Location: Akaroa
Top Things to do in Akaroa
What to do and see in Akaroa, South Island: The Best Nature & Parks
The French are known as the world’s most romantic people, so it makes sense that Akaroa—site of New Zealand’s first French settlement—is an ideal spot to set the scene for love. Hold hands with your paramour and stroll along the provincial harbor, where dolphins, penguins, and seals bob and chatter in the sparkling ice-blue water. First-class accommodations, quaint French bakeries and succulent restaurants are the perfect ingredients for a romantic getaway.
Restaurants in Akaroa
1. Hinewai Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 90 reviews
Reviewed By Dotty919
Wonderful place, filled with a variety of native trees. Fabulous bird song as we walked the tracks. Glorious views.
2. Children's Bay Rhino Walk
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Mandymc900 - Christchurch, New Zealand
We so enjoyed our morning walking the children bay rhino walk, we did the circle route around the hill and into the bush, then down on the beach. check that the tide is out if doing the beach track.
3. Banks Peninsula Track
4. The Giants House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,284 reviews
The Happiest Garden on Earth..! Garden of International Significance.. A Josie Martin creation.. Colourful, beautiful balance between garden and art. Don’t miss the fun DVD playing in the contemporary art gallery. Terraced gardens with sculptures and incredible mosaics. Very Unique. A creative feast and a wonderful experience. Only a few minutes walk from the centre of Akaroa.terraced gardens are full of surprises -expect the unexpected at The Giant's House!
Reviewed By FranG1 - Auckland, New Zealand
What an incredible spot every corner you turn just takes your breath away, how people can comment that the entrance fee is too pricey is beyond us, it’s just incredible and photos don’t do it justice.
5. Fishermans Bay Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By Maby18 - Christchurch, New Zealand
Came across the garden by chance and so glad we did. Incredible garden and clearly a labour of love. Amazing panoramic views of the surrounding bays and only 20 minutes from Akaroa.
6. The Garden at French Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
A large country garden in the beautiful French Farm Valley. Listed as a Garden of National Significance by The New Zealand Gardens Trust. Covering 10.4 acres on the banks of the Te Waimangu stream the gardens contain areas of protected native bush and a large ornamental garden and abundant birdlife
7. Garden of Tane
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By lcj1031 - Auckland, New Zealand
We happened upon the Garden of Tane as we were walking to the lighthouse and went back the next day as we had a little time to kill. It was a nice easy walk through some cool woodlands and is obviously something Akaroa is proud to have. The children's playground has a large slide - something I haven't seen for a while.
8. Stanley Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By R4825WDjohng
If you are planning on visiting Akaroa, NZ, then be sure to include Stanley Park in your must-see list. You will need to climb through working sheep farm meadows, but the reward will be a stunning vista of the Akaroa harbor, including Children's Bay and French Bay. Be sure to wander through the side streets of the nearby residential areas as you leave this park, and you will see home after home with tastefully planted flower gardens. Just take care where you step in Stanley Park, as this is home to many sheep.
9. Mt. Somers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By jeffreyb406 - Daniel Island, United States
Any stop at Akaroa (as ours was a port stop on the Celebrity Solstice in late December) should be a gateway to a journey to Middle Earth (The Southern Alps), where the Lord of the Rings was filmed. As you approach, it becomes quite apparent how this location was formed by a glacier. The scenery on the ride into this national park is beyond breathtaking (sort of like watching an IMAX 3D movie, but only better). Film Facts: Filming occurred over 11 days during the winter with winds as high as 180 KM per hour. It took the crew 8 months to construct the sets and road leading to this location. All for 21 minutes in the second film. The Middle Earth and its Vistas are SPECTACULAR.
10. Woodills
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
