Akaroa Harbour Dolphin Nature Cruise

Akaroa Harbour – a volcano flooded by the sea

Akaroa Harbour fills the eroded crater of one of the two great volcanoes that formed Banks Peninsula millions of years ago. The sea broke into the crater and created a long, sheltered harbour ringed by steep green hills, small bays and rocky points. Cruising on its calm water you can still read the volcanic story in the layered cliffs and the ridgelines that rise straight from the sea.

The cruise leaves from the main wharf in the centre of Akaroa and follows the harbour towards its mouth, where it meets the open Pacific. Over two hours the crew explain how the landscape formed and how Māori and later European settlers used it. If you are looking for the best Akaroa harbour cruise, this low catamaran gives a close view of both the scenery and the wildlife.

Hector's dolphins – the rarest dolphins you can see

Hector's dolphins are found only in New Zealand, and Akaroa Harbour is one of the best places in the country to see them. At around 1.4 metres long they are among the smallest marine dolphins in the world, easy to recognise by their grey bodies, black faces and rounded dorsal fin. They often swim close to boats and ride the small waves, especially in the summer months when they come into the harbour.

The waters around Banks Peninsula are a protected marine mammal sanctuary, and the cruise operates under a conservation permit that allows viewing but not swimming with the dolphins. The crew's specially trained dogs often sense the dolphins before anyone sees them. Sightings are high all year, and if no dolphin is seen you are offered another cruise at no extra charge.

Sea caves and volcanic cliffs near the harbour heads

Towards the entrance of the harbour the hills give way to sheer cliffs of dark volcanic rock, cut by the waves into arches, stacks and sea caves. The catamaran's low hull lets you approach for close views when the sea is calm, and the guides point out lava flows and dykes that tell the story of the old eruptions in the cliff faces.

This is the most dramatic part of the trip, where the sheltered harbour opens to the Pacific swell and seabirds wheel around the rocks. On clear days the colours of the water change from green to deep blue as you leave the inner harbour. Bring a warm layer, as the wind can be stronger here, although warm jackets are also available on board.

Fur seals, little penguins and seabirds

Beyond the dolphins, Akaroa Harbour supports a rich community of wildlife. New Zealand fur seals haul out on the rocks near the harbour heads, where you can watch them sleeping in the sun, grooming or sliding into the water. Banks Peninsula is also one of the breeding areas of the little penguin, the smallest penguin species, which you may spot floating on the surface.

Shags, gulls, terns and shearwaters fish in the harbour and nest on the cliffs, and the crew help you identify them. A pair of binoculars is useful but not essential, as the catamaran often gets close. The wildlife is wild, so every cruise is different, and that is part of what makes a dolphin and nature cruise in Akaroa so rewarding.

Akaroa town – a French accent on Banks Peninsula

Akaroa is a small, charming town on the eastern shore of the harbour, founded in 1840 by French settlers who arrived just after the British claimed New Zealand. Their legacy survives in street names such as Rue Lavaud and Rue Jolie, in French flags along the waterfront and in the historic wooden cottages, churches and gardens that line the bay.

Many visitors make Akaroa a day trip from Christchurch, driving about 90 minutes over the hills of Banks Peninsula, and the 12:45 cruise fits well into such a day. Before or after the cruise you can walk the waterfront, visit the lighthouse and the museum, or have lunch in one of the cafés. Please allow plenty of time for the drive and check in 30 minutes before departure.