Akaroa Harbour Boat Tours
Akaroa and Lyttelton Cruises, Swimming with Dolphins, Diamond Harbour Ferries, Island Adventures
Akaroa Boat Tours
Akaroa Nature Cruises
Journey through our culture and heritage to the historic French village of Akaroa, the gateway to our multi award-winning daily expeditions. Encounter the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, Hector’s dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, coastal birds and more as you cruise through the majestic surrounds of an extinct volcanic crater.
Swim with Dolphins
Dive into the blue water’s of Akaroa Harbour and encounter the world’s rarest dolphin, the Hector’s dolphin, on their terms. Voted by Lonely Planet as 1 of the top 10 marine mammal experiences in the world we invite you to join us for an unforgettable experience in the true wild. We offer a Hector’s dolphin guarantee policy for every trip taken with us. NOTE – this tour is seasonal. Please check our website for departure dates.
Canterbury Island Escapes
Did you know Christchurch has two islands right on it’s doorstep. Choose to escape to either Quail Island, offering a two hour loop walking track, shipwrecks, swimming beach and links to Antarctica, or escape to the little island with very big history, Ripapa Island. Both are just a 15 minute boat ride away and can only be booked directly with us.
Private Group Charters
Black Cat’s Charter Cruises make it possible for function and event organisers to create a dramatically different event – whether it’s for a social club group, function, conference delegate entertainment or something very special, like a wedding. You have the opportunity to enjoy the highlights of our Lyttelton or Akaroa cruises in the comfort of our spacious catamarans Black Cat or Canterbury Cat.
We add the option of a fully catered buffet meal, courtesy of Speciality Spit Roast Catering Company and you have a complete experience on the water. Summer evening cruises give you the chance to enjoy the backdrop of a stunning sunset over the water, as you and your guests relax to your choice of music with a full bar and catering on hand. The perfect floating function venue!
Specials & Events
Discover our fantastic deals, promotions and special events on this brilliant page. We host awesome events in Akaroa and Lyttelton throughout the year along with a mix of ongoing deals and one-off specials. Don’t miss out…
Diamond Harbour Ferry
Legend has it that Diamond Harbour was so named because one of the early settlers observed the sun reflecting on the water and thought it looked like a thousand shining diamonds.
Whatever the reason, Diamond Harbour remains one of the sunniest and unspoilt destinations on Banks Peninsula and is great for a day trip. How about an energetic walk to Mt Herbert or a more relaxing stroll around the cliff tops and beaches, or simply a visit to one of the cafe’s for delicious food or a coffee?
To get there we recommend you take the Diamond Harbour Ferry. The ferry has been operating on Lyttelton Harbour since 1888, connecting Diamond Harbour with Lyttelton. It’s just a short 5 minute walk from the ferry jetty to the small township and ferries depart at least every hour throughout the day.
Black Cat’s ferry the Black Diamond was launched in May 2001 and was purpose built to operate as the new Diamond Harbour Ferry, replacing the historic Onawe. The introduction of the new vessel has meant the journey time is reduced to around 8 minutes with greater frequency throughout the day. In combination with buses from Lyttelton to downtown Christchurch, this allows residents of Diamond Bay to commute to the city.
