PRIVATE CHARTERS

Black Cat’s Charter Cruises offers the ideal floating venue for your special events!

Transform your occasion into a unique experience – be it a private birthday celebration, Christmas party, social club gathering, corporate entertainment, conference delegate engagement, or even a momentous occasion like a wedding.

Although we offer multiple slots and timings, nothing compares to a bespoke private charter cruise. Imagine the beauty of a sunset painting the water, while your guests unwind to your selected tunes, enjoying a full bar and delectable locally sourced catering.

TO MAKE A BOOKING

CALL US: 03 328 9078
or email: lyttelton@blackcat.co.nz

Please include a contact phone number when emailing charter enquiries.

20% Off Mon, Tues & Wed Direct Bookings (OCT, NOV & DEC ONLY)

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Dinner Cruises

We offer a range of different styles of dinner cruises from Lyttelton Harbour. From simple finger food to a fully catered buffet.

The dinner cruises are one of our most popular charter options – it’s a great way to create something different for an end-of-year event, a Christchurch Christmas party or a special occasion such as a wedding or birthday party.

You can book either a 90-minute pizza or platter cruise.

Schedule & Prices (Lyttelton)

90 minute cruises  

Pizza

$70.00 per person
$25.00 per extra pizza

 

Platters

$70 per person

 
Min charge 20 pax  
   

Min 20 pax for exclusive boat

35 people max

 

Extra boat time possible

 

Free tea and coffee

  

 

Charter With Platters

Looking to charter a boat for a couple of hours and simply have some delicious nibbles? We can organise a charter with platters of numerous sizes to cater for your party. Tea and coffee are complimentary.

Tastefully arranged platters that showcase an array of cheeses, delicately cured meats, tantalizing seafood, seasonal fruits and vegetables, enticing antipasti, artisan bread, crispy bark chips, as well as an assortment of pickles and chutneys

Please note that with any charter you can talk to us to arrange additional time on the water.

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Pizza Cruise

 An excellent choice for an intimate gathering or a more mix and mingle outing, this splendid excursion in the harbour offers the opportunity to savour the food of your preference while enjoying the scenic views. Typically scheduled for early evening, it serves as a prelude to further festivities.

We are proud to serve local pizzas from Winnie Bagoes based in Ferrymead.

Start your evening cruise down on the wharf with us in Lyttelton.

Once the delicious food arrives, we will let the lines go and cruise the sights of the harbour for an hour and a half.

We allow for half a pizza per person. If you’d like to increase your order we can do this on request.

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Weddings

Create an enchanting and memorable wedding on board one of our catamarans. This is your opportunity to have the wedding you’ve always imagined – with the setting sun over the harbour as the most perfect backdrop.

You can choose to have your wedding ceremony at a venue in Lyttelton or Akaroa, followed by your reception on the water, or have the whole event hosted on the harbour with Black Cat Cruises.

You’ll have plenty of time on the water with us, plus you can take time prior to departure to decorate and theme the boat to create exactly the atmosphere you are looking for.

Our charter catamarans are among the most unique and affordable wedding venues in Canterbury.

Talk to us about your ideas and our team will be happy to accommodate any special requirements.

Schedule & Prices

Wedding cruise: Price on application
Maximum capacity: 70 people
Includes: Full boat hire

Conferences & Events 

The Canterbury Cat in Lyttelton Harbour provides a unique meeting and conference venue in Christchurch. It’s a fantastic choice for companies looking for that will both inspire and engage. The surrounding views of Banks Peninsula create the perfect backdrop for a calm, productive environment.

As a venue, the Canterbury Cat can accommodate up to 60 or 80 people depending on how you wish to use the venue.

There is a full bar available, and catering can also be organised as part of your event. BYO alcohol is not available under the terms of our liquor licence.

You can also theme the boat if required.

A minimum of 30 people is required for any charter booking.

Please contact us directly to discuss your options if you have a meeting or event to plan.

