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Akaroa Cruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Akaroa Cruises & boat tours

Akaroa Harbour 2-Hour Nature Cruise

1. Akaroa Harbour 2-Hour Nature Cruise

Experience an award-winning nature cruise of Akaroa Habor. Discover wildlife like dolphins, seals, penguins, and other seabirds. Gaze upon giant volcanic sea cliffs and hear about Akaroa's fascinating past.  Travel on a modern catamaran, which is perfect for viewing the natural wonders of Akaroa Harbour. There's lots of room on the two decks for unimpeded viewing and plenty of covered seating for shade and shelter. Inside, for your convenience you'll find a bar and washrooms. Each cruise is fully narrated by your skipper who has extensive knowledge of the nature, wildlife and the history of the harbour. As Akaroa Harbour was a live volcano millions of years ago, there are many spectacular ancient lava flows to be seen. One cliff has a sheer 500-foot face and a fascinating history, while Nikau Palm Gully is the southernmost limit for these tropical palm trees. There is also the incredible Scenery Nook, an amazing pink, purple and red volcanic amphitheater that will take your breath away.

Akaroa: Dolphin Nature Cruise

2. Akaroa: Dolphin Nature Cruise

Embark on a journey of discovery with the knowledgable crew and expert dolphin-spotting dogs, as they unveil the breathtaking highlights, enchanting magic, and captivating wonder that Akaroa Harbour has to offer. This company holds a Department of Conservation Marine Mammal Viewing Permit, meaning legally they are able to take guests to view dolphins & seals. Only two permitted companies operate all year round. Their luxurious low-lying catamaran provides a closer encounter with the rare Hector's dolphins. Along the way, you will also learn about the incredible history & see NZ fur seals, penguins, seabirds, sea caves & spectacular volcanic formations. Enjoy a complimentary drink of local NZ wine, beer, or juice, as well as delicious home baking. A 100% locally owned & operated family business, going back 7 generations to the area, who are committed to raising awareness with a portion of your fare going towards conservation efforts protecting the precious wildlife & marine environment. Please note for conservation reasons, they do not swim with the dolphins. To learn more please visit their website.

Akaroa: Scenic Coastline Wildlife Cruise

3. Akaroa: Scenic Coastline Wildlife Cruise

Join us for a wildlife tour that explores the spectacular volcanic coastline and abundant wildlife of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa. Our tour numbers are kept limited, offering you a small and intimate tour that will take you where others can’t. Some of the wildlife you’ll get to see include little blue penguins and an array of seabirds. Our friendly and knowledgeable crew love meeting and talking with our guests and Scruffy, our friendly boat dog, joins us on afternoon trips! Tony, a real Kiwi, has been exploring the waters around the Peninsula since the 1960s. He’ll entertain you with his the stories of his adventures and share his enthusiasm for this wonderful environment and stunning wildlife. Our characterful and comfortable boat - Wairiri, is a 41-foot Kauri Launch built in 1964. Our tours specialise in small groups and enough space to move around the boat for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities! Tony often still has a lobster pot out and we pull it up on some of our trips. We never know what we find in it: Lobster, octopus, conger eel, starfish and sand sharks are just a few of the creatures we might have caught.

Other Sightseeing Options in Akaroa

Want to discover all there is to do in Akaroa? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Akaroa

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 29 reviews

This was one of our favourite activities in New Zealand! Lovely cruise and we saw so much wildlife - little penguins, loads of seals and dolphins who swam right up to the boat! Our guide was fantastic and we got loads of great info, and the landscape is just beautiful - they take you to lots of great spots, including amazing sea caves.

Was a great day on the water, sunny light breezes perfect day out. And we saw penguins, dolphins and fur seals what more could you ask for. Perfect day.

Glad it was a fairly calm day!! Great commentary and we not only saw dolphins we saw fur seals and penguins. Highly recommended

The captain and crew did all they could do we could see penguin’s and dolphins and seals. The weather was excellent as well

Friendly and informative crew - saw lots of beautiful scenery and wildlife.