AKAROA NATURE CRUISE
Explore Akaroa Harbour on our 2-hour, award-winning Akaroa Nature Cruise. View Hector’s dolphins, seals, and native seabirds while cruising through stunning landscapes of Akaroa, one of the wildlife experiences 90-mins from Christchurch.
PRICEs
Adult $130
Child 5-15 years $60
Kids under 5 – Free
SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS
Swim with Hector’s dolphins in beautiful Akaroa Harbour, 90 mins from Christchurch. This intimate 3.5-hour dolphin encounter offers the chance to meet the world’s rarest dolphin all while learning about marine conservation in New Zealand
PRICEs
Adult $250
Child (8 – 15 years) $220
Spectators $180
QUAIL ISLAND ADVENTURES
Discover Quail Island, Christchurch’s island escape. Take a short ferry ride from Lyttelton and enjoy a day of birdlife, scenic walks, bays to explore and fascinating history.
PRICEs
Adult $45
Child 5-15 years $22
Kids under 5 – Free
DISCOVER THE UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURES
THAT BANKS PENINSULA HAS TO OFFER
ABOUT US
The award-winning Black Cat Cruises is not only an acclaimed success in New Zealand's tourism industry but also internationally recognised as an eco-tourism pioneer. We hold the honour of being the first to introduce cruises in Akaroa, and we're proud to be New Zealand's very first eco-tourism operator.
OUR LOCATIONS
Our Nature Cruises and Dolphin Swimming experiences depart from stunning Akaroa Harbour, just a 90-minute scenic drive from Christchurch. Meanwhile, our Diamond Harbour ferry, Quail Island ferry, and Ripapa Island trips depart from the Lyttelton Wharf in Christchurch
PROTECT
HECTOR'S DOLPHINS
Conservation is embedded in our DNA. Protecting our unique dolphins isn't just an act - it defines us. We collaborate with industry partners and the community, continually advocating for enhanced protection of our rare native dolphin.
DIAMOND
HARBOUR FERRY
Legend says Diamond Harbour was so named because one of the early settlers observed the sun reflecting on the water and thought it looked like a thousand shining diamonds. It remains one of the sunniest and most unspoilt destinations on Banks Peninsula.
PRIVATE
CHARTER CRUISES
Black Cat's Charter Cruises offers event organisers a unique setting for any occasion, from social club gatherings and functions to conference entertainment and exclusive celebrations.
AWARD WINNING ADVENTURES
For over 4 decades Black Cat has been recognised nationally and internationally with numerous tourism and conservation awards and are recognised as New Zealand's first true eco-tourism operator
Awarded by the Department of Conservation for our safe and sustainable practices with the environment and wildlife we work around
We partner with Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust to help protect our local environment and wildlife
Qualmark endorsed, the only Akaroa cruise operator with an Enviro-Gold award
We are Proud to be a Guardian Member of Sustainable Travel International. Together, we're creating a better future for destinations and the people who live there
Black Cat Cruises was voted the #1 experience out of the Top 100 Bucket List for Experience OZ + NZ
Consistently ranked in the top 10% of global attractions as a repeat winner of the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award.
Lonely Planet recognised our Swimming With Dolphins experience as one of the Top 10 Marine Mammal Experiences in the world
The New Zealand Tourism Award winners on multiple occasions as well being finalists as recently as 2025.
Posted on Google 
Deepica
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My entire family loved the cruise. Coco, Helen and captain Max were extremely friendly and knowledgable.We were lucky to see cute hector dolphin's happy jump😄 The entire staff made sure we enjoy every second of the cruise and we truly did. Thank you so much for making our journey so memorable🥰
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Vibin J
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing experience and excellent crew.
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Guillaume F
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really enjoying taking the ferry, reliable, great people, really a wonderful service, thank you
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Alex L
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great sea wildlife cruise - Hector dolphins, Albatross, seals and penguins seen and the stunning scenery of Akaroa harbour and Banks Peninsula thrown in.
Posted on Google
Kate H
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were lucky to have beautiful, calm, sunny weather for our trip from Kaiapoi to Akaroa, and the wonderful Black Cat Harbour Cruise! All of our students had a lovely time (with only a couple feeling minor effects of the gentle sea swell). While we did not see our Hector Dolphins this year, we were privileged to see White-flippered Penguins poking their wee heads out of the water, as well as fur seals sunning themselves on the rocks (the baby one was the cutest!). The commentary also provided a brilliant historical and cultural context for our students, along with the natural and geological information.
Posted on Google
Raphaëlle T
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A fabulous experience for my daughter and me on the team's last outing of the year. The welcome was excellent, and the service was friendly and professional. We spent a fantastic hour among the dolphins with a very friendly group – a truly magical hour. For our daughter, who loves nature, meeting these magnificent and gentle cetaceans has given her an even stronger desire to care for them. Thank you to the crew for this unforgettable experience.
Posted on Google
Stephen A
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a really great day out with the boy's - and even better time swimming with the Hector Dolphins... unreal. Great staff all around - all well trained and professional. Thanks first the great weather as well.
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