Akaroa Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch: Explore Volcanic Cliffs and Rare Wildlife

Embark on a captivating sightseeing tour from Christchurch to Akaroa. Discover volcanic cliffs, rare wildlife, and the charming Akaroa village. Enjoy a nature cruise and a delicious lunch at Bully Hayes Restaurant.

Duration: 9 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 6 days
Highlights
  • 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.\n\nVisit the beautiful unspoilt old French whaling depot of Akaroa. A charming small township nestled in a…
What's Included
  • Lunch included (optional)
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional driver/guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle for comfort
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Join us for a scenic excursion to Akaroa, nestled in the beautiful landscape of Banks Peninsula, shaped by the explosive eruptions of two prehistoric volcanoes. Akaroa’s crater cradles the scenic harbor and the charming village of Akaroa. During a Nature Cruise, marvel at the unique, rare Hector’s Dolphin, a native of NZ, along with penguins and a…

Location
Akaroa
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.6
(232 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Jennyp107
Oct 6, 2025
Wounderful day touring - Great day our guide Alan was very friendly and had such a vast knowledge of the entire day’s activities and events plenty of time for sight seeing and photos lunch was great and boat trip was fun with lots of wildlife to see seals dolphins and more we had a great day 😀
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bernard_g
Sep 20, 2025
Leaping synchronized dolphins put on a show - 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.
Review provided by Viator
Nikki_w
Sep 20, 2025
It was really nice. The... - It was really nice. The whole experience was great. The lunch was delicious and even though we didn’t see dolphins, we enjoyed the boat trip
Review provided by Viator
Donna_c
Sep 20, 2025
Delightful tour - A really delightful tour. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable, Akaroa charming and lunch was amazing. It was exciting to see a hector dolphin and so many seals. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Alexander_c
Sep 19, 2025
A great day out. Our... - A great day out. Our guide was informative and it was a very comfortable journey. Check weather conditions as it would not be as pleasant if it were raining
Review provided by Viator
Marites_c
Sep 4, 2025
Akaroa is a must see! A... - Akaroa is a must see! A beautiful drive from Christchurch- awesome views and a lovely guide Stephanie. Thank you for being so informative and teaching me about manuka. And the day was even made more wonderful because of the whale sighting. Awesome!!
Review provided by Viator
Gregg_y
Sep 1, 2025
Akaroa is very scenic... - Akaroa is very scenic area. The cruise was nice no dolphins but that isn't typically. Lunch option are good. Scott was an excellent informative guide.
Review provided by Viator
A_t
Aug 26, 2025
Jude the best driver and guide! - Jude was an exceptionally skilled driver who navigated all the tight bends and curves en route to Akaroa, and an intuitive guide who anticipated our needs and at the same time created a really chill environment for us to relax into. There were just 6 of us on the tour and she was always there with us, but we felt like there was still space for self-exploration around town. Hands down the best tour we’ve had so far in Christchurch and we are grateful for Jude who made our day carefree and super enjoyable!
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_l
Jul 20, 2025
A great way to see Akaroa without the stress of driiving! - We landed in Christchurch and stayed a day before embarking on a driving trip around the South Island. We decided on this tour in order to see things we wouldn’t have seen on our own and to have a fun day that didn’t involve driving. Jude, our guide and driver, was delightful—friendly, helpful, and informative. We loved the small-group experience. Lunch and the harbor cruise were both excellent—we saw many dolphins along with seals and an albatross. The roads to get there were windy and would have been somewhat intimidating to us as visitors, but Jude navigated with ease and took us to places with incredible views. We highly recommend this day trip from Christchurch!
Review provided by Viator
Aizah_a
Aug 26, 2025
Had a lovely day. Akaroa... - Had a lovely day. Akaroa was a very picturesque town. Our guide/driver, Jude, was friendly and attentive - we enjoyed her company for sure.
Review provided by Viator
From $156
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start of your experience (local time).