Private Tour
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
My true story | New Zealand’s History
Do not miss out on this incredible New Zealand experience.
Just look at the amazing 5 star reviews!
Guests describe this tour as the “New Zealand’s best kept secret”, “the best thing to do in Akaroa”, “best tour in Canterbury.”
This tour is owned and operated by The 7th Generation descendant of the French settlers, expert trained historian and ecologist and natural born storyteller.
Guests consistently report that the tour had a BIG impact on them, leaving them feeling connected to nature and inspired for the future.
Expert guide Marie Haley, was a FINALIST at the 2024 New Zealand Tourism Awards for Tourism Business Excellence, a big deal for a one-woman operation.
This tour will take you to all of Akaroa’s hidden gems - you will simply see no other tourists.
This tour includes all the best things to do in Akaroa, that you could not access and understand without this expert guide.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please let me know of any major health or mobility issues to tailor the tour to your needs.
Some flexibility is required entering and exiting the vehicle, please let me know of any health issues.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Homemade scones and homemade jam, with tea, coffee or hot chocolate. At one of the most beautiful picnic spots in the world.
Guide
Select a pickup point
Akaroa Lighthouse
Learn about the historic Akaroa Lighthouse and its incredible connection to the Robert Louis Stevenson family. One of Akaroa’s many historic buildings, perhaps it’s most photographed.
Learn about the geological and natural history of New Zealand. Learn about Polynesian navigation and exploration. Learn about European arrival to New Zealand and the flax trade. Learn about the Brig Elizabeth incident with the first European involvement in intertribal warfare, on the shores of Akaroa harbour which ultimately lead to the Treaty of Waitangi. We will spend time walking along the shoreline and have a chance to take photos.
Pickup included
Group Private Tours
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
rhonag730,
Oct 26, 2025
- Tripadvisor
Marie was just a delight. My daughter and I learned so much from her about the early settling of Akaroa and New Zealand from an actual descendant. We enjoyed spending the entire morning and early afternoon with her (she graciously extended her time) and we even had the pleasure of sharing cookies and a tea with her while overlooking the stunning landscape. She is very knowledgeable about the conservation of the land and what is being done to preserve its beauty and abundance. Highly recommend this tour.
joshuasI7019HV,
Oct 16, 2025
- Tripadvisor
Marie was FANTASTIC. This tour has everything you need. It had nature, history, beautiful scenery and lots of culture. Book it ASAP.
lachlans429,
Oct 16, 2025
- Tripadvisor
What an unbelievable experience to be apart of. Marie is a proud Akaroa lady who takes pride in displaying the beautiful area that she calls home. There was no question to big or small. Beautiful tour, beautiful town.
982jede,
Oct 16, 2025
- Tripadvisor
Had a wonderful time on this tour. Marie is a wealth of knowledge and I learnt so much about NZ and Akaroa. Would recommend this to anyone visiting.
Abigail H,
Oct 10, 2025
- Tripadvisor
We booked this for our first day in New Zealand and the stunning little town of Akoroa. It was such a good introduction to the area, Māori culture and the history of NZ. Marie was a natural story teller and very warm and empathetic, she really bought the area to life by being so connected to it and I learned loads about the ecology (who knew gorse could be interesting?!) and history of the area.
455debst,
Sep 12, 2025
- Tripadvisor
We had a fantastic experience with Marie Haley’s Seventh Generation tour. The tour was not only informative but also felt very personal, as Marie shared stories of her own ancestors that brought Akaroa’s history to life. Her knowledge and passion made the tour engaging and memorable. The homemade scones were absolutely delicious, a real treat to finish off the experience. Marie is a wonderful guide, and we came away with a much deeper understanding and appreciation of Akaroa. Highly recommended!
Voyager03676664015,
Aug 14, 2025
- Tripadvisor
We went on one of the tours with our school for our history internal, where we focused on the history of Akaroa. We all loved the tour and found it incredibly useful for learning the history of Akaroa.
judithtsy,
Mar 19, 2025
- Tripadvisor
Marie from The Seventh Generation was an excellent and passionate guide on our adventure around Akaroa! Her tour came highly recommended by a friend and we went for the 3 hours history and nature tour, which we greatly enjoyed. She has a great depth of knowledge of the area and its history, as a local with roots back to the founding of the town. We stopped at historically significant sites that were lying around town in plain sight and went to hidden gems like the top of a hill where we had a lovely picnic with homemade scones and a breathtaking view of the bay. We are glad to have a deeper knowledge about this sleepy seaside town and had an amazing time! We would highly recommend Marie to anyone wanting to get to know Akaroa beyond just the surface level.
Rory K,
Mar 1, 2025
- Tripadvisor
Marie gave us a great overview of the local culture and environment. Brought us up to speed on some key moments in NZ history. The chance to get a local perspective on the Akaroa landscape was such a valuable experience.
Operated by The Seventh Generation