Things To Do Akaroa

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Places To Visit In Akaroa

Akaroa Lighthouse

One of the most sought-after attractions for cruise tourists is the Akaroa Lighthouse. Packed with a history of over 100 years, the hexagonal wooden structure made from the native Maori wood sits at over 80 meters above sea level. The tower inside allows visitors to look at the century-old equipment, which is still functional. The only major change ever made is that of a manned light replaced by an automatic one back in 1980. The lighthouse is also accompanied by a long deck from where tourists can find panoramic views of the beautiful blue mountains across the harbour. Overlooking the cemetery point and the wide horizons, the shining white tower is a perfect place to spend a pleasant and peaceful day. The best way to enjoy the moments at the tower is by renting a bicycle from the town and gliding along the scenic surroundings to set the mood right for a memorable day. A free car parking is also available for visitors travelling by car. Read More

Akaroa Museum (Te Ware Taonga) was established to share a deep view of the history of Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula in the form of art with a growing collection of artefacts.. The main complex welcomes visitors for a brief walkthrough of Akaroa's French, British and Maori history. The museum hosts three kinds of exhibitions, Temporary Exhibitions, Long Term Exhibitions and Digital Exhibitions. The temporary exhibitions showcase various faces of the region from different perspectives. The long-term exhibitions focus on the region's diversified culture, including the native Maori culture and the impact of French & British cultures thereafter. The digital exhibitions generally cover the region's transformation of art and fashion over the past centuries. They also throw some light on important local industries like whaling and agriculture. The museum manages some historic buildings with magnificent French architecture reflecting absolute grandeur. Some of such well-known buildings are the Langlois-Eteveneaux Cottage and the Customs House. A small historical theatre, ‘Court House’, still stands intact and is open to the public for a brief video about the region’s rich and diverse history. Read More

The Fishermans Bay Garden is a picturesque garden hosting an array of native and exotic flowers. It rests along the pacific coast providing magnificent views of the Banks Peninsula and the blue volcanic mountains. This makes the garden an irrevocable place in the weekend getaway list while visiting the little tourist town of Akaroa. The owners have transformed the woolshed into a visitors’ area where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea of coffee. The corrugated cow ‘Herbina’ is placed at the garden warmly welcoming the visitors to the garden and is quite an attraction for children. The garden boasts diverse landscapes are bordered with traditional borders. The specially curated herb garden, fern garden and farm provide a mesmerising contrast to the already beautiful garden. Visitors can also click some memorable pictures beside the stream-side valley and a rock garden. Wildlife enthusiasts can admire vast varieties of native and visiting birds hovering over the garden and the peninsula. A guided tour can also be arranged on prior request and discounts can be given to groups. Read More

Nesting on the French Farm Valley Road in the beautiful town of Akaroa, Valley Road Vineyard produces some of the finest wines in the region under the ‘French Peak’ label. The farm majorly produces four local wines named Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Rose and Chardonnay under the craftmanship of award-winning winemaker Matt King. The vineyard has some delicious local dishes to relish like salami, French bread, locally made cheeses and olives. The winery has a barn-themed accommodation for visitors who wish to spend a night in this destination. Escape the city bustle to have a peaceful and laid-back wine-tasting experience in the very lap of nature. The French Peak Wines stands out as the grapes used for making wine are grown organically with the help of nourishing volcanic soil, and the wines are unfiltered with the least amount of preservatives to shell out a natural taste.The oldest winery in the area is spread across 3 hectares of lush green farmland and boasts of a vantage point 80 metres high and is a perfect place to hold a glass of wine and enjoy the beautiful scenic views of the lush greenery all around. Read More

