Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch

Overview

Available languages

English

9 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Enjoy a Sightseeing tour to Akaroa through the spectacular scenery surrounding Banks Peninsula, formed following violent eruptions of two ancient volcanoes. The Akaroa crater nurses the picturesque harbor and Akaroa village. Experience a Nature Cruise with highlights including the rare, NZ native dolphin - the Hector's Dolphin, as well as penguins and other sea birds. And you'll see giant volcanic sea cliffs and hear about Akaroa's fascinating past. The Tour also includes a delightful lunch at Bully Hayes Restaurant.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

What‘s Included

Lunch - (if option chosen)

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Driver/guide

Air-conditioned vehicle

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Akaroa

Following a morning pickup by air-conditioned coach from your Christchurch hotel, head out along the road to Akaroa to begin your tour. 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

Admission Not Applicable

Lake Ellesmere

Travel to Akaroa via Lake Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth and Little River

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Akaroa Day Tour w/ Lunch

Akaroa Day Tour: Tour includes lunch at Bully Hayes restaurant and a 2 hour Nature Cruise on Akaroa Harbour.
Pickup included

Akaroa - Cruise Only

Akaroa - Cruise only: Akaroa Day Tour including a 2 hour Nature Cruise on Akaroa Harbour (No lunch included)
Pickup included

Reviews

4.60

240 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

182

Pete was great! The...
jacob s,
Oct 22, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Pete was great! The group was great! Loved the scenery! Very unique experience because you don’t hear about it a lot! Cheers!
Pete, our driver, gave a...
Connie L,
Oct 22, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Pete, our driver, gave a wonderful tour of Akaroa and the surrounding areas. We were able to take great pictures overlooking Christchurch and Lyttelton. Akaroa is a cute beach town and we had time to walk through and shop before lunch. Lunch was very good, the cod in the fish and chips was so fresh! Catamaran tour was interesting and we were able to see the seals. People on the bus were fun. A great day.
Akaroa was great....
brad n,
Oct 14, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Akaroa was great. The winding road from Christchurch was beautiful. The nature tour in the bay on the Blackcat ferry was educational and enjoyable. The little shoreline village was adorable. Our driver, Graham, was great with his skill and knowledge.
Fabulous experience
Susan J,
Oct 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Absolutely delightful day tour. Pete our guide was awesome. He was knowledgeable and very polite and courteous and a very good safe driver. I opted for the lunch and boat ride package. Both were fantastc. We saw so many dolphins on the two hour cruise. Highly recommended. A++++++
Leaping synchronized dolphins put on a show
Bernard G,
Sep 20, 2025
- Viator
5.00
We were on the whale watch but it was the dolphins that made our day and our week!! It was about eight minutes of leaping synchronized dolphins showing off their athletic skills-most in pairs but there was also one group of six! It was pretty close to unbelievable!!! But we should also say the scenery into Akaroa is very much worth seeing—even by South Island’s very high standards.

From NZ$270.00