Beautiful landscape of the French Bay. Passing rain . Spotted some Lupins as it is end of winter. Awesome 😎.

Beautiful view of the bay. I visited in October and found a lot of purple flowers next to the light house.

Perfect place for a sunset . No wait time ,but to get inside the light house you might need an entry ticket .

Great location, tours available on Saturday and Sundays, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Great view of the bay.

Such a beautiful place 🥰 will definitely come back again when I visit Christchurch ❤️

$5 entrance fee between 1-3 pm in weekend. Nice photo point after 3 p.

Great walk to the lighthouse. Very close to the main center. This an amazing lighthouse, it really captures all the features of a lighthouse. It has inspired me to build my own lighthouse but I am not too sure. Wonderful views and many tourists. The hike is great. Everyone should see this who is able to.

What an amazing space. Thirty years in the making and the vision of a single person. We were there in early September so it was pretty quiet; just small family groups there which meant it felt more private and intimate. I'm sure it gets really busy in peak season.

Wow! Ok so this place is absolutely amazing. We loved looking around the beautiful garden, there is so much to look at. The sculptures are incredible, I took so many cool photos here and I really want to go back. A maze of mosaics!

Loved visiting the Giant's House! Had never been before and am so glad we went. It is a whimsical place that astounds you with the sheer scale of it. It's hard to fathom it is the work of primarily one person. If you go to Akaroa, go to The Giant's House!

We had such a lovely experience! It was peaceful and quiet when we visited, and the mosaics were absolutely stunning! so creative and whimsical. The woman working in the café was an absolute delight, which made the visit even more special. The photos don’t do it justice, you really have to come see it for yourself! Highly recommend!

Without being hyperbolic , I found my happiest place in the world. It entirely captured the whole essence of my heart and soul with its colour and whimsy. Josie Martin is a creative genius and what a gift to be able to visit her home.

We had a wonderful time, just strolling through the lovely gardens and discovering the beautiful and quirky sculptures on the various levels of the garden. Could easily spend hours here just chilling out and people watching

Been here a few times and it’s amazing every time !!! Absolutely stunning place !! Very inspirational and lovely lovely staff !!! Can not recommend The Giants House enough!! Even got merch to remind us of the great times we have had here !!!

Great experience, free admission. Worth visiting for 30+ mins when you’re in Akaroa 👍

Free admission, a small place but the place is very nice.

Arguably the best little Museum we’ve seen on our NZ travels (and every town and village seems to have one!). Free entry (or leave a donation). Lots of interesting displays for all ages and historical facts (see photos) here. Highly recommended.

This museum is excellent - very highly recommended. Excellent presentations about the town's history and associated topics. Huia birds (extinct sadly) preserved and well presented.

Brilliant little museum also got to meet the town cat little friendly black one trying to make their way in with us defo worth a visit

They were not interested in showing us our donated items.

Beautiful little museum in historic Akaroa! Worth a visit when you’re there! And free Admission

I think we attempted this hike wrong, would recommend going to the information centre first. We hiked straight to Jules Knob which had great views. Then we attempted to find the waterfalls via Woodcutters Clearing but ended up on a rather unmaintained and slippery part of the trail. We turned back after 2 hrs of hiking and hadn't come across the falls yet. Sturdy hiking boots are a must.

My advice to get the most from this wonderful reserve would be to go to the visitor centre and pick up the very vital track map . Wear proper walking footwear and don’t go alone, i did and felt aware(as no phone signal ) that if something happened on a slippy track you may lay there sometime before anyone came along to rescue you. I really enjoyed my mornings trek although steep in places

What an amazing restoration story. Hugh is a Legend and super welcoming. He proved it is possible. Great views and great hike as well, beautiful trees.

Good experience as we started from the mountain to sea and back took whole day enjoyed a lot as we got a little lost in the bushes but overall was a great

It is considered an easy hike. Well marked with directions. The whole track will pass through a forest with lots of plants and then a flat garden road with lots of prickly plants, please wear long pants, you might get hurt by those plants! And then you will get a very nice view if you climb to the top of the big stone 🪨. But very dangerous. At the end of the track you will experience a very steep road with roughly 2km of climbing, this is the toughest part for me. Overall the track is quite interesting.

We walked the tracks in August 2017 after a couple of weeks of rain and a snow. The day was warm and a northwester was blowing up high but most of the track was protected from the wind so we had an enjoyable afternoon. The tracks were "damp" under foot but not sloppy wet but we did wear tramping boots so had no issues.

Such a lovely place to visit. The first waterfall is about 20mins from the carpark. You start off walking downhill. Suitable for toddlers though sturdy waterproof boots are needed. Second waterfall, Hinewai falls is aboit 20-30mins from the first waterfall. Just a beautiful area.

A must-do experience when visiting the South Island. The team at Akaroa Dolphins was warm and made the whole cruise feel personal and relaxed. The guided cruise around the bay and along the coastline was beautiful. Thanks! Spotting Hector's dolphins up close was one of the highlights of our time in New Zealand. Highly recommended.

Amazing experience seeing a huge pod of bottle nosed dolphins, fur seals, and native birds. The tour was fun and informative and even had a dog on board owned by the captain! We got offered complimentary drinks and homemade biscuits. Would 10/10 recommend.

Had such a great time! The crew were lovely. We got hot drinks and they took their time to chat with us all. Seeing the dolphins up close was such a great experience! Even the views were worth it. Just beautiful. 100% recomend this trip.

