Panorama from the hillside about Lyttelton Port. The panorama shows the drydock in the port and some of the petrol tanks which supply South Island.

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

The history of European settlement of the South Island of New Zealand and Lyttelton on the Banks Peninsula are intrinsically linked. Lyttelton provided the best natural port for arriving ships, and it is no surprise that the first four colonial ships from England arrived here, kick starting the settlement of Christchurch and wider Canterbury. So important was Lyttelton Harbour that is was not long before a massive tunnel was bored through the hills separating the port from Christchurch, making way for rapid goods distribution direct from the port by steam train. Lyttelton port continues to play a vital part in the life of South Island, for here much of the diesel and petrol required by this part of New Zealand is stored and then distributed. Some of these massive storage containers can be seen in this panorama.

The past history is remembered by the local museum on the high street, and by the exhibition at the Lyttelton Timeball Station, which also offers spectacular views over the bay from the Timeball Station Roof. Other good places to view Lyttelton Harbour are Windy Rock Point and one of the Lyttelton Cemeteries.

The road continues to wind round the coastline past Corsair Bay and Cass Bay on the way to Governors Bay.

Road: Take the 73 and then the 74 south from Christchurch along Tunnel Road and through the tunnel.
Bus: #28 and #35 buses to Lyttelton from Christchurch Bus Exchange.