Things to do in Akaroa
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Top 10 attractions in Akaroa
Shamarra Alpacas
Shamara Alpaca Ranch is located in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, about 80 kilometers from Christchurch. Take an alpaca ranch tour, you can have the opportunity to pet the alpacas, direct the alpacas into the sheep pen, and get up close and personal with the lovely alpacas. Also, the view from the ranch overlooking the beautiful Akaroa harbour is gorgeous. Drinks and home-baked biscuits are served in the ranch's barn, and the Alpaca Shop also sells a dazzling array of New Zealand-made alpaca handwovens.Wainui · 4.8 km from Akaroa
Akaroa Dolphins
Akaroa Dolphins is a highly popular local tour activity. Note: For the convenience of guests jumping into the water to swim with dolphins, the swim-with-dolphins product uses a small boat, while the dolphin-watching-only product uses a larger boat. These are not the same vessel, please be advised.Akaroa · 724m from downtown
Black Cat Cruises
Black Cat Cruises' jet-powered catamaran offers a safe and comfortable cruising experience for you and the dolphins. During the cruise, you'll enjoy the stunning scenery of Akaroa, encounter adorable wildlife, and even spot an extinct volcanic crater along the way. Here you can find rare local dolphins—Hector's dolphins—as well as the world's smallest penguins (little blue penguins), fur seals, and various seabirds. The cruise also passes by a salmon farm, Cathedral Cave, and historical landmarks of Akaroa's past, including early Māori, French, and British settlements.Akaroa · 875m from downtown
Akaroa Museum
The museum is located diagonally opposite the tourist service center. It mainly introduces the history of Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. The museum displays the cultural relics left by the aborigines Maori, the scene of whaling in the early 19th century, and the French colonization and pioneering. historical data, etc. The shop at the entrance sells gifts for you to choose from. In addition, you can visit the Langevar Yatebeno mansion built in 1840 in the park.Akaroa · 170m from downtown
The Giants House
The House of the Giants is located in an old house in Akaroa, which artist Josh Martin has turned into a fascinating work of art. This classical British-style garden is romantic and quiet. The larger, especially the garden is full of mosaic art works of different colors, shuttled between huge mosaic sculptures, giving people a feeling of entering Alice in Wonderland. Provide visitors with a wonderful experience full of creativity.Akaroa · 699m from downtown
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula (BanksPeninsula) is located in the Canterbury region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Part of it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The land area of the peninsula is about 1,000 square kilometers. Banks Peninsula is the result of violent eruptions of three volcanoes in ancient times. The magnificent coastal scenery of the Port of Akarova and the surrounding bays are the result of intense earth activity.Robinsons Bay · 6.5 km from Akaroa
Christchurch Gondola
The Christchurch Aerial Tramway is erected on Mount Cavendish, about 10 kilometers southeast of the city. The cableway spans 862 meters and is very stable and comfortable. From the foothills where the flocks play, it takes about 10 minutes to reach the top of the mountain, which is about 500 meters above sea level. Approaching the crater, take the cable car to the top of the mountain, only 1 km away from the edge of the crater. Port Hills is an extinct volcano with a collapsed crater that erupted six million years ago and guards the sparkling harbour of Lyttelton. Standing on the observation deck, looking west, the Southern Alps seem to be in sight through the pure air; in the east, the endless sea is connected to the sky.Christchurch · 32.1 km from Akaroa
Akaroa Lighthouse
Akaroa · 1.4 km from downtown
Pohatu penguins/Plunge NZ Ltd
Pohatu Penguin Habitat is a wildlife habitat with many kinds of small animals. It is very interesting to get close to animals such as penguins and baby seals.Akaroa · 220m from downtown
Christchurch Tram
