• travel_explore
    Christchurch Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!
    tune
  • image_search
    Search Christchurch... Experiences, attractions, dining & more

Coast Up Close Scenic Wildlife Tours - 2.5 hours - Akaroa

5.0
203
Deals from $59.30 Save $39.70 Check dates nowsystem_update_alt
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 $99.00
Child $40.00 (3-15 years old)
Infant $0.00 (Up to 3 years old)

Location

  • Main Wharf, Beach Road, Akaroa 7582
  • We are located at the ocean end of the main wharf, walk past all the blue buildings to the end of the wharf.

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 from 17 Dec to 30 Dec 2024

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Change Dates
Tue 17 Dec
Wed 18 Dec
Thu 19 Dec
Fri 20 Dec
Sat 21 Dec
Sun 22 Dec
Mon 23 Dec
Tue 24 Dec
Wed 25 Dec
Thu 26 Dec
Fri 27 Dec
Sat 28 Dec
Sun 29 Dec
Mon 30 Dec

Bookings close in 7 hours...

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$59.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$29.99
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$99.00
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$35.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

  • Adult$79.00
  • 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$69.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$40.00
  • Infant Free of Charge

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

5.0

203 reviews

Showing all 203 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 !

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

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

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

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

suew18 from New Zealand wrote on 29 December 2023

Awesome Cruise

What a fab "Coast Up Close" cruise this was⛵️ Our crew Tony & Mafi were awesome with a fantastic array of knowledge👍 We certainly did get up close to nature as it is a small boat!⛵️ We saw loads of dolphins🐬 🐬 🐬, birdlife 🐦🐦🐦, seals🦭🦭🦭 Thank you guys for a fab cruise... we would highly recommend😊

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

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

Hi Sue Thank you for choosing Coast up Close and this fabulous 5 star review. We love to know that our guests enjoy their time with us out there. Have a great 2024. Cheers, Tony and Mafi

Jenny Le from Australia wrote on 20 January 2023

Just amazing!

Incredible tour! Saw many birds, seals, and dolphins with great stories and information from Tony and Mafi. An absolute must-see for all, especially if you like wildlife, beautiful views, and photography!

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

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

Hi Jenny Thank you for joining our cruise yesterday and this 5 star review, it was a pleasure to have you on board. Enjoy the rest of your NZ trip. All the best, Tony and Mafi

rebecca Lewis from New Zealand wrote on 14 December 2024

A dream

Such a great tour. Relaxing and comfortable. The tour guides give you just the right balance of privacy and conversation, the wildlife is magnificent and the views are spectacular. The boat is clean and tidy. On our tour we had our 2 year old and also an elderly woman and they accommodated both with a smile. My kid even got to captain the boat!

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

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

Hi Rebecca Thank you for choosing Coast up Close and this amazing 5 star review. It was a pleasure to have you and your family on board including your 2 year old, he was great and so well behaved. Have a fab Christmas and best wishes for 2025. Cheers, Tony and Mafi

close

Qualmark Certification

This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.

This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.

This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.

When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.

Sample menu

close
delete

Delete your content?

This item will be deleted immediately. You can't undo this action.