D
Great day trip, Andrew...
Great day trip, Andrew was very informative and the day ran quite smoothly. Beautiful views the whole day!
Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch
+2 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 9h 30min
- Price from
- $166 / person
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 307 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 40
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 6 days before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Leisure Tours
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:30 AM
- Next available
- Sat, Oct 10
- Adult (ages 14+)
- $166
- Child (ages 3–13)
- $89
- Infant (ages 0–2)
- $11
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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. 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
Lake Ellesmere
Travel to Akaroa via Lake Ellesmere, Lake Forsyth and Little River
Barrys Bay Cheese
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.
What's included
Included
Lunch - (if option chosen)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Driver/guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Gratuities
Pickup Locations & Times
If your Hotel is not listed, please advise and we can arrange the most suitable pickup location.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
307 reviews
How it compares in Christchurch
- No. 10 by number of reviews among 338 tours in Christchurch
- Starting price $166 is 13% below the typical $192 for tours of similar length in Christchurch
Excurgo comparison of 338 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
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
Cancellation
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
6+ days before100% refund
2–6 days before50% refund
0–2 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch take?
Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch lasts about 9h 30min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch cost?
Prices start at $166 per person for this Christchurch experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM.
How much does Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch cost for children?
Children aged 3–13 pay from $89, adults from $166.
Can I cancel Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 6 days before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. If your Hotel is not listed, please advise and we can arrange the most suitable pickup location. Pickup points include Hotel Give, Hotel Montreal.
What languages is Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 40 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Children must be accompanied by an adult
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(307)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
T
Jude is as amazing!!...
Jude is as amazing!! She is a wonderful tour guide! Jude is very knowledgeable, friendly and very entertaining! We highly recommend Jude! Tina and Andi 😊
Operator response
Hi Tina, thanks for leaving a review of your tour and for mentioning our legend Jude, she is one of our gems! She will be thrilled to hear you enjoyed your day with her, as am I
T
Great experience at Akaroa with Jude
Our driver/guide was Jude who was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. She answered our many questions and entertain us throughout the whole tour. would highly recommend the tour company and especially Jude it was a memorable day thank you for making us feel so comfortable.
Operator response
Great review of both the tour and of Jude! Many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
H
A Great Journey All Round
I’m so glad I ended up booking this tour! I got lucky, as it only ended up being two of us on the trip, both solo travellers who were looking to spend the day out of Christchurch. Our guide, Alan, was fantastic. He knew so much about the local area, was happy to give us information about more things we could do while in town, took the tome to get to know us, and made sure we were never bored. I had a few emails from the booking team as well (as there was some concern about numbers and what day we would actually be able to go) and they were also extremely friendly. The trip itself was beautiful, Alan gave us time to take pictures and visit viewpoints of the area, and there was plenty of time to explore Akaroa before the cruise as well as get a bite to eat. The team for the cruise were also excellent. Even if we had seen no wildlife, the scenery and the commentary would have been worth it, but we did also see a penguin, a seal, and quite a few dolphins. It was truly just a wonderful day, and seemed to go by so quickly. There were so many options for pickup and drop off, so even though my hostel was not on the list of locations, the spot were I met the van ended up only being about a 2 minute walk away. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone who is looking to do some exploring but doesn’t necessarily need anything too intense. It was calm enough that we could go at our own pace, but there was also always enough to do!
2 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thanks for your great review! It sounds like you had a great day out with Alan and thank you for highlighting him, I'm certain he will be thrilled to hear you enjoyed your day!
J
Loved this tour- Don’t miss out on Akaroa
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.
Operator response
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.
S
very nice day tour to Akaroa
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.
Operator response
Great review all round of the tour. Many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
S
Enjoyable day
Akaroa is a beautiful setting. Enjoyed our trip. Andrew was very polite, courteous professional knowledgeable and informative and a very safe driver.
Operator response
Great review all round of both the tour and of Andrew. many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
L
Amazing day
Andrew was amazing and gave us a great day out, the cruise was also amazing I would recommend this tour
Operator response
Thank you for your very kind review and for highlighting Andrew - who we agree with you, he is amazing! Thank you again.
P
A Great Relaxed Day
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.
Operator response
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.
S
Must visit
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 ❤️🫶🏼
Operator response
Wow - that's a glowing review of both your day and Jude, your guide. Thank you for taking the time to write your review.
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from$166
4.6(307) Free cancellation