Thanks Akaroa Dolphins for this amazing cruise! The crew was super friendly and we had a great experience in the stunning Akaroa harbor, with the chance to see dolphins and seals!

Great day out on the boat. Seen lots of dolphins & some seals. Beautiful scenery along the way. Dave, Albie (the dog) & the girls were lovely.

What an unforgettable experience! The Akaroa dolphin cruise was one of the highlights of our day in Akaroa. The crew were so welcoming and shared lots of interesting facts about the area and the Hector’s dolphins. We were thrilled to see several swimming right beside the boat! The scenery was breathtaking and the whole experience felt relaxed and well-organized. The star of the show was Wilbur, he is such a good dog and loved getting pets. We were also treated to complimentary drinks and homemade cookies. I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone visiting Akaroa.

A very pleasant store with gifts for all sorts. The whole street offered great service and great tips. They had a great selection of kiwi themed clothing, soft toy animals, maps, sun protection. The weather was awesome.

We did the evening tour. Our tour guide Geraldine was lovely and gave us all the information we could've wanted and more. Wonderful scenery, and we went in early September and were lucky enough to see not only a lot of penguins but also lambs and a fur seal. The walk is not as intense as the website makes it sound so don't worry too much. A bit narrow or uneven in some places but not too many steep hills or anything. It does get cold.

My daughter and I went on the 2-hour Pohatu Penguins nature tour today with Kevin as our guide, and we had the best time! We absolutely loved getting up close and personal with all the animals. Kevin’s knowledge and passion for the environment made the whole experience even more special – we learned so much while still having a lot of fun. Such a unique and memorable experience, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Thank you so much Kevin, we will be back! My daughter is already asking about doing the school holiday program with you guys.

I greatly enjoyed their overnight farmstay package. The nature drive into the cottage was interesting and very scenic. The accommodations were very cute and comfortable and the penguin program was excellent. I also got to bottle feed a lamb and enjoyed the sheep and cattle on the property. This was an excellent way to end my New Zealand trip. All the staff are beyond friendly. Highly recommend them.

If it was possible to put more than 5 I would do it! Géraldine wad so great and giving us a lot of information, we saw tones of penguins on that night and she was super helpful by helping us to find those little things in the middle of the water and then on the beach! She spent a lot of time explaining us the biodiversity too and teaching about native plants! Special mention to the sheep and their babies! So incredible, 100% recommended, I would do it again before to leave New Zealand!!!

Absolutely loved this tour. We got to see penguins swimming, penguins hopping around the rocks, and also in nesting boxes. Geraldine was very knowledgeable and friendly. The gear provided was great. The bus ride to the bay allowed for gorgeous views. Would go again!

I visited in October (non peak season) and it was INCREDIBLE. I can't recommend this experience enough! The guides were incredible, and learning about the unique natural, geologic, and cultural heritage of Akaroa was fantastic.

The penguin tour was great! Kevin was a great tour guide! He was very knowledgeable and we loved that it was mostly about conservation but that we also got to see the little blue penguins up close in their natural habitat.

We had the best swim with dolphin experience here with our two sons aged 14 and 12. Not only did we get to see Hectors dolphins, but bottlenose as well. Then on the way home baby fur seal. The team were super knowledgeable and friendly too. We had skipper Chris and Charlotte and Grace. Definitely I would recommend to do this!

Staff were really friendly and helpful. The views and locations were incredible, we were able to see penguins, seals and a couple of dolphins 🐬. The wind was so cold out at sea but was warm on land, so make sure to wear enough layers if going in th colder seasons. I took my 14 month old and he loved it.

Our recent cruise with Black Cat Cruises was an absolute delight! From the moment we boarded, the friendly staff ensured every passenger was well taken care of, making us feel right at home on the water. Our witty captain truly made the cruise lively, keeping us entertained with insightful commentary and a fantastic sense of humor – definitely no sleepy sails here! Nature put on quite a show, too: we were thrilled to catch glimpses of the wonderfully shy dolphins, incredibly lively baby seals, and a fascinating array of various bird species. It was a wildlife photographer's dream (or at least a nature lover's perfect moment!). A gentle whisper for those brave enough to venture out during winter: the winter wind can be quite chilling, so please do yourselves a favor and wear warmly – extra layers are your best friends! All in all, Black Cat Cruises delivered an engaging, informative, and truly memorable experience. Highly recommend for an unforgettable Akaroa adventure!

The team made the whole family feel welcomed. Some cool facts and knowledge bites (that our girls actually remembered and were interested in). Loved getting the chance to see both fur seals and dolphins, obviously lucky as it is nature, not a show. Great boat, great day, thank you.

Had such an incredible experience with black car cruises. We opted for the swim with dolphins cruise and were lucky enough to get into the water even through the interaction wasnt the best. The crew them selves were super wonderful. Right from the lady at reception to the crew on the boat. Grace and Elijah were great and kept us entertained throughout making it a truly incredible experience. Also saw sooo many dolphins! Definitely worth a trip if you’re in town!

My partner and I did the swim with dolphin experience - to say we had the most incredible amazing time is an understatement. Our guides Grace and Charlotte were very kind, very knowledgeable about the area and ensured throughout that we had the best time. The skipper Chris also took the time to show us beautiful costal areas. We were able to spend time in the water and swim with the hector dolphins, a very surreal experience. This was by far the highlight of our trip and we could not recommend this enough to anyone!