Our Charter Vessels

Our Charter Vessels

The Spirit (Lyttelton)

  • Features: Open/Closed rear deck. Open front deck. 1 toilet.
  • Harbour based in: Lyttelton
  • Licensed capacity: 35 pax
  • Comfortable cruising: 35 pax
  • Dining Cruising: 35 pax depending on style of cruise
  • Enclosed seating: 20 pax
  • Sound System: Yes

Canterbury Cat (Akaroa)

  • Features: Open/Closed rear deck. Open top deck and front deck. 2 toilets.
  • Harbour based in: Akaroa 
  • Licensed capacity: 99 pax
  • Comfortable cruising: 80 pax
  • Dining Cruising: 70-80 pax depending on style of cruise
  • Enclosed seating: 60 pax
  • Sound System: Yes

BAR & BEVERAGES

  • Beer. A selection of locally crafted and international beers ranging from $11.00 per bottle
  • Wine. A selection of red, white, and sparkling wine $10.00 per glass
  • RTD’s. $10.00 per drink
  • Non-alcoholic. A selection of soft drinks and orange juice from $3.00 per bottle / can

Frequently asked questions

YES! A Charter is a great idea for a Christmas party or end-of-year Christmas function. We offer pizza and platter charters. Please contact our team to more information and to check availability lyttelton@blackcat.co.nz 

Yes. We have a great speaker system and a large range of music that we can play or can give us a custom playlist. If you’d like to arrange your own music / DJ / entertainer on board please discuss this with us. Spotify or YouTube playlists are the most popular option.

Yes. Minimum of 1 skipper and 1 crew person. 

Departures are from B Jetty, Lyttelton or from main wharf, Akaroa.

Every trip is different depending on the conditions on the day. If you have specific
requirements, please let us know when you book. We aim to give you a total experience on the water.

All of our vessels are fully licensed however our liquor licence does not allow for BYO. Payment for the purchases made on the bar can be made by visa, mastercard, eftpos or cash. A tab can be arranged but must be paid for in full at the end of the charter.

Yes. Our standard charter packages have been put together based on our cruise experience. However if they are not what you are after please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are so confident you will not have a problem with seasickness that we are prepared to give the person who is sick their money back!!

Unfortunately, the weather is something out of our control but you can be secure in the knowledge that we have to cancel due to weather on approximately 5% of our cruises so you would be very unlucky!! We are still able to hold the event inside the boat and if necessary stay tied to the jetty.

Terms and conditions

  • A $600 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. Bookings are confirmed on receipt of this payment.

  • For exclusive use of the boat, a minimum of 40 passengers must be paid for.

  • Final numbers are required 10 working days prior to the cruise date. After this time catering numbers can be increased not decreased.

  • Full payment must be made 48 hours prior to departure.

  • Extra Cruise time is possible and charged in 30-minute blocks. The price depends on passenger numbers and the boat in use. This must be booked in advance and time can not be added on the day. Cruises extended over 2 hours may require the purchase of additional food to meet the requirements of our liquor license.

  • The vessel used and the departure point is at the discretion of Black Cat Cruises and may be subject to change.

  • All prices are inclusive of GST unless otherwise stated. Black Cat Cruises reserves the right to cancel the cruise due to unsuitable weather conditions with a full refund or an agreeable alternative on the night. We also reserve the right to refuse service of alcohol should the catering you choose to supply not meet the minimum provisions required on self-catered charters.

hector's dolphins akaroa
christchurch day trip

ABOUT US

The award-winning Black Cat Cruises is not only an acclaimed success in New Zealand's tourism industry but also internationally recognised as an eco-tourism pioneer. We hold the honour of being the first to introduce cruises in Akaroa, and we're proud to New Zealand's very first eco-tourism operator.

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OUR LOCATIONS

Our Nature Cruises and Dolphin Swimming experience depart from the stunning Akaroa harbour which is only a 90 minute scenic drive from Christchurch. The Diamond Harbour, Quail Island ferry and Ripapa Island trips depart from the Lyttelton Wharf in Christchurch.

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