A lifelong gift from an avid farmer and environmentalist, Arthur Ericson, Garden of Tane rests beautifully in the heart of Akaroa and has stories dating back to 1874. This exotic 5 acres worth of lush green garden has multiple entry and exit points. The primary entrance lies at the intersection of Rue Jolie and Aylmers Valley Road adjoining a playground which is a wonderful spot for kids to spend some playful time. One can also make way to the garden through the three cemeteries around the garden and pay homage to the fallen heroes. The garden sets out in a beautiful environment with a walking track engulfed among many exotic trees like the conifers and oaks, making it the favourite choice for an early morning stroll. This garden is very informative for students and people who desire to increase knowledge as the trees are labelled with their botanical and popular names. The garden also has two Lookouts, namely ‘Big Pine Lookout’ and the ‘Lovers Lookout’, which provide a breath-taking view of the beautiful scenery. Read More

Situated on the east coast of the South Island and spread across sprawling 1250 hectares along the south-east Banks Peninsula lies this massive ecological restoration reserve. Hinewai Reserve is an exemplary place to experience nature’s diversity when left to thrive on its own. The reserve has been provided with a 20 km long network of walking tracks all across to relish nature’s wonders. The reserve consists of natural streams with over 50 waterfalls although the walking tracks do not cover all of them. Whakamate Falls in the Murderers Gully is the highest waterfall standing at 30 metres. The reserve in known for its lush vegetation having over 60 different fern species, 50 hectares worth of red beech and countless other native species of trees and shrubs. Visitors can also get lucky with the sight native animals and birds of rabbits, hedgehogs, cats, bellbird, kingfisher, harrier, etc. in the reserve. Visitors can also relax by the ponds and streams which house some native fish species and other amphibians. Overall, the reserve is the best trail in the region for those who actually are nature admirers. Read More

Located in a prime area on Lighthouse Road, the Meniscus Vineyard is nothing less than an abode for wine lovers. The Meniscus Wine Lounge consists of a Wine Bar and a Wine Tavern where visitors can treat their taste buds to a wide variety of award-winning vintage and limited editions of wines rarely found in the retail market. The primary grapes varieties grown on the farm are the Riesling, Pinot Noir, Bouriaud Pinot and Pinot Gris. Do not forget to ask for some authentic local delicacies to enhance the experience of wine tasting. One can choose to sip some wine at the bar, the cellar, in the beautiful open garden or on the terrace for a magnificent wine tasting experience overlooking the mighty mountains across the peninsula. Booking a tour in advance is advisable to make it a convenient and memorable experience. Read More

Pohatu Penguins Habitat is located in the Pohatu Marine Reserve. It is known to be the largest colony of the unique little Pohatu Penguins on mainland New Zealand. It measures just between 25cm – 33 cm and weigh a mere kilogram. The hosts have even made some hideouts in the reserve to allow visitors to watch the movement and general social behaviour of the Penguins through binoculars and telescopes from a safe distance. The Pohatu Penguins are also known to be the smallest species of Penguins in the world. These Penguins are very distinct as have a much brighter coat of blue on their bodies as compared to other regular Penguin species. The habitat ensures complete freedom to the Penguins who go to the sea and return back to the reserve without any human interference. This makes it a perfect place for wildlife lovers to watch the beautiful creatures leaving for the sea in the morning and returning back in the evening. Some lucky visitors can also find a glance of the yellow-eyed Penguin which is a rare and an endangered species which visits this reserve sometimes. It is advisable to hire a guide to enjoy the tour completely. Read More

Beautifully located in the small resort town ‘of Akaroa’ on the South Island, The Giant’s House is an award-winning marvel conceptualized by Josie Martin, tuning a fine contrast between a garden and an art home. Hurling pleasant surprises at every turn and corner as one steers their way through the garden, it is nothing short of a paradise for an art lover. The most eye-catching attractions of the garden are the beautifully crafted terrace gardens, mosaiced steps, an elegant sculptural wall mosaic, welded steel sculptures and a magnificent art gallery. The garden also houses the ‘Artist Palate’ café that serves lip-smacking delicacies and afternoon teas to the guests. Luncheons can also be prebooked for large group visitors. The café is open in the summers and closed in winter. Also certified as a ‘Garden of International Significance’, The Giant’s House holds 6 stars owing to its jaw-dropping sculpture and colourful gardens growing different vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs. Read More