Had a great experience with all the team today, they kindly rescheduled our dolphin swim due to a very low chance of finding some to swim with on this occasion and we did a cruise instead. The tour guide was both amusing and informative to listen to and went above and beyond trying to find a dolphin to spot, which against the odds was a success! Really appreciated all the extra effort that went in to making today a memorable one :)

This is one of the landmarks of Akaroa, so worth a visit for anyone who loves nature. It has tracks within it and all covered by a lot of old and tall trees. There are also some play areas for kids snd family to have picnic. Overal, I would say it looks more like a forest than a garden, especially if compared with Christchurch botanical garden or other local gardens in the area.

Really lovely walk. Nice cool forest with birdlife, plenty of signage for the tracks, and spectacular lookouts (especially lovers lookout!). Easy to go for a quick wander or spend a longer time wandering the different tracks. I like that a number of trees are labelled with their common and scientific names. I also like that there signs at the entrance explaining Māori and French aspects of the garden. Definitely recommend checking this out if you're in Akaroa

Amazing place. Full of wonderful forest and bird life. Easy walking with easy to follow paths and great views. When dry, jandals are ok.

Beautiful wee garden to have a wander around when visiting akaroa

Peaceful stroll amongst the trees, perfect place to escape the midday sun. The lookout point gives a lovely view of the bay and wharf.

Great tree canopy with lots of birdlife. Track can be a little steep.

Brilliant little spot with nice walks historic cemeteries and a pretty cool playground. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Akaroa. Note you can do a good loop walk from the pier to the lighthouse up through the cemeteries past the playground and back to the pier.

Created and shared by the Rolleston family. The full walk is not a ramble in flip flops. Recommend appropriate footwear. Easy to find and there are free leaflets with a map. A super 2-3 hr walk offering challenging routes with rewards of phenomenal views. (There is an easier route up to the Rhino) Lots of interest on route. Flora, fauna, birds, sculptures and views. Walk across the beach at low tide was rocky and slippery but offered a different perspective to conclude the walk. Caution:could be dangerous in bad weather. Pay careful attention to slippy narrow paths next to considerable drops.

Easy walk for the kids. A mixed of sheltered woods and the open view of the bay around Akaroa. Animal statues are a treat for the young uns. This is the walk if you want something simple hike for about an hour.

Beautiful sculptures and artworks. This trail is on private land, and the kind owners have opened it up to the public. Really like to applaud the owners for doing a wonderful job maintaining the tracks free of charge. We followed the map to the Rhino which is the star attraction and did not manage to do a loop to Moa point. Please help to post photos of the Moa if you manage to complete the loop.

This is a terrific family friendly walk, for families with young children. There are animal sculptures along the way and a life-sized rhino sculpture at the top. There were a multitude of fantail birds. I have never seen so many in my life! It reminded me of the Karen Carpenter song. (They Long to Be) - Close to You Why do birds suddenly appear Every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be Close to you I was jealous. It wasn't me! It's an easy and short walk with a boardwalk and amazing views along the way. Access from Akaroa - there's a car park available at the trailhead.

Didn't do the trail. The beachfront is a great place to take the kids exploring for shells, crabs, and other various sea life. Definitely don't swim here, Akaroa runs its sewage straight into the bay. Sadly, there is a lot of litter (including broken bottles) that the council doesn't seem to care about.

It is a really lovely walk from the boat storage area to the rhino which took us 30 minutes each way. There are other sculptures along the way including penguins, giraffes, a pig and Shaun the sheep. Watch out for the crocodile too!

Great walk but quite steep going up. It’s worth the hike to see the views from the top. Can get muddy if it’s been raining.

We absolutely loved it here - such a peaceful and relaxing environment. Simon and Carolyn were so friendly and welcoming and we loved the story of how they came about owning the place. This is a must do if you’re in the area. The wines were some of the best I’ve ever tasted. We loved the cats on the property too! We’ll definitely be back.

Hi Simon and Carolyn, This is Simran and Harry — we stayed at The Wagon last week. Our experience honestly can’t be expressed in words. It was truly one of the best experiences of our lives — absolutely unforgettable! The wagon was spotless and so beautifully kept. Simon, your warm welcome made us feel like part of the family. We loved chatting for hours over the table and enjoying the delicious dinner together. We’ll never forget this stay and will definitely recommend it to everyone. You both are such wonderful hosts — thank you so much for everything! 💫 Warm regards, Simran & Harry

Sitting in the sunshine with 6 other enjoying the wine tasting and a couple of platters. What’s not to like. Simon and Carolyn (the owners) come over to serve and explain the wines and their story of the vineyard. Lovely wines, delicious platters in a heavenly setting. Just get there👍

Excellent winery run by a friendly Scottish couple. We tasted some fantastic wines with very generous portion sizes. I can understand why they have won so many awards! Thank you so much!

We really enjoyed our visit to French Peak. I did the wine tasting. The Pinot Gris & Chardonnay were my favourites. Must visit if in the Akaroa area!

Great wine tasting. Simon took us on the winery history and how the organic experience has put the wine on the world stage. A true local business investing in akaroa. Pinot first class and 5 stars. A must to visit and enjoy with Barry’s cheese

The wines were amazing have won top awards in NZ. Met the loveliest and most hospitable owners. Stayed here longer than intended as the place was just simply beautiful, and they also have the friendliest cat! 100% recommend stopping by and stay the night in the wagon cabin if you have the time.

