Top Akaroa Outdoor Activities

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.

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!

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.

It was an extrely interesting experience and we learned a lot about the sun and the solar system. We were also able to look through the telescope and saw sun eruptions and spots.

360 views of Harbour and city! Walking tour of outer shire movie sites. WETA visit. Best tour guide ever!

Absolutely the best tour we had in New Zealand. Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. We were taken places the large buses would miss;. All in all a terrific excursion. Well worth it!

The alpacas are so lovely. It was a great experience.

Get experience and wonderfull and friendly staff

From every perspective this is an ideal tour. Marie provides geological (so THAT is how NZ emerged as a land mass!), historical (Māori, French, English), political (I had no idea the Waitangi Treaty was signed in Akaroa), personal (how a teenager fighting in Les Miserable-era Frane travels the world to NZ), and environmental (restoration of native trees through natural progression rather than chemicals and fire) context to understand the Banks peninsula and Akaroa. From the beautiful views over tea, stress-free communications, and flexible approach (we arrived by bus so had to shift our start time), our family left transformed and rejuvenated. 15 out of 10!

My wife Jan and I highly recommend you take Marie's tour. She is very passionate and knowledgeable about the history of Akaroa and the role it played in the settlement of New Zealand. After the tour you will remember Akaroa for more than just its natural beauty.

This was an awesome experience. Luca was very helpful when we needed to change plans due to the weather. His knowledge and passion for the solar system was fantastic. I highly recommend

I took another space-geek friend and NZ transplant to do the Sun viewing. The team was super communicative, and we even popped into the shop (2/8 Rue Balguerie, Akaroa) to discuss plans because the clouds were rolling across the sky (and the point was to see the Sun!) We were flexible, and so were they, and we ended up having a private Sun-gazing experience — all safety equipment present and accounted for! We saw flares and sunspots, and had three different ways of viewing the Sun, which was really cool. Also recommend popping into the shop, for space-themed items (Catraunaut puzzle being one of my favorites), photos, and more. Family-owned and operated, and well worth supporting! Would recommend the experience for daytime visits to Akaroa.

My husband and I enjoyed this excursion. Rob, our tour director, was very informative and we learned lots about the surrounding area and Christchurch. Although a 90 minute drive from Akaroa, it was worth it. The scenery along the way was lovely. The city tour was interesting, the botanical gardens were nice and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve was not to be missed. We now have a better understanding of New Zealand's unique geography and biodiversity.

The drive from Akaroa where ships dock, through Banks Peninsula to Christchurch is a long but interesting drive where you see much of the countryside. Christchurch is a magnificent city. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is a family owned and operated place where animals are displayed for public viewing. They advertise that they participate in conservation of Kiwi's and other wildlife. If you imagine that this is a vast wildlife sanctuary it's not. It was interesting to go inside the Kiwi habitat they've created and also to go inside the large bird enclosures.