The stars of the show are the Hector’s dolphins, where our skipper will look for their pods throughout the cruise to maximise your encounter with them whilst respecting their natural behaviour. Also on the trip you will catch glimpses of the White Flippered Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world. There are many different bird species in the harbour, including five different cormorant (shag) species and the endangered yellow-eyed penguin.

You’ll also see New Zealand Fur Seals sunning themselves on the rocks near Seal Bay. From time to time, you might even spot Orcas or Humpback whales that visit the Harbour on their migration paths.

This harbour, once a roaring volcano millions of years ago, boasts breathtaking remnants of ancient lava flows. Witness the awe-inspiring 500-foot cliff with a captivating history, and marvel at the Nikau Palm Gully, which sports one of the few remaining remnants of the original Banks Peninsula forest. Not to be missed is the Scenery Nook, a vibrant amphitheatre of pink, purple,and red volcanic formations that promises to be a feast for your eyes.

Let us take care of you aboard our modern catamaran, the largest in the Akaroa harbour. Your entire journey will be narrated by our skipper and crew, providing educational tidbits of the wildlife you encounter, the past and present stories of Akaroa, and other natural formations you see throughout the trip. With an open deck and enclosed cabin with large viewing windows, choose your favourite spot and enjoy a complimentary cup of tea or coffee. Our younger guests are welcomed to have a look inside the wheelhouse and get a taste of what it’s like to be a skipper.

At the conclusion of your trip, receive a postcard to keep as a souvenir.

The great thing about our nature cruise is that you are doing it in their natural habitat completely on their terms. In the last 12 months we saw dolphins on 97% of our cruises, if you don’t get to see dolphins (average 3% of cruises) then you get to come back and do our cruise another day.