It was a terrible experience. The hygiene was terrible, the food was full of foreign objects, and the Indian owner was even worse. I found a fish bone in the lamb shank, hidden in the meat, and it nearly pierced my throat. I showed it to the waiter, but he argued it was a lamb bone. "Can't you even tell the difference between a fish bone and a lamb bone?" When I confronted him a second time, he saw us taking photos and simply removed the bone. Finally, the owner came out, and it was the most ridiculous moment. He said he'd give us a discount on the unhealthy lamb shank we hadn't eaten. I double-checked that I had heard correctly. A discount on a dish that posed a health risk to customers? And that's before they even ate it. Are you kidding me? I asked to remove the offending dish, but the owner refused, claiming it had already been thrown away. We were then forced to pay for the entire meal without eating anything else. This was my worst experience in New Zealand. If you ever encounter an Indian restaurant, remember to leave, or you'll end up with leftovers and fish bones from the previous table in your meal.

Enjoyed a delicious breakfast with lovely view! We had egg benedict with salmon and coffee. The food was tasty. Convenient location, plenty parking and washroom facilities.

We have just spent a weekend in Akaroa and went to this restaurant for lunch. We absolutely loved the food, and came back for another 3 meals over a few days. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The food was at our table in the most amazingly short time span, fresh, hot, well cooked and tasty. The service was amazing, the staff were lovely and friendly. We ate indoors and outdoors, day time and evening. Coldplay playing was a lovely touch, so easy to listen to. We would have easily spent $600, over several meals, which we don’t do often and was money well spent, we will recommend it and be back next time we are in Akaroa. Thank you very much A+ :)

This restaurant is located in the beach road facing the Akaroa habour. There's seating outside and inside. We chose to sit outside as the weather was fine. We dinned there twice, lunch and dinner, during our stay in Akaroa. For lunch we had the seafood chowder and mussels bowl (500g). The flavors were amazing but the mussels weren't clean properly. Almost half of the mussels had beard on them. For dinner we chose dishes from the light meals section, seafood paella and akaroa king salmon. The potion was medium and it was good size for us. If you are hungry, I'd recommend having something else. The mussels in the seafood paella had beard in it. Since it's the second time it happened, I wasn't impressed, so we didn't return to dine there again. I gave feedback to the serving staff about the beard the first time and shown him all the mussels beard I found. Staff was apologetic and professional. I would have liked if the feedback was taken on board by the chef and not repeated for the second time! We found out from the Akaroa museum yesterday that Bully Hayes was a criminal resided in Akaroa. So, we were a bit surprised and amused by the choice of name for the restaurant!.it's a bit like naming a restaurant after Jeffrey Epstine 🤣🤣🤣 it's worth noting that both were Americans! 😂😂😂 Overall it was a pleasant dinning experience. However, I wouldn't order mussels again!

Recommended by the locals. This didn’t disappoint. Had a great seafood panella and seafood chowder. The staff was polite and checked in with us on how the food and service. Great experience.

Great big huge breakfast. Fantastic view. Excellent service from the lady who was also cleaning the windows (I value cleanliness particularly in the food industry). It was very restful to sit and gaze at the sea. Will be coming back.

We had our wedding dinner here after a beautiful ceremony at the lighthouse and then back for breakfast the next morning. Wayne and his team were incredible, nothing was too difficult, they were so lovely and the food was exquisite. They dealt with a last minute GF meal and created a new coffee cocktail for me! We couldn't have wished for a better end to a perfect day!

A little treasure and a welcome find. Professional communication prior to our visit. Great service without being obtrusive. Food was excellent, creative and well thought out menu. Loved the use of local nasturtiums too. Good wine selection. This was our favourite meal of our whole NZ tour. We wish we could be regulars.

It was a very expensive meal, but it was one of the worst western food experiences I have ever had. We went there because our favourite place was full. The chicken leg had no flavour. It was very boring. The best part of this meal was the bread with butter. The atmosphere was also weird. The whole place was so dark and within a very narrow place, there are tables for 26 people. They must have paid a lot for the good reviews.

Terrific - this is a great place. The terrific Service, friendly Staff and a good menu selection, all made for an enjoyable time. Well done.

What a lovely place, guys! We’ve came from the US to New Zealand and after a long flight were so happy to have a delicious meal at “The Little Bistro”. They really have a great service, relaxing, cozy and creative atmosphere. Staff is friendly and a whole place is super clean❤️. For a dinner we have a wild salmon, lamb and ”Parfait” with a Straight 8 Rose! 🥰Everything was do good! But my ”Parfait” was the best one! Great job, chief! 👌🏼We were at the restaurant in the evening and it wasn't crowd, but if you’d like you can make a reservation to be sure. Also this place was a good advice from our Canadian friend, who fell in love with New Zealand🙂 And we did not regret it! Really a great place to visit. I advise!)))

