akaroa harbour trip

authentic New Zealand experience and Māori connection

Private Deluxe Tour

Our private tours are custom designed to ensure you get the most of your short trip to New Zealand. We are here to plan your New Zealand tourism experience on the Banks Peninsula.

Standard Tour

Our standard tour is designed especially for the guests who have limited time to explore New Zealand but want to experience the insight of Māori culture and the Akaroa Harbour.

Pipi Journeys Features

43°48'31.7"S 172°57'28.8"E

Harbour cruise.

-43.9055003, 172.9608679

43°50'07.5"S 172°56'46.5"E

Come and learn about Māori culture and experience our lifestyle first-hand

Pipi Journeys Akaroa offers a learning opportunity about Māori hospitality and kindness (Manaakitanga). Learn and experience Māori generosity, respect, and hospitality which is one of our core values as New Zealanders. Experience how welcoming we are as the first nation of New Zealand.

Pipi Journeys

harbour cruise – fishing – self-catering – gastronomy – Māori  cultural experience

Akaroa, Banks Penisula, New Zealand

Authentic New Zealand Māori Experience

Request more information.

Pipi Journeys Akaroa Pickup

Main Wharf, Beach Road, Akaroa,7520

[email protected]

+ 64 020 4162 5573

PHONE 0800 436 574

Akaroa's Original Nature Cruise Full Of Wildlife And Wonder

Akaroa nature cruises, experience cruising through an extinct volcanic crater and encounter the worlds rarest and smallest dolphin.

MAKE A BOOKING

Travel to the enchanting French village of Akaroa, the gateway to our multi-award-winning daily excursions. Encounter the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, Hector’s dolphins, along with New Zealand fur seals, coastal birds, and more as you cruise through the majestic landscape of an extinct volcanic crater. 

Dolphin Guarantee: if you don’t see any Hector’s dolphins you can cruise again for free.

Capture memories, and ignite your adventurous spirit aboard Akaroa’s largest, most spacious, and stable catamaran. Sip complimentary tea and coffee as you take in the breathtaking views.

Allow 2 hours for your Akaroa Nature Cruise.

SCHEDULE & PRICE

$109 – Adult 16 years & over

$49 – Child 5-15 years (Under 5’s cruise for free)

10.45am and 1.30pm daily

We also offer Gold Card and family passes. You can click Book and choose a day to see the full list of prices.

ADDITIONAL INFO

For all enquiries please call us on 0800 436 574 or email us on [email protected]

PROTECT HECTOR’S TEAM

When booking your cruise you can add a membership to join our Protect Hector’s team for just $29

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Voted the number 1 wildlife activity in new zealand, your award winning akaroa cruise is packed with highlights.

Ranked as New Zealand’s #1 wildlife activity, embark on our award-winning cruise brimming with highlights. Witness the rare, NZ native dolphin exhibiting their playful demeanour, often swimming alongside our vessel and delighting with acrobatic jumps. Be awed by the majestic volcanic sea cliffs and immerse yourself in Akaroa’s captivating history. Cruises set sail daily, depending on weather conditions.

Also on the trip you will catch glimpses of the White Flippered Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world. There are many different bird species in the harbour, including five different cormorant (shag) species and the endangered yellow-eyed penguin. You’ll also see New Zealand Fur Seals sunning themselves on the rocks near Seal Bay. If you’re fortunate, you might even spot Orcas or Humpback whales that visit the Harbour on their migration paths.

TRAVEL IN STYLE

Board the Black Cat, a 60-foot/20-metre modern catamaran. As the largest and most luxurious vessel in Akaroa Harbour, it offers unobstructed views from its two spacious decks, along with ample shaded seating. Inside, you’ll find a bar and restroom facilities. Celebrated for its stability and safety, the Black Cat ensures a comfortable voyage. Delve into Akaroa’s wonders with our award-winning team, as each cruise comes complete with engaging narration from a knowledgeable skipper well-versed in the harbour’s wildlife, nature, and history.

VOLCANIC ORIGINS

On each two-hour journey, we’ll introduce you to the rich tapestry of Akaroa’s wildlife, sea caves, and majestic volcanic cliffs. This harbour, once a roaring volcano millions of years ago, boasts breathtaking remnants of ancient lava flows. Witness the awe-inspiring 500-foot cliff with a captivating history, and marvel at the Nikau Palm Gully, which sports one of the few remaining remnants of the original Banks Peninsula forest. Not to be missed is the Scenery Nook, a vibrant amphitheatre of pink, purple, and red volcanic formations that promises to be a feast for your eyes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

YOUR QUESTIONS

Our cruise is different each and every day based on the weather, sea and wildlife. You will spend two hours out on the harbour.

We suggest you wear warm clothing. Even on warm days, there may be a cool sea breeze blowing. Sun screen and a hat is a must even if it’s cloudy. Bring your camera or phone – there are incredible views.

