Akaroa Harbour Cruise

The Maori, French and English have all laid claim to Akaroa, a picturesque volcanically formed harbour south of Christchurch. But it’s the marine life that has survived them all. You’ll drive out over the Banks Peninsula to views over the surrounding Canterbury Plains and the distant Southern Alps before tracking Hector’s dolphins, little blue penguins and fur seals in Akaroa’s bay, guarded by volcanic cliff sentinels. You’ll then wander the 175-year-old French harbour-side village, stopping for lunch at an award-winning café. On the way back to Christchurch, call into an artisanal cheese producer, the Little River Art Gallery and, time permitting, a gemstone museum.