Arrived at 5.45pm (our booking, to no music) server was friendly, but seemed a little flustered, had to ask for a wine menu. He took his glasses off a number of times and put them on the table (cutlery on the table) next to us. He let us know they were in between wines and that were very limited wine options, no bread, no oysters, and others ordering non alcoholic beverages were limited as some things not available. The food was OK. Although garnished with sliced uncooked radish, and whole cloves of garlic. It almost seemed comedic until our dessert arrived. Two completely different desserts, both presented the same (chocolate crumb, mousse, shards and strawberries) and the same pre-made short pastry. Thank goodness they refunded one of the desserts, but at nearly $70 a head the food and experience was not up to expectations. It felt as though those running it were new to the venue or have just taken over. Very very disappointing. I would not recommend.

Excellent wines, great service, well flavoured and presented food. Olive starter generous, mains not so much. We had beef and vegetarian - both delicious. But the vegetarian at over $40 wasn't filling. So small portions and menu choice. Maitre'd fantastic.

Very very yummy! Dined here last weekend (Queens Birthday Weekend) with my partner to celebrate my birthday. A very cute little restaurant that is decorated nicely 👍 service was fabulous, table was even wiped down in between meals for crumbs. We had bread as an entree (a loaf of bread with butter and salt - yummy and fresh but to big for the both of us), I had the gnocchi and my partner had the venison for main and they both were presented neatly and tasted relish. Finally for dessert we got the chocolate option with a rich chocolate mound and marshmallows, cream and mousse- this was a hit!!! Will defiantly be back 😊

The food was absolutely delicious! Authentic Thai flavors with rich and well-balanced spices. Every dish tasted fresh, especially the Tom Yum and stir-fried dishes. The service was friendly and attentive, and the overall atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Highly recommended for anyone craving real Thai cuisine!

The Seafood Bucket was absolutely delicious – the seafood was so fresh and juicy! 🦐🦀🐚 The atmosphere is warm and friendly, with staff who are kind and welcoming, especially Cha Yen who made the experience extra lovely. 💕 Prices are very reasonable and great value – not expensive at all. Highly recommend this place! 🙏✨

This place is absolutely amazing! The view is really stunning, and just breathtaking. I stopped by to try some Thai food, and wow it’s so authentic and excellent service from young boy, delicious food, and an overall fantastic experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food with an incredible view! 💯 🥰😍

I came here last year and had the seafood somtum and fresh oysters — they were amazing! This time I came back again and was really impressed with how much the menu has grown. There are so many more options now, and everything I tried was delicious. The seafood is still super fresh, and the prices are really good, especially with their promos. The staff are super friendly and the vintage-style decor gives the place a really cozy vibe. I also love the story behind the building — such a unique spot in Akaroa!

My go to restaurant in Akaroa. They have always been open during their posted hours. The pricing is affordable and the portions are large. The food isn't a Michelin star experience, but for a restaurant on the peninsula I think they do a good job and it is a good value. The staff is very friendly, and the ambience is cozy. I like that they have kept the old interior architecture and didn't hide it away behind a minimalist or modern veneer. Some of the negative reviews here disappoint me, because they don't seem genuine. So far my experiences at the Trading Rooms have been positive and I can overlook minor flaws for a dining experience with a little bit of character.

I came back here again during my trip—and it was just as amazing as I remembered! The food is delicious and full of flavour, and they serve a variety of Kapiti ice cream flavours that are absolutely worth trying. Everything was very reasonably priced, which made the experience even better. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel right at home. The atmosphere is lovely, with a charming French-style building and a beautiful sea view that made the meal even more enjoyable. Highly recommended if you're visiting Akaroa!

We came back again after our visit last year — and it was just as amazing! This time we tried the Thai seafood salad for dinner and it was sooo good! The restaurant has had a small interior upgrade and feels even more welcoming. The staff were super friendly and warm, and we also got a special discount, which made the experience feel even more worth it. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Akaroa!

The food was chef’s kiss—beautifully cooked, full of flavour, and honestly worth writing home (or a review) about. But the real star of the evening? The cheeky little cat who kept sneaking in like it owned the place. Slipped onto chairs like a seasoned diner, probably judging our table manners. Loved the vibe, loved the food, and especially loved dining under the watchful eye of a furry, four-legged food critic.

Came here on 14/2/2025. Food: 4/5. Oysters are very fresh. I ordered fish & chip, pate, scallops, battered squid rings. Most of them are delicious except the squids - very thin and not crunchy, not recommend this plate. Staff: 3/5 the guy who served us at roughly 3:30pm on that day was not friendly and supportive. Dinner menu is only available from 5pm so we ordered breads and beers only. Then we wanted to book a table at 5:30pm but he said fully booked and be silent then I asked what time you have table, he said 5pm. We came back at 5pm and stayed until 7:30 and notice the restaurant only had a few customers. Atmosphere: 5/5 nice and chill

Outstanding French style dishes with filling serving sizes and a good range on the menu. Food prepared in good time, with lovely presentation and paired well with sides. Seasonal and local produce that tasted fresh and light. Lovely staff who were attentive and helpful with the menu items. Happy to accommodate with our timing and also placed us at a table near the warm fireplace. Cute cat outside the window as well! A cosy and classy French restaurant that is perfect for a semi formal date or special occasion at night. Likely less formal during the day and still appropriate for smaller groups who want to hear the conversation across a longer table. A bit cold during the winter months but can be seated closer to the fireplace on request and booking. Ordered: warm bread with whipped cheese dip, akaroa salmon, pork belly and slaw, crème brûlée

Classic and bold flavours done very well! Beautifully presented. Excellent service. Great spread of choice on the menu.

