Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise
Description
Cruise through the stunning Akaroa Harbour and encounter some of New Zealand’s most unique marine wildlife, including the rare Hector’s dolphin, NZ fur seals, penguins, and seabirds. Set aboard a spacious, modern catamaran with large viewing decks and indoor seating, this award-winning nature cruise offers comfort, panoramic views, and expert commentary from your knowledgeable skipper. You’ll explore an ancient volcanic crater, marvel at towering 500-foot sea cliffs and vibrant rock formations. Learn about local conservation efforts and Akaroa’s rich Māori and European history. Complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and a free postcard. With guaranteed departures (weather permitting), it’s a must-do for nature and wildlife lovers and families alike. As New Zealand’s first eco-tourism operator, we’re proud to support the dolphin protection efforts alongside the Department of Conservation and the NZ Whale & Dolphin Trust. Your ticket directly supports this work.
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
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(353)
Great experience, loved Akaroa and the cruise and team aboard were great. Only 2 Hector dolphins but we did see them. Love to help recommend you, thanks for a great day out
We had a great cruise this morning! There wasn’t many people on the boat which was excellent as our kids were able to wander about but the skipper and the rest of the staff were excellent, even entertaining the kids with a dance party in the cabin! Thanks so much guys! We will be back. Definite highlight of our weekend.
Kia ora leahhS9471WA, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted your family had such a fantastic time on our Akaroa Nature Cruise. Winter is a beautiful time to explore Akaroa Harbour, and having extra space on board can make it even more enjoyable for families. We're so pleased our skipper and crew helped make the experience extra memorable with the dance party – they'll love hearing your feedback! We look forward to welcoming you back for another family-friendly wildlife cruise, where hopefully you'll enjoy even more encounters with Hector's dolphins, fur seals and the incredible marine wildlife that makes Akaroa so special. Thanks again for choosing Black Cat Cruises!
Amazing trip. Spectacular scenery and loved the guided information on the tour with a typical kiwi sense of humour
Kia ora matthewH98WI, thank you for your lovely review! We're so pleased you enjoyed the spectacular scenery of Akaroa Harbour and the commentary from our crew. We love sharing the history, wildlife and unique landscapes of the Banks Peninsula, and we're glad our Kiwi sense of humour made the experience even more enjoyable! We hope to welcome you back on another Akaroa Nature Cruise soon for more unforgettable scenery and incredible wildlife encounters with Hector's dolphins, fur seals and little blue penguins. Thanks for choosing Black Cat Cruises!
This was a fantastic relaxing experience. I would happily do it again. My only complaint is that commentary was muffled
Our skipper was very informative with a bit of humor. Great staff and a lovely boat trip seeing a penguin, seal and of course the fascinating dolphins
Kia ora Happiness646664, thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled you got to experience so much of Akaroa's incredible marine wildlife, including a little blue penguin, New Zealand fur seals and, of course, the amazing Hector's dolphins. It's great to hear our skipper's informative commentary and Kiwi humour helped make the cruise even more enjoyable. We really appreciate you recommending our Akaroa Nature Cruise as a must-do while visiting Akaroa, and we hope to welcome you back to explore Akaroa Harbour with us again soon.
What a fabulous experience this was.
Kia ora ValerieKiwi, thank you for your kind words! We're so pleased you had such a wonderful experience with us. Whether it's encountering the rare Hector's dolphins, discovering the spectacular scenery of Akaroa Harbour, or simply enjoying time on the water, we love creating memorable wildlife experiences for our guests. We hope to welcome you back to Black Cat Cruises for another unforgettable Akaroa Nature Cruise in the future.
Totally top notch tour, respectful of the dolphins first and foremost Great team Pip was brilliant through our groups changing needs Stunning day Great swim Soul feeding experience One of the best NZ experiences ever
Kia ora helengreenway123, thank you for your wonderful review! It means a lot to hear that our commitment to putting Hector's dolphins and their wellbeing first stood out during your experience. Responsible, sustainable wildlife encounters are at the heart of everything we do at Black Cat Cruises, so your feedback is especially appreciated. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Pip and the rest of the team, they'll be delighted to know they helped make your visit so enjoyable. We hope to welcome you back to Akaroa Harbour for another unforgettable eco-cruise in the future.
We had an excellent day on Akaroa Harbour. Everything was perfect. The staff were entertaining, funny and knowledgeable and we saw lots of dolphins, seals and even penguins. The boat wasn't too crowded so we had lots of opportunity to see over the side and space to move around.
Kia ora Jackspray2015, thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We're delighted you had such an enjoyable day exploring Akaroa Harbour with us. It's wonderful to hear you spotted so much of our incredible marine wildlife, including Hector's dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and little blue penguins. We're also pleased our crew's friendly commentary and the comfortable space on board helped make your Akaroa Nature Cruise even more memorable. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to Black Cat Cruises for another unforgettable wildlife adventure in the future.
Our experience on these cruises were incredible. Me and my partner chose to swim with dolphins and looked at many websites but this one stuck out. Our boat journey was excellent with grace and a man driving the boat. Grace was a lovely girl who kept us in the loop and I can’t remember the man’s name may of been Chris he was also amazing. The actual swimming was also the best thing we’ve ever done, we never once felt nervous, on edge or uncomfortable just free, fun and relaxed. The dolphins were super cute and friendly and the professional pictures were perfect. Highly recommend
Kia ora Sarah W, thank you for your fantastic review and for choosing Black Cat Cruises for your Swimming with Dolphins experience. We are thrilled to hear that after researching your options, you chose to join us in Akaroa Harbour and that it became one of the best experiences you have ever had. Grace and Chris will be delighted to hear your kind words, and we will be sure to pass your feedback on to them. It is wonderful that you felt relaxed and comfortable throughout the tour while enjoying such a special encounter with the endangered Hector's dolphins in their natural environment. We are also pleased you loved the professional photos, giving you lasting memories of your adventure. Thank you for your recommendation, and we would love to welcome you back for another unforgettable wildlife experience in Akaroa.
Friendly crew; good commentary; easy to move around boat; did not see penguins, however, did see Hector's dolphins, seals and birds of the albatross family.
