Akaroa Travel Guides (Updated September 2026)

We had a great experience and really enjoyed the friendly and professional team at Akaroa Dolphin cruise. Lots of wildlife and "Chops" gave a really good commentary about the history and biodiversity. Put it down as a must do when visiting the Banks Peninsula, you won't regret it. Thanks again, Chops, Lucy, Alexis and "Theo" for making our trip a fantastic time. Definitely will be coming back! Craig & Josh Patty

What a fantastic experience. Mat and Hana were great hosts. Well informed guide narration and we were so lucky to see whales, dolphins and seals during our sailing. It’s a must do if you go to Akaroa.

The nature cruise was beautiful, informative and we were fortunate enough to see Hector's dolphins, white flippers karora and kakeno. The trip was a good length of time and we learnt lots about the history of the harbour.

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

This experience is spectacular. More than five stars - billions!! Location is perfect; Luca even more so. He imparts his extensive knowledge and thoughts in a wonderfully warm way. Luca is a great communicator and lovely storyteller. I and my eight-year-old mokopuna really enjoyed our tour among the stars.

What a great experience to go solar gazing, I never knew such a thing existed but delighted that we got to gove it a go. Luca was a fantastic guide for our trip to the sun through the telescope. I would highly recommend it. Now I just need to organise a few peeps and book in a star gazing session.

I went with my friends and we had a fantastic time! We visited during the new moon, so we were treated to an incredibly clear night sky, making the whole experience even more magical.Luca is such a friendly host, and his passion and knowledge really shone through. The experience was engaging, informative, and easy to follow, even for those of us with very little prior knowledge of astronomy.I'd highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable evening under New Zealand's beautiful night sky!

Despite the poor weather, our visit to Shamarra Alpacas was absolutely fantastic! The staff were incredibly warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable, making the experience enjoyable from start to finish. The alpacas were beautiful, friendly, and clearly very well cared for. Even with the rain, we had a wonderful time meeting and feeding them, and the stunning surroundings still made for a memorable visit. It’s obvious how much love and passion goes into this place. We left with big smiles and some amazing memories. I highly recommend Shamarra Alpacas to anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable experience—rain or shine!

So good, I think I might book again tomorrow!

We were lucky enough to have amazing weather and the guide was very interesting to talk to and learn from

Marie guided our Year 13 History class for a half-day tour around Akaroa, covering six sites of significance for the settlement, conflict, contact and colonisation of the area by Māori, French and British. Her storytelling really brought the history to life, and was thoroughly backed by huge historical knowledge, oral and family traditions, and original research. Her deep personal connection to the area was evident and she related so well to our students, using their interests and questions to tailor the tour as we went around the sites. They loved it and learnt so much. Thoroughly recommended!

We have been working with Marie for the past four years as part of our NCEA Level 2 programme, and I highly recommend her. She is easy to deal with, well organised, and makes the day highly enjoyable for both students and staff — it is a highlight of the course for both my students and me. She builds great rapport with students and keeps them interested throughout, and they consistently learn a great deal from the experience. Many comment on how interesting and inspiring the tour is, thanks to her passion and storytelling.Marie is highly adaptable, tailoring each tour to meet assessment requirements, which adds real value to student learning. Her content is always fresh and engaging, even after multiple years.I would highly recommend Marie not only for senior History programmes but also as a valuable opportunity for junior Social Studies classes or as part of department professional development. We look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.

A great trip around the bay . Are Guide gave us great directions and some facts about the bay.

We had some good sightings, including a Hector dolphin. We also got to poke in the mouth of a sea cave or two, and pass by the "Cathedral cave" -- an impressive natural formation. Our guide Max was energetic, engaging, and highly competent. We made good but safe time on water, seeing quite a bit.

Our guide Alex was friendly, enthusiatic, and highly competent. He also had a number of local stories to share about the local places we passed by or viewed from the water. Good time had by all.

Alex was amazing guide! We love the kayaking trip!