A lovely and well-decorated restaurant by the sea, amazing dishes with friendly and welcoming staff. Highly recommend the beef fillet and salmon!

Great place to celebrate special events like birthdays or anniversaries. Everytime we come to Ma Maison we are happy with the food but the feast we had yesterday was beyond our imagination! I really recommend to trust the chef, because the selection of meals, mix of various flavours is incredible experience, like communing with art. Creme brulee was one of the best in my life!

akaroa salmon was immaculate so was the chocolate dessert and cocktail go here if you want good food, good atmosphere and vibes in a cute restaurant - visiting from australia good Gluten Free options

I read the reviews before we went out to dinner, and they weren't wrong. Do not be distracted by the look of the restaurant inside or the ice cream ( which by the way is so good). But this Thai has amazing authentic Thai dishes that taste so good. Fantastic value.

A very lovely place. I had the hot pan with tofu without the beef sauce. It was so delicious. The sauce was a mix of sweet and slightly spicy chili. Very yummy.

We chose this Thai restaurant because of the sun-drenched outdoor seating and ocean view, but it turned out that the impeccable flavors and reasonable prices were the real reasons it was packed (even during a weekday lunch). I’ve always had fish and chips whenever I visited Akaroa, so I’m thrilled to have another great option now. To top it off, you can order ice cream for dessert afterward—it’s just perfect.

Genuine Thai food ( Chiang Mai). We struck it lucky with $18.00 a plate meals. Excellent friendly and helpful.Very pretty location on the waterfront, great view, dine inside - up to about 30 people outside on a good day another 40.Take away also. Yes and very tasty. We had lunch Thai seafood fried rice and chicken Larb.. Also they have ice cream , milkshakes ad drinks . We definitely woyld eat and recommend to anyone.

They made the best Larb minced pork and pad see ew ! Friendly staff and cheap too!

As a Thai food lover, I would say it is “Authentic Thai taste tomyum” really rich soup. Seafood in tomyum noodle soup has a great amount of seafood: prawns, calamari rings, scallops, and mussels, which I can taste are fresh seafood. I also like the combination of duck roti, crispy roti, thick slices of duck and beautiful sauce. I would love to return La Thai.

They took great care of us and the food was great. Very friendly and quick. Clean and cute.

It was my first time to try fish and chips as I am an Indian this concept was new for me. But to my surprise the taste was not that bad, it's a must try place in akaroa. Cons- it was too oily

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ A mixed experience at the “world’s famous” fish and chips spot in Akaroa We visited Akaroa Fish and Chips on King’s Birthday – and we weren’t the only ones! The place was absolutely packed, with a long line of people clearly drawn in by the waterfront location and the big sign proudly claiming “World’s Famous Fish and Chips.” It definitely has that classic Kiwi seaside charm, and the view from the outdoor seating area adds to the experience. Despite the crowd, we were quite impressed with how efficiently the small team was operating. There were only three staff members running the entire place – from taking orders to cooking and serving – and they were clearly under pressure, but they kept things moving with surprising effectiveness. Kudos to them for holding it together during what must have been one of the busiest days of the year. That said, there were a few things that left us feeling a bit mixed about the experience. First, the price: it’s not a cheap place to eat. While we understand that it’s a tourist town and prices tend to reflect that, for what we paid, we expected a bit more consistency in quality. The food itself was okay – crispy chips and decent fish, but nothing particularly standout. One thing that really caught our attention (and concern) was the cooking method: there were no visible timers on the fryers. The staff appeared to rely entirely on watching and manually pulling the baskets out of the oil based on feel or glance. While this might work on quieter days or for seasoned cooks, it’s very difficult to maintain consistency or high quality that way, especially during peak hours with orders flying in. It made us wonder how well-cooked or overcooked some portions might be depending on how hectic the moment was. On the positive side, the toilet facilities were clean and well maintained – a small but important detail that’s often overlooked in busy spots like this. In the end, while the atmosphere and effort from the team were great, the food didn’t quite live up to the “world famous” label – at least not on this visit. If you’re after the location and casual seaside vibes, this spot might still be worth a try. But for us, next time we’re in Akaroa, we’ll probably explore some other local eateries instead.

We didn't realise this shop has changed owners so had expectations based on previous visits. The hot dog was not tasty but the hoki fish was, just a bit small. The batter to fish ratio was good. The service was friendly.

This is a must do for Araroa. The fish is superb and no doubt local. Everything cooked perfectly. Beautiful outlook over the bay.

I was a little disappointed with our order from here. We got 2 ofcombos that come with 1 fish 1 hot dog chips and a drink. The fish was like supermarket fish and chips and the hot dog was one of the mini hotdogs that you buy from the supermarket. After going here when I visit akaroa for years I won't bother going back.

Not great unfortunately - didn't look at reviews or realized they'd changed owners. Hadn't tried for a while so thought would try for lunch (been going to Aramoana instead). Should have stuck to the usual... Got "beer battered snapper" which seemed straight from a Sealord cardboard box, chips average and very small for 1 scoop. Salted well but that was about the only good point. As a popular go to spot/lunch, will need to up their game significantly

We ate at this place several times. This time we noticed that the management was different. The food was ok, however, the menu was much shorter than the previous one. Also, we were extremely disappointed by the service. We asked for some tap water and they refused to give us a glass of water! In 13 years living in NewZealand, we never found a place where tap water was not available! While walking in Akaroa, we then found that the original place is now selling fish and chips on a food truck!

