Banks Peninsula Cruise: Wildlife and Wine

Join Akaroa Dolphins for a small group nature cruise in Akaroa, New Zealand. Enjoy local wine, homemade treats, and get up close to wildlife. Book now!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 65 Beach Road - As a holder of a New Zealand Department of Conservation Marine Mammal Viewing Permit, we are legally authorized to take guests on dolphin and seal viewing tours. We are proud to be one of only two year-round operators in Akaroa Harbour with this permit, so we encourage you to choose responsibly.
    Enjoy a 2-hour nature cruise on our…
What's Included
  • Knowledgeable local skipper and guide
  • Homemade cookie (family recipe)
  • Complimentary drink (beer, NZ wine, or non-alcoholic option)
What's Not Included
  • Swimming with dolphins (for conservation reasons)
  • Transport to Akaroa
Additional Information

At the heart of our operations is a family-run business, with our management team consisting of 6th and 7th generation locals from Banks Peninsula. In addition to our family members, we have a dedicated team eager to ensure you have an unforgettable experience!
We maintain small passenger groups to provide ample space for you to move around the boat and…

Location
65 Beach Road
Beach Road
Check-In: 30 minutes before departure. Boarding 15 minutes prior. Note: Akaroa is approx. a 90-minute drive from Christchurch and Lyttelton Port.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(2219 Ratings)
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Katepf9748ys
Apr 7, 2026
Family fun - Everyone in the family enjoyed it, each person loved different aspect from the wildlife, scenery and amazing caves.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
272shuaiy
Apr 4, 2026
Great experience - Very enjoyable cruise, the crew is trying their best to find as many dolphins as they can
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigate41481891945
Apr 3, 2026
So glad we went - Amazing! Great crew, Alby the boats dog is a legend. From start to finish it was a great experience. Local knowledge had us seeing penguins, seals and so many dolphins.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vanessatl2539jo
Apr 2, 2026
Fantastic cruise - This was a wonderful experience for the family. The crew were all informative, friendly and welcoming. We saw multiple dolphins on multiple occasions, as well as seals, and learnt a lot about the history of the area, surrounding nature and wildlife.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I7603aldavidb
Mar 25, 2026
Really worthwhile trip. Live up to the promise. - On a whim, we decided to do this dolphin cruise and were so glad we did. We saw a lot of Hector's Dolphins on the trip. The skipper's commentary was informative and we saw and learnt a lot about Akaroa and its's surrounds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrisk6325
Mar 24, 2026
Memorable Akaroa Dolphin Cruise Experience - We had a wonderful experience with the Akaroa Dolphin Cruise. It’s a lovely family-run operation spanning two generations, and the team gave us a very warm welcome. The boat was excellent—clean and very well maintained. The cruise was both enjoyable and informative, with great insights into Akaroa’s history. We were lucky to spot dolphins, including the famous Hector’s dolphins, as well as seals along the way. A special mention to Albie, the family’s dolphin-tracking dog—very diligent, disciplined, and a delight to have on board. Highly recommended! Chris (Malaysian tourist)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle
Mar 24, 2026
Scenic, informative and lots of wildlife - A beautiful morning on the water. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, great commentary and information about the history of this area. Scenery was stunning, notably being up close to the cliffs and seeing the amazing geological features. The obvious highlight was seeing Hector dolphins, as well as fur seals and their pups enjoying the sunshine. Highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lydia
Mar 23, 2026
Must do while in Akaroa! - Beautiful ride, saw dolphins and seals and visited a seal nursery. Unforgettable experience to see parts of akaroas and the bays! All the staff on board were lovely and kind too!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer66810967627
Mar 23, 2026
A magical morning - What an amazing morning! The skipper and Lucy were so welcoming and did their utmost to make sure we got to see dolphins and seals. Buster the dog was a great dolphin spotter. A complimentary drink and a delicious cookie just topped off an amazing experience. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W3965wcstefanieh
Mar 30, 2026
Beautiful experience - It was a very nice tour of the bay. We have seen beautiful rock formations, seals and birds , but unfortunately no dolphins. However, they have given us vouchers that we can redeem within half a year. In addition, rebooking to an earlier time was very straightforward and accommodating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $76
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).