Under 5’s cruise for free all year round.

We recommend front packs for young babies.

If you have a buggy we can store this for you at the check-in building on the main wharf.

Our Nature Cruise boat has a large indoor cabin with seating and tables.

We offer free kids colouring in sheets on board to entertain your young ones.

Free tea, coffee and hot chocolates are available. We can also provide hot water.

Wheelchairs can board the Black Cat with ease and our staff are happy to assist you.

Ramps allow for easy access to both the boat and main wharf check-in building.

Toilets are available on the Black Cat however there are a few steps to walk down to access these. Wheelchair accessible toilets are available in our building on the main wharf.

For hearing impaired clients we have information sheets available. These are available in seven languages.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE?

Cruise & relax.

Great! You’re in the right place!

SWIM WITH DOLPHINS

We have a great package for that.

HIKE & STROLL

How about cruising to Diamond Harbour?

ESCAPE TO AN ISLAND

Pick from Quail or Ripapa Islands

HOW TO FIND US

We operate from the main wharf in akaroa, only 80 minutes (82 km) drive from christchurch on state highway 75. once in akaroa follow the main road until you see a wharf on the waterfront with a large blue building half way down. this is where you check in..

GET DIRECTIONS

HOW TO GET TO AKAROA

Akaroa is located around an 80 to 90-minute drive from Christchurch City and Christchurch International Airport.

It is an easy drive in a car through New Zealand farmland and then over the stunning Banks Peninsula hills to Akaroa. Use Google Maps for detailed directions on how to get from Christchurch to Akaroa.

Once in Akaroa continue along Rue Lavaud, which turns into Beach Rd. Look for the long wharf in the centre of the town. You’ll see our large blue building on the wharf with a dolphin mural painted on the roof. Print this map out to help you navigate. You can also find us at 61 Beach Road.

CRUISE SHIPS

Cruise ship passengers will disembark directly onto the main wharf in Akaroa. This is where our main booking office and gift shop are located. Please allow enough time for your tender boat to reach the wharf in time for your activity check-in.

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

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 and Quail Island ferry depart from Lyttelton in Christchurch.

Akaroa & The Bays

Nature’s playground.

Uncover the heart of an ancient volcano filled with an oasis of sparkling colours and eclectic excursions. Surrounded by natural wonders, wilderness meets the edges of this historical French settlement, providing access to your next adventure or weekend away. So, take the short drive from Christchurch and find the experience that calls to you.

Welcome to Akaroa. Welcome to nature’s playground. 

Sea to Skyline

Activities & nature, treasures & icons, attractions & culture, fresh & foraged, eat & drink, boutiques to backpackers, where to stay, ethels cinema akaroa weekly timetable, akaroa farmers market, little river farmers market, akaroa harvest festival, connect with us, sign up to our newsetter to hear about what's on.

Christchurch - Canterbury

Sightseeing.

• Dolphin cruises
• French food

1 hour 20 mins from Christchurch

Akaroa is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most loved towns, famous for its French cuisine, spectacular harbour, sightseeing, and rare dolphins.

This small seaside town on Banks Peninsula has an interesting history.  

Stroll down the Rue Jolie or the Rue Lavaud, two of Akaroa’s main streets, past bistros serving bouillabaisse and escargot, and you may wonder why it feels like you’ve just walked through a slice of France.

The reason? Because Akaroa almost was one. This former French settlement was founded in 1840 to be an administrative centre for the French annexation of the South Island. Things didn’t work out that way, so the French didn’t stick around for long, but they left a splendid legacy on the town’s culinary scene.

Restaurant and cafes

Ma Maison Restaurant Akaroa , Christchurch - Canterbury

By ChristchurchNZ

The Little Bistro  

In a tiny white villa opposite the French cemetery is The Little Bistro (opens in new window) , the kind of place you go to when you have something to celebrate. It serves beautifully presented seasonal cuisine, much of it plucked from local waters and hills. Try the 42-day aged beef fillet, horseradish dauphinoise, bone-marrow butter, winter veg and beef glaze. Or if you’re vegetarian, try the beetroot parmesan arancini, beetroot hummus, and truffled mayo.  

Mandala Restaurant  

For something you won’t have tried before, visit Mandala Restaurant (opens in new window) . Fijian chefs Muni and Shomika combine local flavours with Asian cooking techniques. Try slow grilled fish, pistachio crumb, sauteed potato, curry paste, and coriander mint pesto. Finish with orange cardamon panna cotta, spiced mandarins, pistachio, and berry crumb. If you’re wondering which wine pairs with the main course, it’s a Riesling.   

