Akaroa is a place that looks like you’d have to travel days to get to. It could pass as a number of picturesque European fishing villages, sitting along some famous coast, when really, it’s nestled in our very own Banks Peninsula.
A breezy sub-90-minute drive from the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch, Akaroa is the ideal excuse for a road trip and the perfect tonic for your city-bound blues. Take in sweeping vistas along the way, stop off for some snacks and sights and once arrived, bask in the peaceful beauty of this former French Settlement.
Quaint streets, sparkling harbour views, and a vibe so chill you'll toss up selling everything you own and never returning home: Here's your essential 2025 guide on where to eat, play, and stay in lovely old Akaroa.
Know Before You Go
Image credit: Hayley Young
Getting There
Road Trip
At roughly 86km drive from Christchurch City Centre—around 1 hour 25 minutes—the scenic route to Akaroa is half the appeal of visiting this remote wee town.
Once you escape the 03's urban limits, you'll cruise through classic Cantabrian countryside, past Tai Tapu, and then eventually arrive at Little River—the gateway to the peninsula. From here you'll climb above sea level, then drop down into the dramatic crater rim with harbour views that'll have you pulling over for pics at every stunning turn.
Travel Tips
- Leave early—there's a lot to see and stop for along the way. It's a windy rural road that you don't want to be driving back on in the dark.
- Fill up in Christchurch—petrol prices in Akaroa reflect its remote location.
- Stop at General Post in Tai Tapu to restock on road trip snacks and refuel with top-notch caffeination.
- Use Little River as a way to break up the journey. The cafe & store, gallery and craft station are worthy of a wander. After you're done here, it's up over the hill and with it, some of the best views.
- Just before you round the first half of the crater, you'll stumble upon Barrys Bay Cheese, an artisanal cheese factory that's a crucial highlight for any Akaroa road trip worth its salt.
The Scenic Service
If you're keen on soaking in the vistas, rather than focusing on the road, then the Akaroa French Connection is for you. Offering daily bus shuttles with commentary—departing Christchurch at 9am and heading back from Akaroa at 4pm—the trip includes stops at Little River, key viewpoints and the aforementioned cheese factory. If peace of mind is important, why not leave it to the pros?
When To Go
I'm a big proponent of visiting a place regardless of the season. It's all about the colours and moods, and the fact of the matter is that Aotearoa's landscape is perennially beautiful.
With that said, the most-favoured period to visit Akaroa is summer—December through February, which will offer the best conditions for water activities, and of course, clear skies for those breathtaking views.
Shoulder seasons—March through May and September through November—always offer fewer crowds and a comfortable climate for the more strenuous activities.
Winter is cosy, quiet, and, if you're ultra lucky, there could be a light dusting of snow on the surrounding hills. One thing to remember is that Canterbury experiences frequent crisp, clear days with blue skies in winter, so you don't need to bank on summer just to avoid cloud and rain.
Pro Tip
The Akaroa French Festival is typically held in early October every year. A celebration of all things French in the most appropriate place across the motu, this springtime celebration is the perfect reason to head out there.
Eat
A Cafe For The Morning
Little River Cafe
At the end of a good Kiwi road trip, one should enjoy a breakfast worthy of their efforts. But if you're hungry on the way out there, then it would make sense to stop off at the aforementioned Little River Cafe. They're known as one of the best places for a bite on the way to Akaroa, and many a traveller has remarked how good their coffee is.
The Common
Image Credit: The Common | Website
If you make it all the way to your destination but are now running on fumes, then make a beeline to The Common. A classic wee breakfast and brunch cafe, they serve all the staples like eggs bene, pancakes, a big breakfast and also offer slightly elevated dishes such as spiced beef hash, truffle fires and even a holumi burger.
Pro Tip
Eating out in Akaroa can be a bit pricey. If budget's important, don't be afraid to pack a lunch. There are so many peaceful spots—from the harbour to the hills—where you can enjoy a good, honest sandwich.
A Restaurant For Lunch
Kaimoana Takeaways
You just can't venture out to a sunny seaside town like Akaroa without nailing some good old fish and chips. And this sis where your time spent reading this article is going to pay back ten-fold. Because the best spot for a decent bit of kaimoana is, well, Kaimoana.
Kaimoana Takeaways is the locals' choice for FnC—famous blue cod perfectly battered, chips to the same standard and open 'til 7pm. If you need a quick, delicious, and classic Kiwiana bite to eat, this is the joint.
Ma Maison
Of course, if it's something a bit more boujee you're after, then it's hard to look past Ma Maison. Waterfront bliss, fresh produce and emphasis on kaimoana, if you're feeling a bit salty having spent so much time on the coast, then I'm sure a Canterbury beef fillet will sort you out.
Aihe Restaurant
Despite being relatively new to the seaside neighbourhood, Aihe seems to have the vegan and vegetarian scene in Akaroa on lock. Look up some pics of what they serve, and you'll be hungry before you even leave Christchurch. They offer a seasonal menu with a focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and high-quality seafood dishes, which you can enjoy in the presence of picturesque French Bay.
Pro Tip
One of the most well-known spots in Akaroa—The Little Bistro—is apparently closed for reservations. Watch this space.
A Bar For The Evening
Tīni Gin Bar & Eatery
Image credit: Tīni Gin Bar & Eatery | Facebook
Sea-front views for days, lapping waves beneath the bars' very foundations, New Zealand gins, wines, craft beers and —if you're staying in Akaroa for the night, then Tīni Gin Bar & Eatery is the place to be. They also serve top nosh in the form of housemade pizzas, tasting plates and tapas.
Bully Hayes Restaurant & Bar
Another Akaroa classic, Bully Hayes is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; offers tapas and cold beverages in the sun and, importantly, doesn't close 'til 8pm.
