Shine bright like a Diamond
The King of Day Trips - riding the ferry to Diamond Harbour
This is a trip we’ve done a few times, and it’s a great, cheap, half or full day excursion. The Diamond Harbour ferry is pretty great on it’s own, so you can skip straight to that part if you don’t want to wait for the bus.
22. Getting the bus to Lyttelton.
As mentioned previously, we love riding on the bus. I’m not going to highlight all the bus routes in the city, but the 28 to Lyttelton does deserve special attention. When you get on the first bus of your trip, it is important to tell the driver that you are heading to Diamond Harbour, as they will charge you the right amount first up. We jump on the Blue Bus on Colombo St, ride up to Sydenham, opposite the Colombo, jump off and cross the road, and wait for the number 28. This route heads through Opawa, along Port Hills Road, where you get a great view of the giant T Rex at the dinosaur mini-golf, then winding up through Heathcote Valley, to the gondola, then the tunnel. Tunnels are awesome. Big holes in the ground that you can drive through. It is easy to get blasé about them, but they’re still exciting for kids who haven’t been through them that often.
Depending on the bus schedule, you may get to the wharf just in time for the ferry, which usually runs at 10 minutes to the hour. If not, there are plenty of things you can do while you are waiting for your ride.
23. Glamour Cakes
On Norwich Quay there are two good spots for a quick refuel. Glamour Cakes is a bakery, but they have become known for their elaborate donuts. Stop in for a lush cream-filled monstrosity, topped with chocolate or a custard square. They also do more regular bakery fare, including classic filled rolls if you want to pack something for a picnic on the otherwise of the harbour.
24. Hope River Pies
Just next door to Glamour, a little bit back from the street, are Hope River Pies. Pricier that what you might find at the petrol station or the dairy, but infinitely better, you can grab a couple of these and wander over the pedestrian bridge towards the wharves, and watch the cranes and trains loading and unloading, whilst wiping mince and gravy from your mouth.
25. The Diamond Harbour Ferry
The Diamond Harbour ferry is pretty simple. It’s a boat! It goes from Lyttelton across to Diamond Harbour. It takes maybe 5 minutes, maybe 7, when the drive around the harbour takes at least half an hour. It is public transport - part of the Christchurch Metro network - so you can tag on with your MetroCard (although, as mentioned above, if you’re getting on a bus first, tell the first driver that you are going the whole way to Diamond Harbour so they can charge you correctly). It putters slowly out of the inner harbour, before speeding up once it gets into the harbour proper. You can sit on the seats inside, or stand on the back deck and watch the waves, look for shags and other sea birds, hope to see a dolphin. Being on the water is great fun, but unless you’ve got an uncle with a yacht, it’s not that easy to do. The ferry is easy, convenient, and cheap (especially with half-price fares at the moment). Even at full price, a trip to Zone 3 is just $4.70 for an adult, with under 5 year-olds travelling free.
26. Diamond Harbour
The wharf where the ferry drops you off is at the bottom of a hill with a lovely reserve on it, the Stoddart Point Reserve. You can either walk up the road (quick but boring) or amble up the walkway into the reserve. There is a relatively new public toilet block, and plenty of good spots to sit and eat your lunch or just admire the view. At the top of the hill is the store, which can provide ice creams or coffees if needed. Behind the store is the picturesque rugby ground, and looking over this is a long building that houses the rugby club, as well as both a toy library and a public library. The library is part of the Christchurch City Council network, so if you have a card from town, you can use it here. There is a decent enough playground behind the library too. You can either walk back to the ferry the way you came, or continue around the back to join up with the Coastal Cliffs walkway. This runs from Purau to Church Bay, but we only need the little section that will take us back to the wharf. There are various signs to show you the way, with walking times that vary wildly, but if you allow 15 minutes you should have plenty of time. Along the way, you get a view out to Ripapa Island and the top of the harbour and ocean beyond. Check the timetable, but the ferry usually leaves just after the hour.