Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Cruise through the stunning Akaroa Harbour and encounter some of New Zealand’s most unique marine wildlife, including the rare Hector’s dolphin, NZ fur seals, penguins, and seabirds. Set aboard a spacious, modern catamaran with large viewing decks and indoor seating, this award-winning nature cruise offers comfort, panoramic views, and expert commentary from your knowledgeable skipper. You’ll explore an ancient volcanic crater, marvel at towering 500-foot sea cliffs and vibrant rock formations. Learn about local conservation efforts and Akaroa’s rich Māori and European history. Complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and a free postcard. With guaranteed departures (weather permitting), it’s a must-do for nature and wildlife lovers and families alike. As New Zealand’s first eco-tourism operator, we’re proud to support the dolphin protection efforts alongside the Department of Conservation and the NZ Whale & Dolphin Trust. Your ticket directly supports this work.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
See rare Hector’s dolphins up close in the wild, along with NZ fur seals, little blue penguins, albatross, and other native seabirds on this award-winning cruise. Board a spacious, modern catamaran with two open viewing decks, indoor seating, and onboard facilities. Travel through Akaroa Harbour, an ancient volcanic crater, as your expert skipper shares insights into the region’s marine life, conservation, and rich Māori and European history. Marvel at 500-foot cliffs, the vibrant colours of Scenery Nook, and the southernmost grove of native Nikau palms. Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and take home a free postcard. Cruises run daily all year (apart from Christmas Day), weather permitting. A New Zealand must-do for nature and wildlife lovers. Complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolate and postcard included.
What‘s Included
2-hour nature cruise
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Wildlife viewing
Postcard
Tea, coffee or hot chocolate
Full on-board commentary
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop off
Options
Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise
Reviews
337 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Rough Seas = Many Sick Passengers
Tom42532,,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00My wife and I took a morning cruise. It was a cool, rainy day, but the waters were fairly calm in the harbor, and we were enjoying the cruise. The scenery is beautiful, especially near the end of the harbor where the jagged coastline and the bright green water made for a perfectly photogenic view. The was a large group of seals on the rocks on the west side of the harbor, including several cute pups. And the ongoing narration from the captain was very interesting. However, we had not seen any dolphins, and the captain made the questionable deicision to head out into the open sea beyond the harbor, in search of. The waters beyond the harbor were very rough, with large swells. This was not the Perfect Storm, but a large number of people got sea-sick, including my wife. We finally did see some dolphins - a few sightings for a few seconds each. After about 15 minutes in the open sea, most of the crew was busy handing out air-sickness bags and gathering used ones. Overall, a wonderful tour that was partially spoiled by rough seas beyond the harbor.
T'was amazing riding on...
flora M,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00T'was amazing riding on the boat though there ' s wind whipping , and bumpy but exciting ..we enjoyed a lot !.
Superb dolphin experience
nzray23,,Jan 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip thanks to the excellent crew of Thomas, Elijah, and Alex! - they deserve a beer from management!! Went today at 1.30pm today, saw loads of Hectors Dolphins, fur seals, comorants, and a penguin. Well worth the money for a superb experience - would highly recommend to others
Excellent and fantastic trip and crew
jcraveneh,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic trip. Crew are very attentive and helpful. We noticed some passengers were feeling seasick and crew was checking on them, helping them. The commentary was excellent. We saw dolphins and fur seals and lots of marine birds. Excellent.
Go for the views of the harbour, not the dolpins
silveranicore,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00The crew were very friendly and gave some interesting commentary about the harbour, so I'm not blaming them for the mid experience at all. Having a free beverage on board was nice. But the dolphin pictures have a taste of false advertising... Hector dolphins don't appear to be the dolphins you can really count on seeing, as they stayed mostly underwater to feed and also don't travel in pods. So you might be unlucky, as was our boat. Saw a few seals, the salmon farm, and that's it. Would recommend it to friends if the price was lower.
Epic cruise
Sunshine62440213989,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00best value for money and a great cruise. The crew were awesome especially Coco and Jessie. Captain Rob was really knowledgeable and took us to see bottle nose dolphins - who are only in the harbour twice a year. We saw hector dolphins and seals and sea caves and it was epic.
Excellent!
antoniaholmes,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent! We saw a pod bottle nose dolphins as well as the little hectors. We also saw lots of seals, including some babies. What a treat! The skipper and his crew were great. His commentary was both informative and funny, good sense of humour. The crew were very attentive and friendly. Loved every minute, thanks.
Fabulous experience
Passport13536940571,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well with the experience. The crew were very knowledgeable about the area and the nature. Made sure we saw as much as we could in the time we were out in the Harbour.
Amazing experience, great value
Geraldine S,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very knowledgeable captain on all the history,geography and nature. Dolphins seals and birds. Totally worth it and great value for money..Cute dog and great attentive staff who offered a drink and refreshment. Highly recommend 👌
Perfect trip
vincentlC4250JK,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was a great informative trip - it felt longer than 2 hours in the best way, moving around the harbour, finding the dolphins and other animals. All while learning about the history of the harbour and taking in breathtaking scenery.
From NZ$125.00
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Operated by Black Cat Cruises