New Zealand · AKAROA TOURS
Good akaroa tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend two hours on a roomy catamaran exploring Akaroa Harbour and Banks Peninsula. Skippers such as George and Joe share local knowledge while dolphin-spotting dogs Albie and Hana help find wildlife. Expect a drink, family-recipe cookie, scenic coastline and no dolphin swimming.
“Excelent tour, very informative, lot of dolfins and sea lions and even a pingguin. We enjoyed it very much.”
Spend two hours on Akaroa Dolphins’ stable, low-lying catamaran with local guides such as George and dolphin-spotting dogs including Albie. Watch for Hector’s dolphins, seals, penguins, seabirds, sea caves, and volcanic cliffs. The trip includes a drink, homemade cookies, warm jackets, sunscreen, and English commentary.
“Albie the dog genuinely reacts to dolphins being nearby and was a great crowd pleaser on board! Continuous and very good commentary by the skipper. We saw Hectors Dolphin and also Indo Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins. We have great photos of the dolphins bow wave riding and Albie looking down at them from the deck above ! Wonderful trip and would definitely recommend.”
Spend two hours on Black Cat Cruises’ spacious catamaran, leaving Akaroa’s main wharf for volcanic cliffs, Cathedral Cave, Scenery Nook, Seal Bay, and wildlife-rich waters. Your skipper provides live commentary, while tea, coffee, or hot chocolate keeps you warm. Morning and afternoon departures are available.
“The meeting Pont is wrong. We lost the activity. Zero support from viator. Better to book directly with the supplier.”
Join Black Cat Cruises at Akaroa’s main wharf for a 3.5-hour trip with up to 12 swimmers. Learn safe dolphin behavior, watch for Hector’s dolphins, seals, and penguins, then enter 15 to 30-meter water when conditions and wildlife behavior allow.
“We really enjoyed our trip, the dolphins were beautiful, the crew and staff were fantastic from start to finish. Love it!!”
Cruise Akaroa Harbour aboard Black Cat Cruises’ spacious catamaran, with open decks, covered seating, toilets, and onboard drinks. Your skipper and guide explain Māori and European history, volcanic rock formations, and local wildlife while you look for Hector’s dolphins, fur seals, little penguins, albatross, and cormorants.
“We loved this experience. Got to see a few dolphins, little penguins and seals. The nature and history the the scenery was amazing. We would do this again!”
Travel from Akaroa through Banks Peninsula to Christchurch on a guided coach tour. See the Botanic Gardens, earthquake-damaged Cathedral Square, Sumner, Lyttelton, and Port Hills viewpoints. Guides such as Scotty, Ian, Phil, and Bruce are known for strong local commentary, but city time can feel short.
“the tour was well organized and went the full time. the country side was absolutely stunning. our guide was setev and he gave a good running commentary going through some history and local tales. actual time spent in Christchurch was disappointing as we parked at the botanical gardens and were given little detail about where we were . we wandered around for the couple hours we were there but it could have been better organized. 8/10 on a rating and it was an enjoyable day .”
Join guides such as Jake, Joey, John, or Seamus for a roughly three-hour sea-kayak trip from Akaroa’s harbor area. You’ll paddle stable tandem kayaks through sheltered volcanic bays, learn about local geology and wildlife, and may spot Hector’s dolphins, penguins, seals, or native birds.
“Jake was our Kayak tour guide and could not have been more perfect! We were fortunate enough to see four Hector dolphin sightings and Jake's insight into the dolphins and other marine life was amazing. He has an in-depth knowledge of various birds, plant life and marine life. We loved all of the staff, very nice and efficient. Thank you!”
Travel from Akaroa through Banks Peninsula to Christchurch, with a short city visit and entry to the International Antarctic Centre. Expect an Antarctic storm, blue penguins, a Hagglund ride, and guides such as Scotty or Rob, depending on the day. Port transfers and on-time return protection are included.
“The weather was not great!. We made a 45 minute stop in Christchurch, but there was not much we could do because it was raining. We ducked into the art museum and ran thru the botanical gardens. We drove to the International Antarctic Center where they were not prepared for the crowds. They did not have enough help nor enough food for us! After eating rapidly, they escorted us thru the center at a much too rapid pace. We did not have time to look at displays or enjoy the center!”
Take a guided 4WD trip from Akaroa across the crater rim of an extinct volcano to Pohatu Bay. Expect dramatic harbor views, a family farm, sheep feeding, little penguin conservation, and possible seals. Choose two hours, or four hours for the lighthouse reserve, refreshments, and seasonal rehabilitation work.
“We enjoyed a fabulous tour with our very knowledgeable and friendly guide, Joey. She took us to several beautiful lookouts and told us about the natural area in particular the Pohatu penguins. We were even able to see several at the end of the tour. It was such a fun and educational outing.”
Join Black Cat Cruises for a 3.5-hour swim with wild Hector’s dolphins in Akaroa Harbour. A skipper and Nature Guide explain safe, respectful swimming, then lead up to 12 swimmers by boat past seals, seabirds, and volcanic cliffs. Wetsuits, showers, lockers, hot drinks, and photos are included.
“Harry, Charlotte & Thomas were amazing crew , knowledgeable and fun too! Thanks for an amazing trip. We were lucky enough to get to swim with the Hector dolphins, have an albatross chick land about 2 metres from us while we were in the water, see a white flippered penguin and a seal while we were on the boat… all of which we are grateful for!”
Start at 7:30 am with Akaroa Guided Kayaks and paddle into the marine reserve before the tour boats arrive. Guides such as James, John, and Peter share local stories while you look for Hector dolphins, seals, birds, and, with luck, penguins or orca. Light refreshments and on-water photos are included.
“Fantastic morning out on the water! Our guide was very knowledgeable on the area and provided us with interesting facts. We had a slight change of plans due to the good weather, so we were able to go further out. Guide communicated efficiently with the change and gave us a great morning.”
Travel from Akaroa over the volcanic crater rim to Flea Bay with guides such as Ben, Kevin or Vila. Paddle a double kayak along Pohatu Marine Reserve for 1 to 1.5 hours, entering sea caves when conditions allow and watching for penguins, seals, seabirds and dolphins.
“Awesome! A great and passionate guide! I advise everyone who wants to discover the flora and fauna of the binks peninsula”
Meet before St Peter’s Church in Akaroa for a three-hour 4WD trip to Pohatu/Flea Bay. Your English-speaking guide, such as Ben, Tayla, Mona, or Kevin, shares local wildlife stories, then leads a quiet penguin-monitoring walk with binoculars and camouflage gear.
“Great to see the little guys and learn about the conservation efforts!”
Spend about an hour at Shamarra Alpacas near Akaroa, meeting friendly animals, petting alpacas, seeing newborns, and hand-feeding them under expert guidance. Jean and other farm guides explain fleece, care, behavior, and the difference between alpacas and llamas. Drive yourself or arrange transport before arrival.
“They have 170 alpacas there and it’s a great one hour tour to learn more about the animals! You will get the chance to feed the alpacas as well. They will rush you a bit at the end of the tour, but I will still highly recommend it to everyone!”
Join a small-group kayak safari in Akaroa’s marine reserve. Your guide supplies the kayak, spray skirt, and jacket, then leads you past volcanic bays, beaches, and wildlife habitat. Guides have included Max, Adam, Lee, Jake, and Luan. The outing ends with an optional refreshing swim.
“Great way to see the coastline in Akaroa. Jake was a great guide. Very informative and engaging. We really enjoyed it.”
Pick a coastline, a crater rim or a cellar door.
