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Akaroa Guided Sea Kayak Safaris

4.7
116
Deals from $69.90 Save $65.10 Check dates nowsystem_update_alt
Come and join us for an amazing fully guided sea kayaking safari in an extinct volcano crater! Our sunrise safari is suitable for people who have kayaked before. ( 3 hours) The Crater Cruiser safari suits all levels and ages -first timers are welcome.( 2- 2.5 hours)

Come and join us for an amazing fully guided sea kayaking safari in an extinct volcano crater!
Our sunrise safari is suitable for people who have kayaked before. ( 3 hours)
The Crater Cruiser safari suits all levels and ages -first timers are welcome.( 2- 2.5 hours)

Highlights

  • Head to the stunning French town of Akaroa for a day, only 1.5 hours from Christchurch.. what could be better than a guided sea kayak safari in an extinct volcano!
  • Tick another thing off that bucket list! Kayak in a protected marine reserve with a chance of wildlife encounters including endangered NZ fur seals, white flippered penguins, native birds and hector dolphins.
  • Includes , comprehensive safety briefing, all kayaking and safety equipment, experienced local guide to bring you to the secret local hotspots
  • Join the most environmentally sensitive tour in the harbour, minimal impact on the natural surroundings, enjoy exploring in an environmentally responsible way.

Grab the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime chance to explore a stunning & protected marine reserve in the comfort and tranquillity of your sea kayak whilst being looked after by experienced local guides who will show you around one of New Zealand's most scenic and ecologically diverse natural environments.

Small group numbers are key as we are visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, enjoy exploring this marine reserve in a low-impact and environmentally responsible way.

Close encounters. No noise, No engines, No crowds, No pollution.

If you have a sense of adventure, this safari is for you, our guides will show you some well-kept secrets of this magical harbour!

Why go with a guide?

You would be crazy not to! With over 17 hectares of stunning bays and inlets why would you waste time looking for wildlife and volcanic features by yourself, you will soon find it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Instead of paddling in circles... shhh... your knowledgeable, qualified local guide knows all the secret spots including when and where to go to maximise your time on the water, and most importantly they will keep you safe in New Zealand's extreme & changeable weather conditions!

Seventy-five kilometres from Christchurch, Akaroa is a historic French settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano. The clean, sparkling water of the harbour is the home to a variety of amazing sea life, including the Hector dolphin, the world’s smallest dolphin, as well as heaps of seabirds, NZ fur seals and the smallest penguins in the world...little white-flippered penguins.

You don’t need any previous kayaking experience; in fact, most guests have never kayaked before. But please note: you DO need a good level of fitness and hand/ eye coordination. You need to be able to learn to control your kayak quickly and be able to paddle for up to 2 hours ( sometimes into the wind).

Groups are small and the equipment is new and stable. You’ll get full instructions and a safety briefing before you start, so you’ll be safe and secure on your Akaroa Guided Kayak Safari adventure.

Akaroa Guided Sea Kayaking Safaris is a proud recipient of the highly regarded Outdoor Mark Safety Audit certification. This means your safety is their number one priority at all times.

*** If in doubt watch the video! ***

Sunrise Wildlife Safari $140.00 (Per Person)
Crater Cruiser Safari $135.00 (Per Person)

Duration

  • Allow approximately 3 hours for the whole experience

Location

  • Meeting Point: 40 rue Brittan outside the bowling club. Near the boat ramp , campervan parking area and recreation ground

Restrictions

  • Minimum age: 10
  • Not suitable for guests with back problems.

    You must be able to get in and out of your Kayak unassisted.

    All participants must be able to swim 30m. Beginners are welcome how ever in the event participants can not master the basic technique of paddling along with the group after being shown in the briefing you may be asked to come back another time on a private instructional tour with a guide.

    Please note if you are late for your booking we can not wait and you will miss the tour. No refunds.

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Notes

  • Trip Options:

    Sunrise Wildlife Safari - 7:30am - 10:30am

    Crater Cruiser Safari - 11:30am - approx 2pm

    Please note our sunrise tour covers more distance and needs a little more effort. This tour also moves at a faster pace than our 11:30am Crater Cruiser and you may be required to carry your kayak with a partner across rocks so please keep this in mind when choosing your tour.

  • Please note: Minimum numbers are required for the trip to run.

    Tickets are non-refundable once confirmed.

Available Bookings from 29 Mar to 11 Apr 2024

Change Dates

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Fri 29 Mar
Sat 30 Mar
Sun 31 Mar
Mon 1 Apr
Tue 2 Apr
Wed 3 Apr
Thu 4 Apr
Fri 5 Apr
Sat 6 Apr
Sun 7 Apr
Mon 8 Apr
Tue 9 Apr
Wed 10 Apr
Thu 11 Apr

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$79.90

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$79.90

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$79.90

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$79.90

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Sunrise Wildlife Safari$140.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$69.90

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

  • Crater Cruiser Safari$135.00

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

4.7

116 reviews

Showing all 116 authenticated Bookme reviews

Klara M. from Germany wrote on 21 January 2023

Great tour

Absolutely stunning location, really nice tour, lots of information about the local flora& fauna and some historical aspects, almost a little too much talking at times though which made it hard to follow and remember…

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From Akaroa Guided Sea Kayak Safaris

Thanks for joining us! We hope you learned alot and had a great time!

Linda Thomas from United States wrote on 23 April 2023

Great tour

We had a beautiful day for the Crater tour. Our guide Shamus was informative, fun and professional!! A great memory for our South Island holiday!!

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From Akaroa Guided Sea Kayak Safaris

Thanks so much for joining! Glad you had a great time with our proffessional team

laureng18 from New Zealand wrote on 10 March 2023

Amazing experience

I could not of asked for a better tour guide or experience. James is incredibly knowledgeable on local information and in general Maori history. To top off a great tour we were extremely fortunate to have the Hector dolphins come right up to the kayaks. Without a doubt something that will be a core memory from my travels!

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From Akaroa Guided Sea Kayak Safaris

Thanks so much, glad to hear our tours were a highlight of your holiday

Nadine Pauley from New Zealand wrote on 06 March 2023

Top notch

Great guide! Great tour! Guide went above and beyond to make our experience great! Even in the rain it was amazing!

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From Akaroa Guided Sea Kayak Safaris

So glad you guys could join us and thanks for the great review we love making sure everyone has a fantastic kayaking experience no matter what the weather

Rhea from New Zealand wrote on 06 March 2023

Awesome

Despite the rain, James made sure we all had an awesome time and even made the effort to meet us the following day to ensure we got the photos he'd taken of our group. Above and beyond!

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From Akaroa Guided Sea Kayak Safaris

Thanks so much for joining us on a misty moody but still beautiful day of kayaking in Akaroa

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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.

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