Top 5 Canoes & Kayaks in Akaroa

1.Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · from $83Our pick

Paddle a stable two-person sea kayak through Akaroa’s sheltered bays and volcanic coastline with guides such as John, Jake, Joey, and James. The 2 to 3-hour outing includes kayaks, spray skirts, jackets, safety help, and local stories. Wildlife sightings can include Hector’s dolphins, penguins, seals, and seabirds, but are never guaranteed.

“Our kayaking tour of Akaroa was awesome. We were able to meet the guides after a short walk from our cruise ship. Two guides accompanied the small group and provided excellent safety and paddling instruction. During the trip, which mostly followed the shore, they gave interesting information about the wildlife, flora and geology of the area. The paddling was easy and very enjoyable. We're so pleased that we chose this excursion in Akaroa.”

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2.Sunrise wildlife sea kayaking in Akaroa marine reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 123 reviews · from $96

Meet at 7:30 am in Akaroa for a three-hour guided kayak safari through an extinct volcanic basin. After safety instruction, you paddle sheltered harbor water and then head toward the coast, watching for Hector dolphins, seals, penguins, birds, and possibly orca. Guides such as James, John, and Peter share local knowledge, with refreshments and on-water photos included.

“From start to finish the tour was fabulous. I called the owner the night before panicking as my ride fell though and I suddenly did not have a car to get to the location / she was incredibly kind and helpful and organized for her team to picRead more”

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3.4WD Safari and Guided Sea-Kayaking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 120 reviews · 4h 30m · from $80Best value

Ride a 4WD minivan over Akaroa’s volcanic crater rim to Flea Bay, then paddle double kayaks along Pōhatu Marine Reserve. Guides such as Ben, Kevin, and Vila share local wildlife and conservation stories while you look for penguins, fur seals, dolphins, seabirds, reefs, and sea caves. No kayaking experience is needed, but conditions decide how far you go.

“It was beautiful to be on the water in the kayaks that were easy to paddle. The scenery and wildlife spectacular. The guides were fun friendly and informative in all aspects of the trip.”

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4.Small group guided sea kayaking in Akaroa marine reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · from $83

Paddle Akaroa’s marine reserve with a local guide for 2 to 3 hours, exploring remote bays, sandy beaches, and volcanic coastline. Guides such as Max, Adam, Lee, Jake, and Luan have led outings praised for clear instruction and friendly commentary. Gear is supplied, and you may see Hector’s dolphins, penguins, seals, and native seabirds.

“Let me start by saying that we were genuinely excited for this tour and, overall, we did enjoy the experience — largely thanks to the wonderful guides. Ours was a kind young French gentleman named “Luan” (I hope I’ve got his name right). Read more”

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5.Guided Electric Mountain Bike & Sea Kayak Tour in Akaroa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $192

Spend about five and a half hours exploring Akaroa by electric mountain bike and sea kayak. Ride from the waterfront toward the crater summit, then paddle along the shore with a guide such as Joey, who teaches kayak safety and points out penguins, dolphins, caves, and marine life. Snacks and guide-taken photos are included.

“Enjoying the peaceful and beautiful blue waters, kayaking into a cave…very cool! Then biking up and down 10-15%grade with absolute ease with the turbo feature on the e-bikes!”

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