Akaroa French Village & Hector's Dolphin Cruise
Christchurch, New Zealand
About This Activity
Akaroa sits 84km from Christchurch in a spectacular harbour formed by an extinct volcano on the Banks Peninsula. French colonists settled here in 1840 — just weeks after the Treaty of Waitangi — and the town retains French street names and Gallic-influenced architecture. The harbour is one of the few places on Earth home to Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest and rarest marine dolphin. Black Cat Cruises runs a 2-hour nature cruise for NZ$125 per adult (swim-with-dolphins tours from NZ$210 per adult). The Summit Road drive over Banks Peninsula offers outstanding crater rim views. Allow a full day from Christchurch.
Seasonal note: Tours run year-round; summer (Dec–Feb) has the best weather and water conditions. Hector's dolphins are present year-round in Akaroa Harbour.
See This in an Itinerary
This activity appears in 29 of our curated itineraries.
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Best 5 Days in New Zealand — Without Walking Tours
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Best 7 Days in New Zealand — Adventure
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