The Brasserie Kitchen and Bar  

In a 100-year-old villa at the end of a long lavender-lined pathway is The Brasserie Kitchen and Bar (opens in new window) . Dine here for a modern European- and Asian-inspired menu, served in a relaxed, old-world setting. Order Normandy-style mussels cooked in apple cider, crème fraiche, shallots, and lemon. Or prawns served with Marie rose sauce and fresh lemon. Then grab a seat outside to enjoy the age-old pleasures of an English country garden and sunshine.  

Fancy dinner with one of the best views in town? Ma Maison’s (opens in new window) dining area has been designed for just this purpose. The restaurant’s ample bifold doors provide uninterrupted views of the harbour, so there’s no need for the usual ‘inside/outside’ conversation. Here, it really doesn’t matter. The menu focuses on seasonal local ingredients, with a French twist. There’s something for everyone, but the seafood dishes are the rock stars of the menu.

To find more places to eat, a full list is available at Akaroa and the Bays .  

Local produce

French market in Akaroa, Christchurch - Canterbury

Akaroa farmers market  .

From October to April, the Akaroa Farmers Market (opens in new window) pitches up each Saturday on the grounds of St Patrick's Catholic Church (opens in new window) . Showcasing the best local produce from around the peninsula, it’s the kind of place where you buy whatever takes your fancy or face an episode of buyer’s remorse.   

Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese  

Barry's Bay (opens in new window) know a thing or two about handcrafted cheese. But then they should, they’ve been making cheese since 1895. Specialties include Havarti, Maasdam, Aged Gouda, Rinded Cheddar, and Peninsula Blue.  

Pot Poruri Fudge  

The makers of Pot Poruri Fudge (opens in new window) claim to have perfected the art of making fudge. With a line-up that includes lime sorbet, maple walnut, and passionfruit, alongside staples like Russian caramel and dark chocolate, it’s not hard to imagine that this might be true. However, there is only one way to find out. You know what to do.  

Akaroa Craft Distillery

The proprietors of Akaroa Craft Distillery (opens in new window) say you can taste the region’s history in their gin. If this is the kind of history lesson that appeals to you, visit their Tasting House and try their unique blends, made from local botanicals such as bladder kelp, cherry blossom, lavender, and pinot noir.

Hectors dolphins spotting with Akaroa Dolphins, Christchurch - Canterbury

Ōnuku church   .

Roughly 5km south of Akaroa is the small Māori settlement of Ōnuku (opens in new window) . This sleepy rural idyl is home to one of the region’s most photographed landmarks: the Ōnuku Church. Aside from a backdrop of Banks Peninsula hills and a foreground of grazing cows, this neatly painted Christian church would be unremarkable if it wasn’t for the stunning Māori carvings that adorn the church’s entrance. Here you have two contrasting architectural styles creating a striking visual symbolism: that of two very different cultures coming together.   

Akaroa Museum  

For a small town, Akaroa has had an interesting history. For starters, it was a potential candidate for a capital city; the birthplace of sailor Frank Worsley, captain of the Endurance during Earnest Shackleton’s ill-fated voyage to Antarctica; and a favourite stop-off for William ‘Bully’ Hayes, a notorious mid 19 th -Century pirate. To find out more, visit the Akaroa Museum (opens in new window) .  

Akaroa Dolphins  

With an Akaroa Dolphins (opens in new window) harbour cruise, you almost get a two-for-one nature experience. The operator uses a team of life-jacket clad dogs to help spot rare Hector’s Dolphins in the harbour. If you’re lucky you might also see the occasional whale. But don’t stress, the dogs will point them out to you.   

Akaroa Lighthouse   

It's a pleasant 15-minute walk along a winding road to reach Akaroa's most famous landmark, Akaroa Lighthouse (opens in new window) . Although completed in 1879, it has stood in its present location for ornamental purposes for about 40 years. Before being retired, it was 10km away on the Akaroa Heads, at the entry to the harbour – also a great spot to explore.   

Pōhatu Penguins

On a Pōhatu Penguins (opens in new window) tour you’ll be shown the country’s largest mainland colony of Little Blue Penguins by the people credited with their survival. The owners of this family-run business have spent three decades working to protect the Pōhatu Penguin colony. Work that has been funded through tours like this one. Starting at Akaroa, you’ll travel along the scenic backcountry roads of Banks Peninsula to the Pōhatu marine reserve. Guides will show you the best viewing spots and tell you about their heroic efforts to save the penguins.

Shamarra Alpacas

Did you know that alpaca wool is three times warmer than sheep’s wool? And that alpacas love to be cuddled. At Shamarra Alpacas (opens in new window) , not only will you have 170 of these cuddly cuties to bond with, but you’ll also find out everything you didn’t know you wanted to know about alpacas.

For more things to do, visit Akaroa and the Bays .  