Not smart but just what I was after, a French inspired Kiwi cafe that knows bread and breakfast European style. Not that I could have any (bread, croissants et ) 'cos I'm a coeliac, but could still appreciate its ambience and expertise. My coffee was good.

It is not France but they try hard. Good selection of pastries, croissant and sandwiches. Good for breakfast and to stock up for snacks to take on hikes or other outdoor activities. Staff friendly.

Very good place for lunch. The food is delicious. Chowder is amazing. Tables outside I think need new clothes.

Perfect place for your breakfast. It was pretty nice to see a different type of bakery than here in NZ are. No fried food at all, finally. Delicious pastries close to the French one. I Recommend this place!

Disfunctional & disgusting. Waited 30 minutes for 2 poached eggs. Scrambled eggs arrived but overcooked to be an omelette. No wonder the business is for sale. What staff were working sat at 'their' table smoking and some other guy doing live stream ona mobile phone which is a major privacy breach.oh an an extra side of bacon consists of 1 streaky rasher for $6.50. the sooner the place sells the better Akaroa will be

Perfect spot under the trees. Staff should remember always to keep cashier area tidy and uncluttered and always keep attention to tables being wiped and cleared promptly. This will ensure more five star experiences. I'm giving five stars for outside for the warm atmosphere with beautiful purple boanvillia flower. Inside, no more comment. Definitely the place to come on a beautiful day.

Great little place. Cozy and also there is amazing food. Try the baguette fresh in the morning!

Love this little place on the edge of the water. It has great atmosphere with beautiful views of the lighthouse. We had mushroom pizza & battered fish. Perfect for a casual dinner. Highly recommend this place & prices are reasonable.

Very good place in Akaroa either way for a drink or to eat with an amazing view. They have a nice gin selection and good pizza. We’ve been served by Nico and we wanted to thank him for his big smile, his warm energy and good advices ! Cheers ✌️

Been here a few times and this place never lets me down. The pizzas ara amazing and the atmosphere is so relaxing!!

Incredible meal! Super tasy flavors! We had cured meat pizza, fish tacos and some fries. Was totally all gourmet! The best meal in Akaroa! With the best view Great 3 boys lagar too!

Beautiful setting and great potential, but disappointing experience. I had high hopes dining here, the menu looked excellent and the views were stunning. Unfortunately, the service fell short. Although the website stated they were open until 10 pm, I arrived around 7:40 pm and was told they were no longer serving mains. While a little frustrating, I understood and ordered a side and a drink instead. However, soon after my food arrived, the music was turned off and staff began closing up, which made me feel rushed despite just being seated. The food itself was mediocre at best, I ended up going home and making instant noodles, which were, honestly, more satisfying.

Really disappointing finish to a lovely drink. I had a lemon cello spritz $20. The guy fixing my bill typed $20.50 into eftpos machine which I paid, thinking it was gratuity- he said it must have been a payWave charge? But I was not using credit card. Be- aware of this dishonesty if you are heading here.

Food was tasty! Would have liked shrimp and noodle plate better if noodles had some seasoning. Lamb pizza was good but there were random chunks of meat- would have been better sliced and distributed on pizza. Scallops with prosciutto were done well. Lemon tiramisu and boysenberry waffle desserts were delicious. Drinks were great. Cool atmosphere on the water.

I had lunch here after a busy day exploring this side of town. The place has a charming rustic vintage eclectic vibe. If you appreciate design and decor, you’ll enjoy it even more. There’s plenty of seating, including shared tables. Keep in mind that orders might take longer to be served if it’s busy. Also, don’t wait for the staff to take your order at the table—you’ll be waiting for nothing. Instead, head inside to place your order first before finding a table. The staff may not greet you as you walk in (haha), so just join the queue and wait your turn. Overall, the food and ambiance are okay, but staff-wise, a friendly smile and a welcoming attitude would go a long way. Good service is about more than just the food!

We had such a good experience here! Our food was incredible and fresh, and so full of flavour. I’m gluten free and asked if they could make a few adjustments and the waitress wasn’t sure but sent the chef out to speak to us, and he was very accommodating. The mussels were out of this world, and we were disappointed they were sold out of salmon but it comes directly from the ocean in Akaroa and weren’t getting the next fresh delivery til that afternoon, from the morning’s catch. Would come back just for that! Eclectic little place with lots of different types of places to sit, we were very glad we wandered in

Had some delicious beef burgers and drinks here. The atmosphere feels like a secret garden. Our server was attentive and kind. There's also an antique/thrift store inside the cottage which was a fun surprise!

We were spending the day in Akaroa and this place caught our eyes. This is the perfect place to look around and I’m sure anyone could find something they love as there is such a wide range of clothing, trinkets, accessories, shoes/boots, cameras, plants, music stuff, and so much more. Everything is also very reasonably priced and affordable. I bought a beautiful dress for $10, jeans for $10, and a lovely top for $16. That was already so cheap, then the owner put the price down $1 to make it $35 as a nice gesture. But what was even more generous of him was that my boyfriend found a guitar pedal board what he really wanted and the owner accepted a really reasonable price for it. We were both extremely happy with our experience and our purchases. We also could have spent much more time looking around if we didn’t have to leave home because there is so much cool stuff.

