where do tours depart from?
Day tours generally depart from Christchurch. Please include your accommodation or preferred pickup location in your enquiry.
How much does a tour cost?
Robyn will confirm a quote based on your chosen route, date, group size and any requested activities. Please ask about inclusions and additional costs.
Do you collect cruise passengers at Lyttelton or Akaroa?
Shore excursion enquiries are welcome for either port. Please share your ship name, port, docking or tender schedule and required return time. Pickup arrangements are confirmed individually.
Can you arrange a longer South Island journey?
Yes, you can enquire about extended journeys to destinations beyond Canterbury. Availability and arrangements are confirmed individually.
Start planning
Where would you like to go?
Tell Robyn a little about your visit and the day you have in mind. She'll help you explore the options.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Prefer to contact Robyn directly?
robyn@privatetours.co.nz
+64 27 435 9414
Please verify these contact details before launch.
Photography credits and review: Akaroa Harbour and Stony Bay Peak imagery via Wikimedia Commons; Castle Hill via TripIdeas NZ; Kaikōura via Wings Over Whales; Christchurch via Wikimedia Commons; Robyn portrait via tourHQ; representative Kia image via Edmunds. Some images are third-party previews and must be licensed or replaced before public commercial launch. Exact locations are named in image descriptions. The car shown is a representative example, not a photograph of Robyn’s vehicle.