Delve a little deeper and the playful peninsula will reward you with an abundance of unexpected delights. Breathe in the ocean air from a seaside café and admire the town’s history and architecture as you explore the township’s vibrant gardens and boutiques.
OUR HISTORY
Open hearts
and open minds.
Akaroa is one of New Zealand’s first
European settlements with a rich Māori
and French history.


A treasure
and an icon.
Well before Captain Cook set his sights on Akaroa Harbour in the 1770s, Ngāi Tahu Māori had already established a vibrant and thriving way of life amongst the beauty of two extinct volcanoes.

In 1840, Akaroa became New Zealand’s only township to be established by French settlers becoming the region’s first substantial European settlement. The area became well known as a safe haven for early whalers and sealers braving the southern oceans beyond its headlands.

Photo Credits: Akaroa Museum Collection.
A) Regatta Day, J.L. Buckland, 1931. B) Akaroa Post Office, J.L. Buckland, c.1930. C) T.E. Taylor Merchant Premises, T.E. Taylor Studio, c.1900.
What's on
Akaroa Farmers Market
Pohatu Penguins Awareness Day
- Public art trail of human size penguin statues from Christchurch to Akaroa
- Street art with...
Sunset Cruise on Fox II
Only $60pp.
Book via Website www.akaroafoxsail.co.nz or Akaroa booking agents.
Waitangi Day Commemorations
It’s a fun day full of family activities, commemorations, demonstrations, workshops and...
Mystical World Music With Monk Party
Sat 6th of February 2021, 7pm at the Akaroa Boat Shed
Door Sales - $15koha to reserve a seat email nelson@monkparty.com
About Monk Party
Pragunya, Nelson Myers-Daly and Liam Oliver are influenced by many...
Generation Homes La Grande Swim
We’re back again in this picturesque seaside village, with an incredible line-up of swims to choose from, starting in the morning this time around to maximise the...