This French-influenced coastal town on Banks Peninsula has New Zealand's only French colonial architecture, alongside Hector's dolphins in its calm harbor waters.
In Akaroa, a coastal village on New Zealand's Banks Peninsula, you'll find Hector's dolphins swimming in the harbor, 1840s French colonial buildings along Rue Lavaud, and walking trails crossing volcanic hills. You can watch little blue penguins return to their nests at dusk, feed alpacas at local farms, and sample wines and cheeses while looking out over the calm waters of the harbor.
Getting to Akaroa
The drive from Christchurch to Akaroa takes 90 minutes along State Highway 75, following the curves of Banks Peninsula. The road includes several steep sections before dropping into the harbor area. You can stop at Barry's Bay Cheese factory and Summit Road lookouts during your journey. After Little River, the road winds through the peninsula's volcanic landscape.
Marine Wildlife Encounters
Akaroa Harbor is home to the world's smallest dolphin species - the Hector's dolphin, which you can identify by their rounded dorsal fins. Local boat tours bring specially-trained conservation dogs that help locate these rare mammals. At Pōhatu marine reserve, you can join guided tours to see the largest mainland colony of little blue penguins. Local families have spent 30 years protecting these birds, which return to their nests each evening.
French Colonial Buildings
Rue Lavaud contains buildings from the 1840s French settlement period. The Langlois-Eteveneaux cottage is one of New Zealand's oldest French colonial buildings, built with original timber that remains intact today. Three churches show different building styles: St Peter's Anglican church (1863) with gothic revival architecture, St Patrick's Catholic church (1865) by Benjamin Mountfort, and the Ōnuku Church with its entrance framed by Māori carvings.
Walking Trails and Viewpoints
A 15-minute uphill walk takes you to Akaroa's 1879 lighthouse, relocated from the harbor entrance in 1980. At Hinewai Reserve, the 3-hour Stony Bay Peak track leads through native bush with views across the peninsula. The Garden of Tane has 30 minutes of marked paths among trees planted in the 1880s. Along Summit Road, you'll find multiple spots to stop and photograph the harbor.
Local Food and Drinks
The volcanic soil supports several small vineyards and olive groves. Local restaurants serve Akaroa salmon caught in the harbor. At the Saturday morning market on St Patrick's front lawn, you can buy seasonal produce like strawberries and asparagus, plus homemade baked goods and preserves. Many cafes make French-style pastries, continuing the town's French culinary traditions.
Year-Round Activities
At Shamarra Alpacas farm, you can walk among 170 alpacas and learn about their wool, which retains three times more warmth than sheep's wool. Evening astronomy tours show you constellations visible in the southern sky. The Giant's House displays hundreds of mosaic sculptures in its terraced gardens, while the Akaroa Museum contains items from early Māori and French settlers.
