Akaroa Dolphins ~ Harbour Nature Cruise
Description
At the core, we’re a family business with our management team being 6th & 7th generation Banks Peninsula locals. Alongside our family members, we have a passionate team who are committed to you having a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We keep our passenger groups small so that you have more room to move around the boat, and enjoy your cruise without overcrowding or missing dolphin sightings due to a shortage of viewing space. Our boat has a low-lying profile which means you get closer to the wildlife! When you board our boat you’ll be offered a complimentary drink. Choose from beer, award-winning local wine or non-alcoholic options. You’ll also enjoy our famous home-baked treats made from our family recipe and served to you by our delightful onboard crew. We are committed to the conservation of our harbour's environment and wildlife. After all, it’s the centre point of our business. *Check-in is 30 minutes prior to the departure, with boarding 15 minutes beforehand.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We do not swim with the dolphins
Reviews(2,256)
Excellent tour with Akaroa Dolphins. The boat was spacious and comfortable, our guide was informative, and we saw seals, an albatross and dolphins. The dolphin dog, Louie, was a delight and the cookies were a great treat to round out the trip.
We had such a wonderful time on the dolphin cruise, the whole experience was fantastic, from the beautiful scenery to seeing the dolphins up close in their natural environment. The crew were friendly, knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. We would definately reccommend to anyone visiting the area. We absolutely loved it!! 🐬
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic time.
Was a great trip with great guides and amazing to see the wildlife
Thank you for your lovely review!
What a fabulous experience , from the minute we walked into the ticket office to getting off the boat at the end of our cruise. One of our party struggles a bit with seasickness and the staff member looked at the weather forecast and suggest we wait a couple of days as the swell was forecast to drop. Right decision- we had a beautiful day. Matthew, Hana and dolphin dog Louie were amazing, knowledgeable hosts and we found dolphins pretty quickly. Stunning scenery, great history of the Akaroa area, a visit to the seal colony (and delicious home baked cookies). We’d highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and recommendation! We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another memorable cruise in the future.
Excellent cruise from Akaroa Harbour to just outside the entrance to Akaroa Bay, where you can spot the rare Hectors Dolphins, the smallest dolphins in the world. And we indeed spotted many - there must have been a whole school of them, swimming alongside, in front or under the boat. All very nice indeed and perfect for photo opportunities. The whole cruise lasts a little over two hours.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you back to Akaroa for another cruise in the future.
Really enjoyed our cruise and learning some of the history of Akaroa. It was a varied and interesting commentary. Having the Hector's dolphins come and entertain us was a highlight too.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the cruise and found the commentary on Akaroa's history varied and interesting.
Wonderful experience. Thoroughly recommend
Thank you so much!
The crew were friendly and knowledgeable. They provided history and information on the birds, seals and Hector dolphins. The boat was excellent, plenty of areas to see all the wildlife and cliffs. It felt less touristy and more like out with friends which was great Definitely would choose this experience again. Thanks
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time out on the water with us.
This was a truly incredible experience and it was an honour to witness these wonderful dolphins in their natural habitat. The crew were excellent (including Albie!) and the commentary was interesting – it’s clear that the company respects and protects the dolphins, other wildlife and the natural environment. The complimentary glass of wine and delicious cookie onboard was the icing on the cake! One of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand – thank you! :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that your experience was one of the highlights of your trip to New Zealand! :) We hope to welcome you back on board for another unforgettable adventure in the future!
This tour was special. Saw the tiny hector dolphins, white fin penguins, an albatross, a whale and all sorts of other seabirds whose name I can’t recall. The scenery is stunning, with a decent amount of history told on the tour. It was not overcrowded, nice and intimate. The skipper and the attendant were both exceptional and attentive. And they have a gorgeous boat dog that’s onboard for the ride which adds a little something extra. Modern boat, great value for money, would recommend.
