One Day in Akaroa New Zealand Enjoying Giants and Dolphins

Nestled on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, Akaroa is best known for its distinctly French flair. Located on the Banks Peninsula, it is about 90 minutes from Christchurch. We allocated one day in Akaroa, choosing to visit as a day trip rather than spending the night.

Founded by French settlers in 1840, Akaroa is the Canterbury region’s oldest town. It’s filled with fascinating history, colonial architecture, fantastic seafood, creative arts, impressive natural beauty and abundant wildlife.

The serene harbour and picturesque streets are the perfect backdrop for enjoying the area. For us, the two clear highlights are seeing the world’s smallest dolphins and visiting the Giants House.

Is spending only one day in Akaroa a good choice?

For us, yes. Below, we tell you why.

Get out on the water – a must-do if you only have one day in Akaroa

Akaroa harbour is a haven for wildlife, and we are pleased to have seen Hector’s dolphins, one of the world’s smallest dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, plenty of seabirds, and some interesting sea caves. In addition, we saw Akaroa Salmon Farms and several interesting sea caves while out on an Akaroa Harbour and Nature cruise with Akaroa Dolphins.

On the day we were out, the white-flippered penguins that also live in these waters chose to stay hidden. While there is more than one company that takes people out, we were delighted with our choice as it caters to small groups, the captain and crew are knowledgeable and friendly, and there is a small dolphin-spotting dog on board.

Our two-hour cruise was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the wildlife, learn a bit of history, and see several interesting locations like Elephant Head, Onuku Marae (one of the places where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed), and the lighthouse. Reserve your 2-hour dolphin nature here.

Other ways to get out on the water

There are other options that might appeal better to you, although we loved our choice above.

Swim with dolphins
If you want to swim with the Hector’s dolphins, this popular cruise will get you there, but you will want to book early as they take only 12 swimmers per vessel. For me, the South Island waters are too cold, even with a wet suit. But we know several people who swam with dolphins in nearby Kaikoura and loved it. Reserve your swim with wild dolphins here or join them as a passenger watching the dolphins from the boat.

Join a kayaking tour
Paddle through the tranquil marine reserve in Akaroa Harbour on this guided kayak tour. This activity allows for a closer encounter with the area’s marine life and a unique perspective on the stunning volcanic cliffs and secluded bays. Open for all levels. Reserve your marine reserve kayaking tour here.

Sailing cruise
Sailors may want to join this 3-hour wildlife sailing cruise on New Zealand’s oldest ketch, built in 1922. You will see all the same wildlife and features, plus learn a bit of the area’s history. Reserve your Wildlife Sailing Cruise here.

Explore the Giants House – our other must-do if you only have one day in Akaroa

While Akaroa is best known for nature, I honestly believe the whimsical Giants House is equally as spectacular. The two activities have equal weight at the top of my list of things to do in Akaroa.

What was once an old historic house built in 1880 is now a garden of international significance. And it is this larger-than-life playful garden that makes this place well worth a visit.

Situated on a hill, it is the home of artist Josie Martin. Her artistic mind and incredible painting, sculpting and ceramic talent, coupled with her background in horticulture, aided her in creating a garden of international significance.

Allow at least an hour here, although I am pretty sure I spent more than two hours. I was enchanted by the details in the vibrant mosaics, the sculptures, and the planted gardens.

Every inch of this fairytale-like wonderland is covered with artwork mainly based on an enhanced human form.

Colourful and fun, I took way too many photos. Every time I turned my head, I was fascinated by something new.

If all that isn’t enough, it has been dubbed the Happiest Garden on Earth.

How to spend the rest of your day trip to Akaroa

Time will dictate which of these things to do in Akaroa that you choose.

Stroll the street and enjoy the French influence

Charming is the word that came to my mind as we walked down the streets. One well-preserved French colonial structure after the next and the sparkling blue waters of the Akaroa Harbour always in sight makes this place almost irresistible.

Each building tells a story of the town’s rich history. Two of our favourites occupying the historic structures are Coronation Libraray and Fire and Ice (a jewellery boutique). We also walked a bit along the coast to see the lighthouse.

Visit the Takapuneke Reserve

Located at the top of a hill, this significant reserve was built to memorialise a massacre from 1830. The path winds around, leading to a pou (Maori post erected to make a statement). While one could walk here from the city, we opted to drive. 

The short walk from the car park through bush follows an easy trail that spirals up to the pou where we enjoyed stunning views of the harbour.

Enjoy some seafood (or another meal)

With Akaroa Salmon right out in the harbour, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of wonderful seafood options in town. However, being gluten-free, I was quite limited in my options. Even the famous Akaroa Fish and Chips (a must-try according to several of my friends) suggested that their gluten-free option is not safe for coeliacs.

Then we found the popular Bully Hayes restaurant, best known for local seafood and chowder. I chose to have fresh Akaroa salmon and I sure wasn’t disappointed. It was possibly the best salmon I have tried. Best of all, this place is known for being safe for coeliacs, and I felt confident that my meal was made gluten-free and safe for me to eat. Jeff had the fish tacos and loved them, too. We ate outside, overlooking the harbour, which to me was perfect. I was surprised to find the majority of those who booked chose an inside table. 

Other things to do if you are staying longer in Akaroa

Visit Barrys Bay Cheese
If you like cheese or want to see how it’s made, Barrys Bay Cheese is a quick stop on the road into Akaroa. We arrived mid-morning of a 4-day holiday weekend and it looked like the cheesemakers were nearly done for the day. We could only have a peek through the glass at the equipment, not the manufacturing. 

Coastal walks
Walk the coastal trails along the Banks Peninsula for panoramic views. We have done some of this from the other side. We did stroll along the waterfront, admiring the harbour views on one side and historic buildings on the other.

Attend a local cooking class
We walked by the Akaroa Cooking School, right on the main road, and naturally peaked in the window to see a small class of happy participants. The school offers a variety of culinary choices, even a gluten-free gourmet entertaining class, and most of the classes are approximately six hours, suggesting it is something you would want to do when you have more than only one day in Akaroa.

Hiking in Hinewai Reserve
Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to Hinewai Reserve, an ecological restoration project covering over 1250 hectares. We have been told that the reserve offers numerous walking trails that range from easy strolls to challenging hikes, each leading through diverse landscapes from native bush to breathtaking coastal views. We didn’t go here.

Akaroa Museum.
Stroll through the free to enter Akaroa Museum of settlers’ history.

Farmers’ market
If you happen to be in Akaroa on Saturday morning between October and late April, don’t miss the farmers’ market.

If you decide to spend a night in Akaroa

Jeff and I visit Akaroa as a day trip from Christchurch rather than a weekend getaway; however, we have friends who prefer to stay overnight. If we did stay, Akaroa Criterion Motel would be our pick. Reserve your stay at Akaroa Criterion Motel here.

Let someone else drive: take a day tour from Christchurch to Akaroa New Zealand

If you don’t want to drive to Akaroa, don’t have a car, or prefer someone else do the driving, check out this full-day Akaroa sightseeing tour from Christchurch.

This top-rated 9.5-hour tour includes a stop for a cheese tasting, a two-hour nature cruise, an optional lunch, and an informative guide. This tour picks up at many Christchurch hotels. Reserve your Akaroa sightseeing tour from Christchurch here.

What would you do if you only had one day in Akaroa?

Disclaimer: We are frequently provided with complimentary entrances, tours, or sample items to aid in the writing of Albom Adventures. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly our own.