Visitor guide

Lyttelton Harbour rewards slow visits. The port town is compact and steep, the bays around the water are quiet, and the hills behind are crossed by tracks with some of the best views in Canterbury. This page is our overview. The stories alongside go into each part in more detail.

Arriving

Most people come through the road tunnel from Heathcote, by car or on the Metro bus. The Bridle Path over the crater rim is the walkers' route, and a short Metro ferry crosses the harbour between Lyttelton and Diamond Harbour. Our getting here story covers all four, and Metro has the current timetables.

Walking

The harbour is ringed by tracks. Short walks start right from the town; longer ones follow the Summit Road along the crater rim or climb towards Mount Herbert on the far side of the water. The weather on the tops changes quickly, so carry a layer even on a fine day, and in a dry summer check for fire-season track closures before you set out. Christchurch City Council's Port Hills pages list current closures and maps.

The bays

• Lyttelton is the working port and the main town, with its shops, cafés and pubs on and around London Street and the Saturday market.
• Governors Bay sits at the sheltered head of the harbour, with a jetty, gardens and walks along the shore.
• Diamond Harbour faces Lyttelton across the water: a village on a headland with reserves, a small beach and the ferry wharf.
• Purau and Port Levy lie further out, quieter farmland bays reached by road around the southern side.

Swimming and the water

Several bays are popular in summer, but water quality can drop after heavy rain, and the harbour is a busy shipping lane in places. Swim at beaches rather than off wharves or near the port, and check the latest water quality results before you go in.

Eating and drinking

Lyttelton has a lively food scene for a small town, from bakeries and cafés to bars with live music, and most of it is within a few minutes' walk. The Saturday morning farmers' market is the easiest way to taste local produce. We don't list businesses here; places open and close, so check current listings.

Places to stay

Accommodation around the harbour runs from heritage cottages and bed and breakfasts in Lyttelton's steep streets to holiday homes in the outer bays and a camping ground. Book well ahead for summer weekends and cruise season. For current options, the local information centre and the regional visitor site are the best starting points.

Islands and day trips

Ōtamahua / Quail Island, run by the Department of Conservation as a recreation reserve, makes a fine day out with its quarantine history and ship graveyard. Across the harbour, Diamond Harbour is a short ferry hop away. Both are covered in our stories.