Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises

Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises - Black Cat Cruises

Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises

Black Cat Cruises

58 Rankers Reviews

1 Dolphin Watching

1 Boat Cruises

8 Akaroa

Maps

Video

Photos

Hector's Dolphin
NZ Fur Seal
Black Cat Cruises

Information

Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruises

Set sail with award-winning Black Cat Cruises on a 2-hour Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise! Spot Hector’s dolphins, NZ fur seals, and little penguins in their stunning natural habitat.

The historic French village of Akaroa is 90 minutes' drive from Christchurch. Our Akaroa Nature Cruise is 2-hour harbour adventure within an ancient volcanic crater, packed with stunning scenery and wildlife. You’ll spot the rare Hector’s dolphins (the world’s smallest and cutest!), penguins, sea birds, and dramatic volcanic sea cliffs. Plus, you’ll hear some fascinating stories about Akaroa’s history along the way. It’s a must-do summer experience!

Highlights:

• Full guided commentary on your 2-hour tour
• View the Hector’s dolphin - smallest and rarest in the world
• Take in the stunning scenery of Akaroa Harbour
• View NZ Fur seals lounging on volcanic rocks and playing in pools
• Complimentary tea, coffee or hot chocolate
• Spacious 60ft/20m modern catamaran - largest and most stable in Akaroa

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Black Cat Cruises

Commercial organisation

Location

South IslandCanterburyAkaroa

Categories

  • Activity__dolphin_watchingDolphin Watching
  • Activity__boat_cruisesBoat Cruises

Operating Season And Hours

Operates year round 10:45am and 1:30pm (extra sailings in summer at 3:45pm)
Closed only on Christmas Day.

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-43.8091382218979

172.960269488629

Latitude
-43.8091382218979
Longitude
172.960269488629

Reviews

    • Great cruise.
    • Nice boat trip with a free drink and cookie.
    • Very nice, kind guide.
    • Very well organized, we sow dolphins and seals.
    • Excellent animal viewing and friendly staff.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 14
    24%
    9/10 19
    33%
    8/10 14
    24%
    7/10 6
    10%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 2
    3%
    4/10 1
    2%
    3/10 1
    2%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 1
    2%
  • 5.0/5

    The team is so friendly and nice.

    Made sure to go above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing experience.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Very well organized, we sow dolphins and seals.

    Very cold day but we'll remember it. I'd recommend it.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in July 2018

    ITALY
    Stefano Clerici's avatar

    Stefano Clerici

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Comfortable, exhilarating ride.

    Complimentary drinks. Friendly, helpful staff. Interesting, reflective and informative commentary. The weather was against us for seeing penguins and dolphins but we loved the seals.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Sue Milne's avatar

    Sue Milne

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Enthusiastic guides, very informative and made our experience lots of fun.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    Fran and Ben's avatar

    Fran and Ben

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Dolphins, penguins, seals were seen on the boat tour, great waves.

    Guide made lots of jokes and was cool.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    GERMANY
    Patricia's avatar

    Patricia

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Fantastic boat trip in the harbour.

    Lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Ceri Eaton's avatar

    Ceri Eaton

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Black Cat is very professional and well run.

    We had an excellent wildlife experience. The boat did not have many passengers so it was very personal. We saw lots of dolphins and the boat was stopped and engines off so that they would come really close. We also saw fur seals and lots of birds. The skipper gave us an excellent and informative commentary on everything we saw, and answered questions we had. It was one of the top experiences of our NZ stay.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2014

    UNITED KINGDOM
    JoMary Smith's avatar

    JoMary Smith

    Customer

  • 2.0/5

    Cruise with boat to explore animals (dolphins, seals, penguins etc....) Few animals seen during the cruise, few explanations and already $80 per person, quite a lot!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    FRANCE
    Thomas Zilio's avatar

    Thomas Zilio

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Well organised and environmentally aware.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2013

    GERMANY
    Marco Schmidt's avatar

    Marco Schmidt

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Had a lot of fun seeing many dolphins with very nice company and staff.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 5.0/5

    The team is so friendly and nice.

    Made sure to go above and beyond to make sure we had an amazing experience.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Very well organized, we sow dolphins and seals.

    Very cold day but we'll remember it. I'd recommend it.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in July 2018

    ITALY
    Stefano Clerici's avatar

    Stefano Clerici

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Enthusiastic guides, very informative and made our experience lots of fun.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    Fran and Ben's avatar

    Fran and Ben

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Comfortable, exhilarating ride.

    Complimentary drinks. Friendly, helpful staff. Interesting, reflective and informative commentary. The weather was against us for seeing penguins and dolphins but we loved the seals.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Sue Milne's avatar

    Sue Milne

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Dolphins, penguins, seals were seen on the boat tour, great waves.

