Akaroa is a little slice of Europe right here on Banks Peninsula! Explore, experience and escape with us as we get you up close and personal to the wild beauty this place holds, it really is hidden paradise. Akaroa is made of up two marine reserves and two land reserves, endangered wild life has made a sanctuary for their young in the harbour as the safety of the sheltered waters is a great environment for them to breed! Originally an island formed by two volcanic cones, the peninsula has two dominant craters which are now flooded and were once home to many whales.
In 1838 a french whaler, Captain Langlois, decided that Akaroa was an ideal location for a town that could service the whaling ships. Akaroa is steeped in history but today is a quiet and beautiful getaway off the beaten path for kiwis and tourists alike.