Pro Tip
Being a sleepy seaside town, it's important to check the closing times of many establishments in Akaroa before you emotionally commit to those mental plans we so often make.
Play
Meet The Locals
Image credit: Roselyn Cugliari
Akaroa Bay is one of the few reliable locations to interact with the smallest and rarest dolphins on earth—the Hector's Dolphin.
What’s even more special is that through Black Cat Cruises, New Zealand’s first eco-tourism operator, you can actually get in the water with these delightfully social creatures. If swimming ain't your thing, you'll still get a lot out of staying dry and keeping your eyes peeled. You'll likely see plenty of fur seals as well as an abundance of coastal birds.
Through keen conservationists, Pōhatu Penguins, you can get back-stage access, so to speak, to Aotearoa’s largest mainland colony of Little Blue Penguins at Pōhatu Marine Reserve. This tour will take you through some stunning surrounding countryside and offers a very exclusive look at a truly marvellous example of successful conservation, partly funded by you, as your tour operators are the ones responsible for saving this curious bird.
Back on land and you can go visit the Shamarra Alpacas—curious residents of this otherwise quintessentially Kiwi destination.
Pro Tip
Try booking the morning departure for water-related activities; you should enjoy calmer seas and more active dolphins.
Try Various Modes Of Transport
Image credit: Banks Track | Instagram
The Banks Peninsula has some of the best walking tracks in Canterbury. For the serious hikers out there, the Banks Track is a three-day, 31km, self-guided wander through native bush, working farms, along coastal tracks and in the presence of Mother Nature at her very best.
Something more chill and kid-friendly is the native forest reserve—Garden of Tane—or The Children’s Bay Walk, AKA the ‘Rhino Walk’ because of its life-sized sculptures of animals hailing from the pridelands.
An alternative, and perhaps more leisurely way to see the region is on an Akaroa Guided Kayak Safari, where you'll paddle across the translucent Akaroa Harbour—penguins, seals, you name it.
If exercise doesn’t really vibe with your idea of a holiday, then say see ya later to the tour bus and explore the countryside and its winding roads in a classic car.
Pro Tip
Even though Akaroa doesn’t boast a big population, it's still worth booking any excursions in advance. Naturally, this becomes more pertinent during the summer months, when spaces for some of the more famous tours fill up fast.
Visit The Courthouse, The Lighthouse & The Giant’s House
Image credit: Hayley Young
The Akaroa Museum, and historic village itself, are the best options for those wanting a real grasp of Akaroa's fascinating history. You'll wander through the actual courthouse where pirates once faced justice, explore the customs house that processed early French settlers, and climb up to the lighthouse keeper's cottage that's been preserved exactly as it was 150 years ago. The lighthouse walk itself offers some of the best harbour views in town.
The Giant's House is what happens when an artist takes over a historic villa and decides to go completely wild. Josie Martin is responsible for this gallery-sculpture-garden-architectural-marvel, which is also one of the best spots in the area for panoramic views.
Pro Tip
If you’re not much of a history buff but still have an interest in culture and connecting people to the land, then maybe the Akaroa Cooking School would be more to your taste. If you’re really just not that into the past, then Akaroa Adventure Centre, with its mini-golf, pedal boats, and water park, will still provide acres of fun.
Connect People, Place & Space
Image credit: David Palmer | Wikimedia Commons
Before European's arrived on the shores of these lands, Banks Peninsula was home to generations of Māori. The tiny village of Ōnuku—just 5km south of Akaroa—played a significant role in this early history.
Get a glimpse of the early days of Aotearoa's inhabitation through the Ōnuku Marae, with guided tours available to take you through traditional customs, oral traditions, beliefs and the craftsmanship behind the carved buildings themselves. And make sure not to miss one of this area's most photographed landmarks: the Ōnuku Church—a physical embodiment of New Zealand's evolution—where the influence of two cultures dances.
At the end of such an informative day, there's no better place to reflect than the cosmos. You might think that such a remote, unpopulated and undeveloped area is ideal for stargazing. You would be correct. So if you plan to stay the night in Akaroa, you might as well go for a short walk or drive somewhere without artificial light and just look up. If you want the real deal, you can hop on an Akaroa Stargazing Tour, featuring expert guides, telescopes—the whole shabang.
Pro Tip
If you'd like the full monty, with knowledgeable guides taking you through every moment of the area's storied history, then why not try one of The Seventh Generation's tours, guided by seventh-generation French descendant Marie Haley? She'll show you the sights and scenes, take you along the path less travelled and help you comprehend how Akaroa's Māori and French heritage intertwine.
Stay
Akaroa Top 10 Holiday Park | $
A Kiwi classic. If you want to save your cash for excursions, gifts, souvenirs and delights from the many shops and local artisans along the Rue Jolie or the Rue Lavaud (two of Akaroa’s main streets where French Heritage is only in full display, not only in name), then Akaroa Top 10 Holiday Park is the place to stay. Needing very little introduction, it will have everything you need at a rate your wallet will thank you for.
Mt Vernon Lodge | $$
For a step up in accommodation and a bit of a different vibe, Mt Vernon Lodge is a hillside escape that will enhance that remote feeling that makes Akaroa such a good getaway. This option is especially suitable if you're venturing out in large groups or have a few kiddies in tow. It's got a relaxed, retreat kinda vibe, yet still is only a few minutes from the village.
French Bay House | $$$
Image credit: French Bay House
One of the French Settlement's original homesteads, the French Bay House is a bed and breakfast that's well worth splashing out on to get that property heritage experience. Wistful gardens, generous bedrooms, luxurious historic decor and a sun-drenched porch, this 1874 Gothic-style villa is one crown jewels of Akaroa's crown jewels with a scrumptious breakfast to boot.
Main image credit: Christopher Izquierdo.