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Latest Akaroa hotel reviews
Pro
Wild natural beauty, remoteness, magic colours
Con
A little remote, winters could be bleak
In a nutshell
A great place to leave your worries behind
TheWanderingCamel Says: The Fox II is a red-sailed beauty - the oldest gaffed rigged ketch in New Zealand. Built in Auckland in 1922, her home port nowadays is Akaroa, and an afternoon in her company spent exploring the harbour is a fantastic experience. Whether you choose to actively crew or...
TheWanderingCamel Says: This was just the nicest way to spend a morning!The Eastern Bays Scenic Mail Run delivers not only the mail and the morning newspapers to the little hamlets and isolated farmhouses of the Outer Bays of the Banks Peninsula - it also delivers a unique opportunity for visitors...
Have a drink or stay at historic Duvauchelle Hotel
Kakapo2 Says: Update May 2011The Duvauchelle Hotel was badly damaged in the earthquake that rocked Canterbury on 4 September 2010. Parts of it have been demolished just now. They will rebuild and hope to be up and running again by Christmas.The Duvauchelle Hotel at the northern tip of...
Duvauchelle - Have a Break in "Du-wot-shelley"
Kakapo2 Says: As mentioned in a general tip about the French street signs in Akaroa, the worst thing about Duvauchelle is the pronounciation. If you pronounce it correctly in French nobody understands you, so just say “Du-wot-shelley”, with the stress on the second syllable, if you want...
AusPinay Says: Banks Peninsula forms the most prominent volcanic feature of the South Island. As Akaroa stands on the heart of this former volcano that existed in ancient times, this town is a main gateway to this peninsula, apart from Christchurch & Lyttleton, which is spectacular! It has...
Enjoying the beach & ocean views
AusPinay Says: This is a pleasant way to enjoy the town as it has loads of scenic views and to breathe in the fresh air around as there were mot many cars around here! So we had a truly fabulous time! All for free too!
AusPinay Says: We decided to join a walking tour of this town to learn more about its history and we were glad we did! It was a fascinating way to see the place and at the same time get more insights from a local on how the settlers started in this town. The whole family's interested in...
AusPinay Says: We reached this port via tenders from our cruise ship, It took a while but it was worth the wait as we were greeted with sweeping views as the town was surrounded by picturesque hills and beaches. It also has a lot of history being a former whaling town settled in by the...
AusPinay Says: It was a lovely day, still sunny though windy and we chanced upon a vendor selling "gelato" Italian style but made from NEw Zealand products of course! At NZ$3.50 , it was a steal, tasty and creamy! I had pistacchio & the boys berry and chocolate. We were happy!
AusPinay Says: We did a walking tour of Akaroa where we visited a few period homes with fascinating decor and architecture typical of the 1800's. The combination of white paint and other pastel shades blend well with the picturesque town surrounded by rolling green hills and lovely...
1 Review and 24 Opinions It was everything we could wish for on our honeymoon - Spacious living room and bedroom, kitchen...
Duvauchelle Hotel: Only a true trencherman ....
TheWanderingCamel Says: ... could hope to finish the enormous meals served at the Duvauchelle Hotel. This is tasty, substantial cafe food - nothing grand but well cooked standards such as steaks, fried fish, tender ribs, hearty pies, home-made soups as well as a few international flavours - good,...
The Little Bistro: New name, same high standards
TheWanderingCamel Says: Fresh white paint, a tempting blackboard menu and a new name greeted us when when turned up at a favourite Akaroa restaurant on our most recent visit. What had been "C'est la Vie" - an Akaroa institution, reknowned almost as much for its funky decor as its delicious food -...
ATXtraveler Says: If you are not planning to stay in Akaroa for a long period of time, then your best bet economically is to rent a car. Since it is located a fair distance away from Chirstchurch, you will not likely find a public transportation system that is suited to your timing. It is...
TheWanderingCamel Says: Visitors without their own transport can easily make the trip to Akaroa - there are two companies offering a daily shuttle service. TheAkaroa Shuttle leaves from the Visitors Centre on Catheral Square in Christchurch, pickups may be possible from your acccommodation in the...
rozehill Says: Another bus company which goes to Akaroa and return daily.You can take a scenic day tour for $40 returndeparts Christchurch daily 9.30am aand departs Akaroa at 15.45 or 16.15Departs Chch ......8.45am....all yearDeoarts Akaroa. 14.30..........all year
The annual French Fest in Akaroa
Kakapo2 Says: The biggest event in Akaroa each year is the French Fest in which the town celebrates its heritage. The town becomes a big market place with French food, wine and market stalls, entertainment, fun and the re-enactment of the French landing on the vessel Comte de Paris 1840...
TheWanderingCamel Says: However you take the time to explore the Eastern Bays of the Banks Peninsula, you'll be well rewarded. If your time is limited, or you don't have your own transport, a morning spent with postman Gerry on the Eastern Bays Scenic Mail Run will give you a great introduction to...
some damaged structures(due to the quake)
AusPinay Says: The walking tour also gave us a perspective on how strong the tremor that hit Christchurch was! Though Akaroa was 75 kilometres from this city, some part of Akaroa was also damaged like the bridge, the library, etc.
TheWanderingCamel Says: Between Duvauchelle and Akaroa you pass this wee building on the road. What is it? The red panels by the door give you the clue - this was the Robinson Bay post Office - you can still see the panel of post box doors and the posting box, though both are sealed up these...
French Street Signs and "Je ne parle pas français”
Kakapo2 Says: It is funny to see all these French street signs in Akaroa, knowing that not many New Zealanders are able to pronounce them correctly. The English pronunciation of the anglicised word “lingerie” always amuses me most, as they say “lonn-jerrey” instead of… something I cannot...
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Plan a Akaroa vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Akaroa locals
Although I have researched quite a while and on site, I have not succeeded (yet) to find out from which place in Germany the first owner of the Grand Hotel in...
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Q: Hi, Is there a public bus from the airport or Christchurch city to Akaroa ? Thanks, Eddy
A: i am in a hurry so haven't got time to find the link for the naked bus company which is a possibility check newmans to see if they have a service - i am picking they...
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The Magic World of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa
As Banks Peninsula is still not available as a destination on VT, I finally have decided to sample those tips on an Akaroa page, as this is the most visited place on Banks Peninsula, and therefore...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Akaroa. I'd love to share with you the 46 tips I've written, the 40 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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Akaroa: New Zealand's early French settlement
Ah, Akaroa, place of so many great memories from my trip.... I don't know where to begin to say how lovely this place was, so I'll start at the beginning, but it will be long, I assure you... Enjoy...
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The blissfuly beautiful Banks Peninsula
Named by Captain Cook (who mistakenly thought it was an island) for his botanist, Joseph Banks, the Banks Peninsula had long been settled by Maori by the time Europeans first came here. The first...
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