Experience a comfortable up-close encounter with some of the most amazing wildlife and stunning coastlines around Akaroa and Banks Peninsula!

Experience a comfortable up-close encounter with some of the most amazing wildlife and stunning coastlines around Akaroa and Banks Peninsula!

Highlights

  • Spectacular views of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa!
  • See some of the most amazing wildlife in their natural habitats
  • Small groups tours make for a more intimate and incredible experience
  • Bring your camera for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities!

Join us for a wildlife tour that explores the spectacular volcanic coastline and abundant wildlife of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa.

Our wildlife tour numbers are kept limited, offering you a small and intimate tour that will take you where others can’t, with amazing views of New Zealand’s wildlife. Our friendly and knowledgeable crew love meeting and talking with our guests. Tony, a real Kiwi, has been exploring the waters around the Peninsula since the 1960s. He’ll entertain you with his the stories of his adventures and share his enthusiasm for this wonderful environment and stunning wildlife.

Our characterful and comfortable boat - Wairiri, is a 41-foot Kauri Launch built in 1964. Our tours specialise in small groups and enough space to move around the boat for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities! On your tour you’ll see gigantic cliffs, go inside sea caves and get close to all the incredible wildlife. Tony often still has a lobster pot out and we pull it up on some of our trips. We never know what we find in it: Lobster, octopus, conger eel, starfish and sand sharks are just a few of the creatures we might have caught.

Experience Akaroa and Banks Peninsula on this intimate boat tour where you’ll see stunning wildlife and extraordinary views of the coastline!

Adult $110.00
Child $40.00 (3-15 years old)
Infant $0.00 (Up to 3 years old)

Location

  • Drummonds Jetty, 59E Beach Road, Akaroa
  • We are located on the newly built Drummonds Jetty (opposite the Akaroa Fish n'Chips shop).

Bad Weather Refunds

  • If your experience is cancelled by the operator (because of the bad weather, safety concerns, unscheduled maintenance etc) you will be entitled to a full refund.

Notes

  • Allow approximately 2.5 hours for the whole experience.

Available Bookings from18 Mar to 31 Mar 2026

All prices are shown inNZD ($)

Change Dates
Wed 18 Mar
Thu 19 Mar
Fri 20 Mar
Sat 21 Mar
Sun 22 Mar
Mon 23 Mar
Tue 24 Mar
Wed 25 Mar
Thu 26 Mar
Fri 27 Mar
Sat 28 Mar
Sun 29 Mar
Mon 30 Mar
Tue 31 Mar

  • Adult$79.00
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$89.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge
Great tour! Fantastic Amazing  experience It felt like cruising with friends  ☆☆☆☆☆ Amazing!
1 / 100
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Authenticated Reviews

Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers who’ve actually done this experience, summarised with AI support

  • emergencyLes clients ont apprécié la touche personnelle de la visite, la petite taille du groupe permettant une expérience plus intime (30 personnes ont dit cela).
  • emergencyLes guides compétents et sympathiques, Tony et Mafi, ont reçu de nombreux éloges pour leurs commentaires informatifs et leur passion pour la faune et l'histoire d'Akaroa (25 personnes ont dit cela).
  • emergencyLes invités ont aimé voir une variété de faune de près, y compris des dauphins Hector, des phoques et même des pingouins, ce qui a rendu l'expérience magique (28 personnes ont dit cela).
  • emergencyLe bateau confortable et bien organisé a été souligné comme un facteur important pour améliorer l'expérience globale (20 personnes ont dit cela).
  • emergencyDe nombreux critiques ont mentionné le paysage côtier époustouflant, rendant la visite visuellement spectaculaire (22 personnes ont dit cela).
  • emergencyL'opportunité pour les enfants de s'impliquer, comme diriger le bateau, a été un moment mémorable pour les familles (10 personnes ont dit cela).
  • star_shineApportez un appareil photo pour capturer les vues et la faune magnifiques.
    Pensez à réserver tôt pour garantir votre place sur cette visite populaire.

5.0

247 reviews

Showing all 247 authenticated Bookme reviews

quentind5 from France wrote on 26 December 2023

Excellente balade / Organisateur au top

Balade a la découverte de la faune local, nous avons pu apercevoir plusieurs dauphin ainsi que des phoques et une multitude d'oiseaux, le personnel est super sympa et mets tous de suite à l'aise en venant discuter avec vous, nous avons aussi reçu de magnifiques explications sur les environs ( attention à l'accent kiwi, assez difficile a comprendre avec le bruit du vent et du moteur) A recommander, si nous revenons ici ce sera à coup sûr avec la même organisation. Merci a vous !

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From Coast Up Close Scenic Wildlife Tours - 2.5 hours - Akaroa

Hi Quentin Thank you for joining us and recommending us. We hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoy the rest of your travels. Cheers, Tony and Mafi

guillaumeb3 from France wrote on 04 March 2020

Super expérience

L'équipage est déjà très sympa, concernant la sortie en mer nous avons vu dauphins, otaries, oiseax et même un ou deux pingouins sauvages. Ça vaut le coup et les paysages sont magnifiques, je recommande

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From Coast Up Close Scenic Wildlife Tours - 2.5 hours - Akaroa

Mercy beaucoup for joining our wildlife cruise and your nice review. We love our wildlife and glad we could share it with you. Cheers, Tony and crew

jand9 from Netherlands wrote on 10 March 2026

Awesome day out on the boat!

This is the second time we've gone for a trip with coast up close. And it was awesome! We saw dolphins, penguins, sea lions and their pups. A navy ship and beautiful volcanic rock formations!

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Jiao from China wrote on 23 February 2026

Amazing

A beautiful day. A kind couple. An amazing tour. Seeing various natural wildlife, including seal, dolphins and penguins.

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From Coast Up Close Scenic Wildlife Tours - 2.5 hours - Akaroa

Hi Jiao Thank you for joining our cruise and this lovely review. Safe travels and all the best. Cheers, Tony and Mafi

shelleyo1 from New Zealand wrote on 15 February 2026

Absolutely Fantatic

This was the highlight of our trip . Tony was a great captain, very knowledgeable and friendly. He took us to see wildlife and the most amazing geologic formations venturing outside the harbour. Coming back in we saw the other tours, packed and circling within the harbour and thanked our luck in choosing this one. Highly recommend, Shelley

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From Coast Up Close Scenic Wildlife Tours - 2.5 hours - Akaroa

Hi Shelley Thank you for this fabulous review. We love to take our passengers outside the harbour whenever possible, there's so much to see out there. All the best. Tony and Mafi

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Booking

10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July

12

Adult

Child 3-15 years old

Infant Up to 3 years old

*This option must be made together with another price type.
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