The Christchurch Tram is a retro-style sightseeing tram route that loops around the city center. Christchurch had trams running through its streets as early as the late 19th century. After tram services ceased in the 1950s, a fleet of meticulously restored vintage carriages returned to the tracks in the 1990s. With their wooden interiors, brass handrails, and the crisp "ding-ding" of bells, riding one feels like stepping onto a time machine. The full loop around the city center takes less than an hour, with over ten stops along the way, allowing you to hop on and off at your leisure and spend as much time as you like at each attraction. The tram connects key highlights of the city center: Cathedral Square, the colorful Spanish-style shops of New Regent Street, the food-filled Riverside Market, the lush Botanic Gardens, and the Arts Centre composed of Gothic-style heritage buildings. A stop is also located near the Avon River punting jetty, while the Cardboard Cathedral, built from paper tubes, is within walking distance. Families with children can let the little ones run wild at the Margaret Mahy Playground. Outside the windows, century-old buildings alternate with post-earthquake landmarks, while the driver provides a guide to the history of these streets—from the reconstruction story of the cathedral to the memorial significance of the Bridge of Remembrance—making the ride both engaging and informative. A few details are worth noting during your experience: the outer sightseeing seats are not fully rainproof, so choose inner seats on rainy days; eating, drinking, and phone calls are not allowed onboard; for photography enthusiasts, waiting for the tram to pass the colorful facades of New Regent Street or cross the stone bridge over the Avon River yields particularly striking shots.Christchurch · 40.3 km from Akaroa
Experiences you can't miss in Akaroa
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More things to do
Private Tours in Akaroa
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Free things to do in Akaroa
Akaroa Museum
Akaroa · 170m from downtownBanks Peninsula
Robinsons Bay · 6.5 km from Akaroa
Cardboard Cathedral
Christchurch · 39.9 km from Akaroa
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Christchurch · 41.1 km from Akaroa
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora
Christchurch · 40.8 km from Akaroa
Mona Vale Garden Park
Christchurch · 42.5 km from Akaroa
Avon River / Ōtākaro
Christchurch · 39.7 km from Akaroa
What travelers say about Akaroa
_M1***49February 16, 2026
5.0
When we arrived, it was raining. We were asked if we wanted the activity moved indoors due to the weather, and we were offered a refund or a reschedule. We didn't reschedule. Although the activity was indoors, the alpacas were just as cute, our mood was just as good, and the activity was just as wonderful. Thank you for the cookies; they were delicious.
Shamarra Alpacas
thewazztravellerAugust 12, 2025
5.0
Highly recommended to visitors who are arriving in Christchurch looking for a unique adventure! Though a 1.5hrs drive away - the journey out at sea is worth your time. Was fortunate enough to spot 4 dolphins and the Captain also brought us near enough to the rocky edges to catch a glimpse of the seals up close! Oh and also special shout out our friendly Dolphin Dog Albie on board for being the sweetest fur baby :)
Akaroa Dolphins
_TS***41January 14, 2026
5.0
What an incredible experience. Swimming with the world’s smallest dolphins. They would come very close to you. The thick wetsuits helped keep you warm! A big thank you to the team who were honest and advised that the dolphins had not been playful recently, therefore offered us a free date change or refund. However we took that chance and they did come out and play. A highlight of our New Zealand trip!
Black Cat Cruises
_ce***95May 15, 2021
4.0
For a young country like New Zealand, museums are mostly about Maori history.
Akaroa Museum
小凌60September 13, 2020
3.0
This is a garden. The biggest feature here is the use of various colorful building materials, such as tiles, wood boards or mosaics to form all kinds of strange shapes, which are quite good.
The Giants House
🎀彡🐾May 22, 2020
5.0
Banks Peninsula in Akaroa is a very beautiful peninsula with beautiful natural scenery of the strait. Dolphins and whales often appear on the sea surface of Banks Peninsula, which is also an excellent place for whale watching. Don't miss it.
Banks Peninsula
Flora_GuAugust 12, 2025
5.0
Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand's South Island, nestled between mountains and the sea, offers panoramic views of the city and coastline from the cable car. We followed the directions a friend had sent us and arrived near the summit. A short climb up brought us to the cable car station. There's an observation deck and a cafe on the second floor. This way, we only had to buy a one-way ticket down the mountain, which was significantly cheaper. A Chinese staff member at the ticket office told us about a "Time Tunnel" car showcasing the history of Canterbury, New Zealand. If you take the No. 8 bus to the base of the mountain, you can take the cable car up and then back down—perhaps a classic way to enjoy the experience.
Christchurch Gondola
耳東氵罒幸一止August 24, 2026
5.0
很好玩的一个体验，而且坐着电车绕城市看风景很轻松。我们都很高兴。在Trip平台买票也很方便，到地点就能轻松领取实体票然后上车，车上的领导也很细心的为每一个景点做介绍……👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Christchurch Tram
