Port of Call - Akaroa

Regarded as a little piece of paradise, Akaroa is a charming, seaside village located just 75km from the New Zealand city of Christchurch.

Nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano, Akaroa is home to beautiful colonial architecture, fantastic art galleries, craft stores and lovely little outdoor cafes.

The landscape of Akaroa is dominated by the sparkling blue waters of the harbour, which is home to a unique array of marine life, including the world´s smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin.

Simply relaxing by the harbour´s shores is another popular past time, while those who prefer more land-based activities enjoy walks or horse rides throughout the surrounding rolling hills.

What to Explore
Temperatures
Dining
Bring to Shore
Docking
Information

Harbour Swim with the Dolphins

One-of-a-kind experiences don´t come around all too often, but the harbour of Akaroa just happens to offer one of them.

Swim with the incredible Hectors Dolphins; the smallest, rarest and friendliest dolphin in the world.

Snorkel with these clever creatures and discover just how intriguing nature can be

Sea Kayaking

Get up close to New Zealand Fur Seals, penguins and Hectors Dolphins when you hire a kayak to explore the far reaches of the Akaroa Harbour.

Combine fun, exercise and sight-seeing into one as you kayak solo or with a partner over the pristine blue waters. There really is no better way to soak up the incredible natural beauty of this place.

Gardens of Akaroa

Akaroa is home to not one, but two magnificent gardens, open for visitor´s viewing pleasure.

The French Farm garden of Nancy Tichborne features over 100 different native plants, spanning 11 pristinely landscaped gardens. A wealth of wildlife call these gardens home be so sure to keep an eye open for them.

The historic Giant´s House, art gallery and gardens are just as fascinating, boasting mosaic steps, an extraordinary sculpturalwall mosaic, colourful steel creations and gorgeous terraces tumbling with flowers.

Cruisers with a green thumb are sure to fall in love with the beautiful gardens of Akaroa.

Average Temperatures

January: 17°C
February: 16°C
March: 15°C
April: 12°C
May: 9°C
June: 6°C
July: 6°C
August: 7°C
September: 9°C
October: 11°C
November: 13°C
December: 15°C

Dining Suggestions

Experience magnificent views over the harbour when you dine at L´Hotel Le Restaurant Le Bar. An open fire in the winter ensures the romance and an excellent menu will have you leaving with your heart and tummy content.

The Little Bistro is the best place to go to sample some of the finest local produce. Dig your teeth into a hearty meal and wash it down with a delicious local wine or beer.

What to bring to shore?

Comfortable shoes are a must if you plan on doing a lot of walking around.

If you are staying outdoors, a hat and sunscreen are a must!

Bring your swimmers along for your dolphin swim and sun protective clothing for kayaking.

Make sure you don´t forget your camera either!

Docking

Your cruise ship will drop anchor near the Main Wharf in Akaroa, where there are limited taxis available.

Shore tours depart from specific locations indicated.

General Information

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)

Language: English

Population: 570

Time Zone: NZST (UTC+12)

Cruise Destinations

Ho Chi Minh

Kosamui

Singapore

Brisbane

Sydney

Whitsundays

Auckland

Christchurch

Dunedin

Fjordland

Napier

Picton

Tauranga

Wellington

Alotau

Borabora

Denarau

Doini

Dravuni

Kiriwina

Moorea

Papeete

Savusavu

Suva

What to Explore
Expand

Harbour Swim with the Dolphins

One-of-a-kind experiences don´t come around all too often, but the harbour of Akaroa just happens to offer one of them.

Swim with the incredible Hectors Dolphins; the smallest, rarest and friendliest dolphin in the world.

Snorkel with these clever creatures and discover just how intriguing nature can be

Sea Kayaking

Get up close to New Zealand Fur Seals, penguins and Hectors Dolphins when you hire a kayak to explore the far reaches of the Akaroa Harbour.

Gardens of Akaroa

Akaroa is home to not one, but two magnificent gardens, open for visitor´s viewing pleasure.

Cruisers with a green thumb are sure to fall in love with the beautiful gardens of Akaroa.

Temperatures
Expand

Average Temperatures

January: 17°C
February: 16°C
March: 15°C
April: 12°C
May: 9°C
June: 6°C
July: 6°C
August: 7°C
September: 9°C
October: 11°C
November: 13°C
December: 15°C

Dining
Expand

Dining Suggestions

The Little Bistro is the best place to go to sample some of the finest local produce. Dig your teeth into a hearty meal and wash it down with a delicious local wine or beer.

Bring to Shore
Expand

What to bring to shore?

Comfortable shoes are a must if you plan on doing a lot of walking around.

If you are staying outdoors, a hat and sunscreen are a must!

Bring your swimmers along for your dolphin swim and sun protective clothing for kayaking.

Make sure you don´t forget your camera either!

Docking
Expand

Docking

Your cruise ship will drop anchor near the Main Wharf in Akaroa, where there are limited taxis available.

Shore tours depart from specific locations indicated.

Information
Expand

General Information

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)

Language: English

Population: 570

Time Zone: NZST (UTC+12)

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Port of Call - Akaroa

Harbour Swim with the Dolphins

Sea Kayaking

Gardens of Akaroa

Average Temperatures

Dining Suggestions

What to bring to shore?

Docking

General Information

Cruise Destinations

Ho Chi Minh

Kosamui

Singapore

Brisbane

Sydney

Whitsundays

Auckland

Christchurch

Dunedin

Fjordland

Napier

Picton

Tauranga

Wellington

Alotau

Borabora

Denarau

Doini

Dravuni

Kiriwina

Moorea

Papeete

Savusavu

Suva

What to Explore Expand

Harbour Swim with the Dolphins

Sea Kayaking

Gardens of Akaroa

Temperatures Expand

Average Temperatures

Dining Expand

Dining Suggestions

Bring to Shore Expand

What to bring to shore?

Docking Expand

Docking

Information Expand

General Information

Cruise Destinations

Ho Chi Minh

What to Explore
Expand

Temperatures
Expand

Dining
Expand

Bring to Shore
Expand

Docking
Expand

Information
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