Super lovely Restaurant/ Café with a super nice garden Ambiente. The food was fantastic, especially the homemade sauces. We had a good time and grumpy the chicken was walking around to say hello 😁

Unfortunately the food and the service ruined our experience at this otherwise charming and eclectic outdoor restaurant in the historic seaside town of Akaroa. We arrived for lunch and were directed to sit anywhere by a rather distracted young French waitress, who seemed to be one of only two people servicing a multitude of tables. We placed our orders and our drinks (an Earl Grey tea and a cappuccino) arrived quickly; however, we waited at least 25 minutes for my simple order of salmon pate and a few slices of baguette to arrive. My partner’s salad was nowhere in sight and took ANOTHER 20 minutes to arrive, and when it did it was delivered to the table not by our waitress, but by the rather grumpy male manager. The French waitress seemed completely lost as she wandered around from table to table carrying food, and the other waitress, who seemed to have more experience, was bustling around trying to pick up the slack. They came by our table more than once with incorrect orders and the general atmosphere was chaotic. As to the food, we ordered two very simple things that should not have taken long at all to prepare. My salmon pate was disappointing and not at all what I had expected. It was a tiny cup of what looked like a salmon dip more than a pate, with four slices of baguette, a couple slices of anemic-looking tomato, three slices of cucumber, and one tiny cornichon pickle which had inexplicably been sliced up into tiny ribbons. Overall, a very sad and unappealing-looking plate. My partner’s smoked-salmon salad was only slightly better. Mostly lettuce with some odd other ingredients (sweet potato in a salad is, I guess, a choice). The lackluster food made it difficult to enjoy the lovely and quirky garden with its trees, flowers, kitschy decorations and birds; even a couple of free-roaming chickens. Once finished we had to go inside to pay the bill and deal with the grumpy manager man once again. He offered no apologies for the length of time we waited. We left extremely disappointed and still hungry. As my dear departed mother-in-law would say, “Well, we’ve been here twice. The first time and the last time.”

We had a terrible experience here. Do not go here. The male manager is extremely rude and condescending to the female staff and customers. We waited 30 minutes for our coffees and when we asked about our food they hadn’t started making it. In this time other tables that had arrived after us had been served their meals. The male manager was unapologetic about the bad service and the wait. The chef and the manager had a fight and the chef walked out. I don’t blame him.

The pizzas had a reasonable amount of toppings with quality meats but they were very dry and lacking sauce. The bases were very nice if you like thin and crispy, although possibly a little overcooked.

The cinemas are warm, the coffees are perfect, and the pizzas hit the spot! Mark and Sue were fantastic hosts, making sure we were totally looked after. We're lucky to have such a fabulous gem continuing on here in the Peninsula — all the best as you settle in!

30/12/22 - Back again and fab as ever. Great food and drinks no photos as it didn't last that long. Good to see the outdoor cinema is taking off and what a good variety of films on offer. Lovely sunset to finish on a high! 12/21 -What a breathe of fresh air for the new reinvented cinema in Akaroa. Movie choices, food offerings and Team 5 Stars!

Sadly, this was not a good choice for pizza in Akaroa. We ordered a pepperoni pizza and a ham/pineapple pizza. So underwhelming! We've eaten at many pizza establishments during our 2 month travels throughout all of New Zealand. Head over to the Akaroa Butcher for amazing pizzas with unique flavors like Moroccan lamb/carmelized onion/feta or smoked chicken/brie with plum glaze.

Awesome service by staff and the cinema is a good an ideal size with large comfortable seats compared to bigger ones. Row D is an ideal row to sit in with the screen at an appropriate height. Highly recommend 👍😀

Enjoyed a friendly welcome, yummy toasties, and a great comedy in comfortable seats.

Fantastic prawn and chorizo crisply thin base pizza. Asked for a salad and no problem. Topped it off with chocolate brownie, whipped cream and ice cream! Great staff. Definitely recommend.😊

Christchurch International Airport offers a smooth and efficient travel experience. Navigating is straightforward, with clear signage. Check-in and security processes are generally swift. The terminal boasts a good selection of shops and eateries. Cleanliness is well-maintained throughout. It serves as a welcoming gateway to the South Island, providing a positive first and last impression of the region. A well-organized and user-friendly airport.

We had such a great experience with the staff at Christchurch Domestic Airport. From check-in to boarding, every staff member we interacted with was incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful. They made the whole process feel smooth and stress-free. It’s always a relief to be greeted with genuine smiles and kindness, especially when traveling with family. A big thank you to the team for making our journey that much more pleasant!

What a lovely airport. The staff were super accommodating to me as a solo disabled passenger. They took excellent care of me throughout the airport. Immigration control is very strict, so be mindful to declare All. My medication had a doctor’s letter and is licensed in the UK, so no issues whatsoever.

Nice airport. Security is typically quick, and the staff are helpful. Ample seating in both domestic lounges. However, the international lounge could do with more seats. Flights to and from this airport are frequent and numerous. Overall, it is a good airport that serves it purpose of getting from one place to another.

Very nice airport. Clean, plenty of seats for domestic, easy to navigate. Lots of interesting art and lights and very good bus access.

came in via domestic flight, the arrival area did not specifically indicate where is the uber pickup point and old mates charged waiting times……$….gone. City area Parking 💰 OMG 😦 International area is an inbound eating food court you can buy drinks and sandwiches, but seats are limited.

Beautiful airport. Visited in 2009. Long ago but good memories last forever. 👍🏽