Gondola And Tram Combo

Gondola and Tram Combo runs through Christchurch Attractions. Rated 4.6 across 854 reviews. Runs 1 day. From NZ$80.

Overview

This combo pairs two Christchurch Attractions experiences: a full-day hop-on hop-off ticket for the antique inner-city tram, plus a return ride on the Christchurch Gondola up the slopes of Mount Cavendish in the Port Hills. The gondola carries you to a summit 445 meters above sea level, where the view stretches across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps, with the city and harbour below. At the top you can use the Discovery ride, a reconstruction of the region's history, browse the gift shop, or eat at the Red Rock Café. Walking and biking trails also start near the summit.

Back in town, the tram loops through the heritage centre with a driver giving live commentary the whole way. A full circuit runs 50 minutes and covers 18 stops, so you can jump off at Riverside Market, the Botanic Gardens, Cathedral Junction or Canterbury Museum and rejoin whenever you like. Trams run roughly every 15 minutes, with up to five cars in service depending on the season.

You can use both attractions on the same day or spread them across the day's opening hours, arriving whenever suits you. Note that transport between the tram circuit and the gondola base is not part of the ticket, so you will need to arrange that separately.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Collect ticketsPick up your tickets at the Christchurch Attractions Booking Office in Cathedral Junction, 109 Worcester St, or from the Gondola Base Station at 10 Bridle Path Road from 10am.
2. Ride the tramBoard the antique tram at any of the 18 stops for a circuit with live driver commentary. A full loop takes 50 minutes, and you can hop on and off all day.
3. Hop off at stopsOptional stops along the way include Riverside Market, the Botanic Gardens, Cathedral Junction and Canterbury Museum.
4. Travel to the gondolaMake your own way to the Gondola Base Station. Public bus 8 towards Lyttelton runs from the city bus interchange on Litchfield St and stops at the base; this transport costs extra. Free parking is available at the Gondola.
5. Ride the gondolaTake the cable car up Mount Cavendish to the summit at 445 meters, with views over the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, city and harbour.
6. Explore the summitUse the Discovery ride, gift shop and Red Rock Café, or set out on the walking and biking trails before riding back down.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape your day, from getting between the two attractions to what the weather does to the view.

• Getting between. The tram does not run to the gondola, and no transport between the attractions is included. Bus 8 from the Litchfield St interchange stops at the gondola base, and a shuttle sometimes runs in summer. One reviewer praised the advice a guide gave on combining tram and bus to reach the gondola.
• Bring layers. The listing recommends warm clothing for this tour. That matters most at the summit, which sits 445 meters above sea level.
• Commentary quality. Reviewers often mention the tram drivers, calling them engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining. One family even reported balloon animals handed out on board. A single reviewer found some drivers lighter on history than others.
• Timing your visit. The 10am arrival time on the booking page is automated; you can arrive any time within each attraction's opening hours. Summer, roughly November to March, gets busy, especially when a cruise ship is in port, so allow for queues.
• Weather and views. Several reviewers highlight the gondola views over the Alps and Lyttelton Harbour.
• Food and drink. The Red Rock Café at the summit is available before or after a trail walk. Food is not listed as included, so budget for it separately.

Common issues. The main friction point is the gap between the two attractions: transport to the gondola is not included, and some reviewers said clearer information on shuttle costs and times would help. One reviewer arrived at the gondola in fog and could not see the view. Only some trams are wheelchair accessible, and only from Cathedral Junction, while wheelchairs must be under 600mm wide and 1m long to fit in the gondola. Expect possible waits at both attractions in summer and when cruise ships are in port. One reviewer felt the commentary from some drivers leaned towards pointing out the obvious rather than local history.

Choosing Well