    Guide made lots of jokes and was cool.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    GERMANY
    Patricia's avatar

    Patricia

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Fantastic boat trip in the harbour.

    Lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Ceri Eaton's avatar

    Ceri Eaton

    Customer

  • 2.0/5

    Cruise with boat to explore animals (dolphins, seals, penguins etc....) Few animals seen during the cruise, few explanations and already $80 per person, quite a lot!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    FRANCE
    Thomas Zilio's avatar

    Thomas Zilio

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Black Cat is very professional and well run.

    We had an excellent wildlife experience. The boat did not have many passengers so it was very personal. We saw lots of dolphins and the boat was stopped and engines off so that they would come really close. We also saw fur seals and lots of birds. The skipper gave us an excellent and informative commentary on everything we saw, and answered questions we had. It was one of the top experiences of our NZ stay.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2014

    UNITED KINGDOM
    JoMary Smith's avatar

    JoMary Smith

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Had a lot of fun seeing many dolphins with very nice company and staff.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 5.0/5

    Well organised and environmentally aware.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2013

    GERMANY
    Marco Schmidt's avatar

    Marco Schmidt

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    OK but too expensive.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2012

    GERMANY
    N Zitscher's avatar

    N Zitscher

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Nicest wildlife, penguins, seals, dolphins (hectors) on one trip for a good price.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    BELGIUM
    Karin Genyn's avatar

    Karin Genyn

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Ticket purchase and booking easy - trip to view dolphins and other wildlife in Akaroa Harbour was excellent with good first class commentary.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2012

    Peter Harden's avatar

    Peter Harden

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Well looked after in the sea, lots of information.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Mike & Jennie's avatar

    Mike & Jennie

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Mostly impressed by the friendly hector dolphins!

    Very friendly crew and lots to learn.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    GERMANY
    Stefes Wencke's avatar

    Stefes Wencke

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Really good cruise of Akaroa Harbour.

    Informative and got to see a dolphin, so they delivered.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    Jenny McTigue's avatar

    Jenny McTigue

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice, kind guide.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Johan Kroese's avatar

    Johan Kroese

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Excellent animal viewing and friendly staff.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2012

    AUSTRIA
    Herbert's avatar

    Herbert

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Nice boat trip with a free drink and cookie.

    We saw penguins, seals and dolphins and the crew was very friendly, (and a little Dutch!)

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 4.5/5

    Commercial trip with the Black Cat to see Dolphins, we were lucky and saw lots of them.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2011

    GERMANY
    Michael's avatar

    Michael

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Great boat, interesting and entertaining commentary.

    We saw all the wildlife advertised. Bonus Top10 card discount, complimentary hot drink and free fish and chips.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2011

    Richard Dudfield's avatar

    Richard Dudfield

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    What a great cruise we had.We were thrilled to see such a large number of Hectors dolphins swimming around the boat and the trip outside the heads was the icing on the cake.The skipper's commentary was

    What a great cruise we had.We were thrilled to see such a large number of Hectors dolphins swimming around the boat and the trip outside the heads was the icing on the cake.The skipper's commentary was very informative,the young crew very friendly and this is a fantastic trip for both kiwis and tourists.

    Wayne & Lyn Bellaney

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2010

    NEW ZEALAND
    elmoandjoey's avatar

    elmoandjoey

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    The kids loved it and were lucky enough to see several pods of Hectors Dolphins, one pod of 13 so we were very lucky.

    The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and the vessel was immaculate. The weather was perfect as well.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2010

    NEW ZEALAND
    Tim's avatar

    Tim

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Great cruise.

    We saw a lot of Hector Dolphins. Friendly staff, lots of information given druing the cruise.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2010

    GERMANY
    Risch & Seybold's avatar

    Risch & Seybold

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Nice tour, wonderful view, seals.

    Very kind, drinks and cookie for free.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2010

    SWITZERLAND
    Conny's avatar

    Conny

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Brilliant, very commercial.

    Brilliant, very commercial.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2010

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Victoria Slater's avatar

    Victoria Slater

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Excellent unobtrusive commentary, pleasant and unrushed.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2009

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Kathrin Thomas's avatar

    Kathrin Thomas

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Good service and nice tour.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2009

    SWITZERLAND
    csziegler's avatar

    csziegler

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Our family was fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience an Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise.

    The boat was immaculate, the view breathtaking and the Hector dolphins unbelievable. The crew was knowledgable and made sure to point out all the spectacular points of interest. The wildlife was amazing. Hector dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals, Little Blue Penquins and Sea Birds greeted us, which made the excursion a definate memorable experience. The Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise is a must for your holiday travels. Thank you for a wonderful cruise.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2009

    UNITED STATES
    james masura's avatar

    james masura

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Nice cruise, nice crew but expensive, just go there when you have to much time.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2009

    GERMANY
    JohannaB's avatar

    JohannaB

    Customer