Panorama from the high street of Diamond Harbour showing the village shop and a picnic area.

Diamond Harbour - Banks Peninsula visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Diamond Harbour' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Canterbury.

The small village of Diamond Harbour is on the southern side of Lyttelton Harbour on the Banks Peninsula. The picturesque village is set on the hills overlooking the harbour, and has a reputation for being one of the sunniest and unspoilt destinations on Banks Peninsula, with stunning landscapes, deep set bays and dramatic seas. For those wishing to stay here, Diamond harbour has several bed and breakfast (B&B) places, a farmstay and campsite. There are a number of holiday appartments for rent and the Diamond Harbour Lodge.

Visiting Diamond Harbour is easy. Ferries run regularay from Lyttelton across Lyttelton Harbour, giving fantastic views of the surrounding coastline on the way over and the chance to spot some marine life. Or simply drive around the coastline through numerous other small settlements. Once here some of the attractions include:

• Outdoor pursuits common to the area - walking, sailing, kayaking, cycling and the like. Both kayaks and mountain bikes can be hired locally.
• Godley House - Have lunch or drinks at this historic house, built in 1885 on top of one of the most dramatic headlands in Diamond Harbour, and offering over 100 years of hospitality and panoramic views over Lyttelton Harbour. Dodley House has a renowned restaurant and is set in 3 acres of mature gardens.
• Stoddart's Cottage - 19C wooden cottage brought to New Zealand from Australia in 1860, the cottage was the birthplace and home of Margaret Olrog Stoddart (1865-1934), one of New Zealand's landscape artists.
• Black Cat Tours - operate both the ferry and other harbour tours, both the Christchurch Wildlife Tour and the Akaroa Harbour Tour, offering you the chance to see dolphins, penguins and more.

The name 'Diamond Harbour' is also applied to a wider area than the village of Diamond Harbour itself, encompassing Camp Bay, Charteris Bay, Church Bay, Diamond Harbour, Port Levy and Purau.

Ferry: 10 minute ferry ride from Lyttelton.
Road: Diamond Harbour is about 30km from Christchurch, 27km from Lyttelton and 17km from Governors Bay.