About Black Cat Cruises


The Award Winning Black Cat Group is internationally recognised as one of the success stories of the New Zealand tourism industry and an eco-tourism pioneer. They were the first to offer daily wildlife cruises in Akaroa and are recognised as New Zealand’s first Eco-tourism operator.
From humble beginnings carrying a few hundred people per year in small canoes and dinghies, the Bingham family grew Black Cat Cruises to become one of the largest cruise companies in the South Island, with a history of quality, safety, conservation and world class experiences over the last 36 years.
Millions of guests have experienced a Black Cat Akaroa Nature Cruise, Swimming With Dolphin encounter or Lyttelton Island escape. They have a fleet of modern catamarans located at Black Cat’s home territory on Bank’s Peninsula, just a short drive from the South Island’s largest city, Christchurch. This is one of the most spectacularly beautiful parts of the Island, and home to an inspiring collection of marine wildlife and birdlife, including several endangered species.