Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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
Travel to Akaroa via Lake Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth and Little River
Visit the Barry's Bay Cheese Factory for a cheese tasting of locally made cheeses, the only remaining cheese factory on the peninsula from a bygone era. Next you can enjoy the quaint colonial architecture and wander around the charming 150 year old French harbor side village of Akaroa with its museum of settlers' history, art and craft shops and studios and al fresco cafes and wine bars. In the late-afternoon, hop back aboard your coach for the drive back to your Christchurch hotel, where your tour will come to an end.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If your Hotel is not listed, please advise and we can arrange the most suitable pickup location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(301)
This tour is about Akaroa, getting there through beautiful mountains and valleys, the township itself so quaint and tranquil, the lunch of your choosing, the dolphin cruise, the cheese factory, and return. This tour is a stunning countryside, mountain, seaside and ocean experience (whether the dolphins are found, or not). Jude was a wonderful and kind guide for the day. She was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to accommodate special requests! I can’t wait to return in the summer. We were so lucky to have been gifted a bright, sunny day in mid-winter and I returned home with loads of beautiful photos of the Canterbury hills, harborside views, and the spectacular scenic ocean cliffs and rocks on the cruise. Cathedral Cove was a beautiful place to see-watercolor was amazing. This was a fantastic introduction to the Banks Peninsula, its terrain, and the picturesque, quaint French town of Akaroa.
This is beautifully written and a great synopsis of the Akaroa Day Tour. Thank you for taking the time to write a review, thank you for showcasing Jude (your driver/guide) and thank you for sharing your wonderful day.
We did a day tour to Akaroa from Christchurch on a relatively cold winter (June) day. Pick up was spot on time, and we were only four on the tour, as it was (very) low season. The van was spacious and comfortable, the driver provided interesting explanations during the 90 minute drive to Akaroa. Akaroa itself is an utterly charming little village, with most street names in French as it was settled by French in the 1830s-1840s. Lunch in a local restaurant was fine (the salmon steak of very giid quality), The 2 hour dolphin cruise was also excellent (even though my daughter has mild seasickness). Drive back and return to Christchiurch bery much on time as well. Recommended.
Great review all round of the tour. Many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
Akaroa is a beautiful setting. Enjoyed our trip. Andrew was very polite, courteous professional knowledgeable and informative and a very safe driver.
Great review all round of both the tour and of Andrew. many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
Andrew was amazing and gave us a great day out, the cruise was also amazing I would recommend this tour
Thank you for your very kind review and for highlighting Andrew - who we agree with you, he is amazing! Thank you again.
I had a wonderful time on this tour! It was a very small tour group given it’s the off season, but we had a great time in Akaroa! The town is quaint and quite pretty - lunch was good, too. The cruise was wonderful - we saw seals and a few of the dolphins! It was so cool! We had a really great time and lucked out with the weather.
What a wonderful review and so pleased you had such a fabulous. There are benefits to travelling in the off season for sure! Thank you for sending in.
Jude was an absolute delight. She is the best guide ever! The whole journey, routes and commentary was so entertaining. Had one of the best days in a long time ❤️🫶🏼
Wow - that's a glowing review of both your day and Jude, your guide. Thank you for taking the time to write your review.
Fabulous day out. Started with a stop at the cheese factory, where I bought a lot of cheese. It was then onto Akaroa. A beautiful little town. The shops are lovely and everyone was very welcoming. The lunch was great, so much food. We were very lucky on the cruise to see a pod of Hectors Dolphins. It was a a fantastic day out.
Brilliant that you had such a great day -so much good cheese to choose from - we hear you! Thanks for a great review.
Great day out. Andrew the driver did a wonderful commentary. The best part was seeing the Hector Dolphins.
Great review of both the tour and driver. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Andy was lovely and we had a superb day, blessed with gorgeous weather and pleasant company. And yes, we saw the giant whale.
So pleased you got to see the whale - makes the tour even more worthwhile.
This was a lovely day trip. I liked everything, from the stops along the way, the views, Barrys cheese factory (yum), and the free time and lunch in Akaroa. The cruise was amazing - seeing so many Hectors dolphins and a close up of the seals. I would like to compliment Andrew, our driver of the day - for his smooth and safe driving, for his interesting commentary along the way, but especially for his kindness and courtesy to everyone on the bus. Thanks for a very memorable day.
Great review of both Andrew and the tour. So pleased you had a fabulous day.
