Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise

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Experience majestic scenery and stunning wildlife including dolphins, penguins and marine bird life on this Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise.

Cruise on a modern 60 feet catamaran, perfect for viewing the natural wonders of Akaroa Harbour. The vessel is the largest and most luxurious on the harbour. There's lots of space on the 2 decks for unenterrupted viewing and inside seating.

The two-hour cruise is fully narrated by your skipper who has extensive knowledge of the nature, wildlife and history of Akaria Harbour.

On the two-hour cruise you will endeavor wildlife plus the many sea caves and volcanic cliffs. As Akaroa Harbour was a live volcano nine million years ago, there is many spectacular ancient lava flows to be seen. One cliff has a sheer 500-foot face and has a fascinating history plus you will also see the incredible Scenery Nook, an amazing pink, purple and red volcanic amphitheater that will take your breath away.

Catch glimpses of the White Flippered Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world you'll also see the New Zealand Fur Seal sunning themselves on the harbors rocks near the entrance at Seal Bay.

You'll also stop at Lucas Bay to look at a salmon farm. This is where the world-famous "Akaroa Salmon" are raised.

The highlight of this trip is undoubtedly the sighting of one of the world's smallest and rarest dolphins, the Hector Dolphin also known as the New Zealand Dolphin. These friendly and inquisitive mammals meet the boat most days throughout the year and their calves can be seen between October and March.

Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise

Daily

Unavailable Dates:

• December 25 (Christmas Day)

Departure Times:

November to April

• 11:00am
• 1:30pm

May to October

• 1:30pm

Akaroa's main wharf

The cruise returns to original point of departure

Hotel pickup not available

On your cruise you will discover the highlights of the Harbour including:

1. Akaroa The French colonized this area after the English declared sovereignty over New Zealand in 1840. Today you can see the French influence everywhere, for example street names like "Rue Jolie", which means "Happy Street". Nowadays fishing, farming and tourism are the mainstays of the township.

2. Onuku Marae This is the location of the historical Maori village in which one of the oldest churches in New Zealand is located. In 1840 the chief Tekau signed the Treaty of Waitangi here. It is still used today for many gatherings.

3. Cathedral Cave Known to the Maori as Te Anau O Kokiro, the cave was named after the Chief Kokiro. This is an example of how the rough sea has created a volcanic cave over thousands of years, and clearly shows the layers of different volcanic eruptions. Numerous shags nest here on the cliffs.

4. Palm Gulley This is the southern most point at which New Zealand's only native palm tree grows.

5. Te Ruahine This is the northern most point of the Harbour. Translated from the Maori language this means "Old lady".

6. The Lighthouse For the last 150 years a lighthouse has been located at this point. The original historic Lighthouse is now located inside the Harbour, near the wharf and is only lit for special occasions and holidays.

7. Timu Timu This is the southern most point of the Harbour, translated from the Maori language this means, "Cut off short".

8. Salmon Farm Young salmon are being farmed in Lucas Bay and sold to the national and international market.

9. Paua (Abalone) Farm Caskets filled with Paua or Abalone is fixed to floaters. This shell is being used for jewelry as well as for farming pearls. The flesh of the Paua/Abalone is recognized world wide as a delicacy.

10. Wainui A small holiday village.

11. Dolphins The Hector's or New Zealand Dolphin is a native species and is one of the smallest dolphins in the world. Most are found in the South Island around Banks Peninsula. One of the rarest dolphins, its population is currently between 3000 and 4000. This is fewer than any other marine dolphin, and marks the species as endangered.

12. Little Blue Penguins This penguin is the smallest in the world and is now on the endangered species list. The penguins are distinguished by a white leading edge on their flippers and are only 30cm high. Ecologists are trying to establish a colony at Boulder Bay.

13. Spotted Shags Colony of Spotted Shags. The white rock is 'guana' or bird droppings, which show how old this colony is. Both the male and female birds change to a brilliant green around the neck and face during their mating season.

14. Sea Birds The following seabirds can be seen in and around the Harbour: 5 different types of Cormorant, Black Backed Seagulls, Red and Black Beaked Seagulls, White Necked Swallows, Canadian Geese, Paradise Ducks, Mollymauks, White Fronted Terns and occasionally Gannets, Petrels and Albatross.