Getting there

Akaroa, Christchurch - Canterbury

By Miles Holden

Akaroa is a 90-minute drive from Christchurch . A bus service is provided by Akaroa French Connection (opens in new window) , which departs daily from Christchurch and Akaroa.

Explore Akaroa

Find things to do, find places to stay, find transport, find a multi-day tour.

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Where to Next

Ōtautahi Christchurch long-arrow-right

Ōtautahi Christchurch and Canterbury long-arrow-right

Top 10 things to do in Christchurch and Canterbury long-arrow-right

• [email protected]
• +64 3 384 0999

• Christchurch

Akaroa Day Tour LT01C

from 15 reviews

9 hours approximately

Cancellation

Up to 7 days

Tour includes Tourism Award Winning & Supreme Tourism Award winning cruise, on Akaroa Harbour.

Visit the beautiful unspoilt old French whaling depot of Akaroa. A charming small township nestled in a inner harbour bay of Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula.

The township contains a host of historic buildings, craft and gift shops together with a multitude of idyllic photo opportunities. Lunch is available at the naturally picturesque setting of Akaroa Village at the popular Bully Hayes. (Lunch is an optional extra) In the afternoon enjoy the Akaroa Harbour Cruise on the Canterbury Cat. On your return journey to Christchurch a stop will be made at the Barry’s Bay Cheese factory, where you will get to sample some fine New Zealand cheese

• Collected from your accommodation

• Travel to Akaroa via the Sign of Takahe, Sign of Kiwi, Governors Bay, Gebbies Pass, Lake Ellesmere,  Lake Forsyth and Little River.

• Stop at the Hill Top to experience panoramic views of Akaroa Harbour

• Lunch available at Bully Hayes a popular restaurant on the waterfront in the heart of Akaroa with a wide choice of New Zealand food available. This is an optional extra that is available at the time of booking for an additional cost of $40.00 per adult nzd $20.00 per child.

• Following lunch a two hour cruise on the Black Cat exploring the delights of Akaroa Harbour, sightseeing dolphins,penguins and seals.

• On your return journey visit the cheese factory at Barrys Bay and sample some fine New Zealand cheese

• Collected 8.30-9.00am Returned 5.45pm

Attractions

Activity's location.

excellent trip

tripadvisor

Beautiful day, a pleasant day in akaroa, akaroa day tour with harbour cruise, worthwhile activity, interesting day out, amazing customer service, great time in akaroa.

quaint and charming

Lovely tour!

Wonderful day

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• Adult Lunch($40.00) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
• Child Lunch($20.00) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

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• Dolphin Nature Cruise
• Private Charters

Meet the Team

• Dolphin Dogs
• Sustainability

Welcome aboard the best dolphin tour in Akaroa

Join us for the journey of a lifetime.

Experience the best of New Zealand’s wildlife, scenery and hospitality on an Akaroa Dolphins tour. Our passionate, family-led team will take you on an epic adventure that treats you to everything our region has to offer.

Meet the world’s smallest & rarest dolphins

Found in the shallow coastal waters of the South Island and native only to New Zealand, Hector’s dolphins are a local taonga (treasure).

We are fortunate to have multiple pods of Hector dolphins living in and around our bay and they’re just as curious of us as we are of them, popping up often to say hello.

Enjoy spectacular coastal scenery and historical marvels

Rugged cliff faces and dramatic panoramic views will take your breath away as we show you the highlights of our local area.

You’ll see the highest cliff in Banks Peninsula, the famous “Elephant Head”, as well as stunning Cathedral Cave, all from the comfort of our fully equipped luxury vessel.

It’s the little touches that make the biggest difference

Our boat is no place for sardines - we give you plenty of room to move and view the dolphins without jostling for space.

We also provide a range of complimentary drinks, including local wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Our home baking is the proverbial icing on the cake - a personal touch we’re renowned for.

Into the wild ~ Into the wild ~ Into the wild ~ 

Hear from our happy cruisers, protecting our waters for future generations, our family were among the first european settlers in akaroa, with eight generations born and raised here. we’re passionate about doing our part to ensure it remains vibrant and healthy for many years to come., our latest news, finalists in westpac champion business awards 2021, donated $30,000 towards the akaroa hospital rebuild, sponsorship requests, donated $1,960 towards the port hills revegetation project, awarded qualmark gold, why we don't swim with the dolphins, certified b corp, 2019 hector's & māui dolphin threat management plan, department of conservation approved, things we do to reduce our footprint, our new purpose-built catamaran, akaroa marine reserve, our sustainability policy, snapshot of awards, sponsoring akaroa area schools reforestation project, what it means to be a smart operator, our sustainability commitments, akaroa dolphins in the media.

Book your Cruise today

Ready to set sail on a journey you won’t forget? We look forward to welcoming you aboard and showcasing the astounding beauty of our small corner of Aotearoa.