Experience a comfortable up-close encounter with some of the most amazing wildlife and stunning coastlines around Akaroa and Banks Peninsula!
Join us for a wildlife tour that explores the spectacular volcanic coastline and abundant wildlife of Banks Peninsula and Akaroa.
Our wildlife tour numbers are kept limited, offering you a small and intimate tour that will take you where others can’t, with amazing views of New Zealand’s wildlife. Our friendly and knowledgeable crew love meeting and talking with our guests. Tony, a real Kiwi, has been exploring the waters around the Peninsula since the 1960s. He’ll entertain you with his the stories of his adventures and share his enthusiasm for this wonderful environment and stunning wildlife.
Our characterful and comfortable boat - Wairiri, is a 41-foot Kauri Launch built in 1964. Our tours specialise in small groups and enough space to move around the boat for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities! On your tour you’ll see gigantic cliffs, go inside sea caves and get close to all the incredible wildlife. Tony often still has a lobster pot out and we pull it up on some of our trips. We never know what we find in it: Lobster, octopus, conger eel, starfish and sand sharks are just a few of the creatures we might have caught.
Experience Akaroa and Banks Peninsula on this intimate boat tour where you’ll see stunning wildlife and extraordinary views of the coastline!
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
Hi Sue Thank you for choosing Coast up Close and this fabulous 5 star review. We love to know that our guests enjoy their time with us out there. Have a great 2024. Cheers, Tony and Mafi
Incredible tour! Saw many birds, seals, and dolphins with great stories and information from Tony and Mafi. An absolute must-see for all, especially if you like wildlife, beautiful views, and photography!
Hi Jenny Thank you for joining our cruise yesterday and this 5 star review, it was a pleasure to have you on board. Enjoy the rest of your NZ trip. All the best, Tony and Mafi
Highly recommend this experience! Tony and Muffy are incredible guides, answered all our questions, kept a lookout for wildlife. I preferred this tour to the other tours I’ve been on on the same route as the boat was less crowded and it was much more personal! We saw dolphins, penguins, shags, grebes, and seals!
Hi Carla-Rose Thank you for choosing Coast up Close and giving us this lovely 5 star review. Have a wonderful 2025. Cheers, Tony and Mafi
Superb experience. Tony and Mafi are brilliant
Hi Peter Thank you for this fab 5 star review. We are thrilled you enjoyed your time with us and have a great 2025. Cheers, Tony and Mafi
Best boat experience in Akaroa! Absolutely fantastic
Hi Becs Thank you for this great 5 star review and we are looking forward to seeing you again soon. Have a fab 2025. Cheers, Tony and Mafi
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suew18 from New Zealand wrote on 29 December 2023
Awesome Cruise
What a fab "Coast Up Close" cruise this was⛵️ Our crew Tony & Mafi were awesome with a fantastic array of knowledge👍 We certainly did get up close to nature as it is a small boat!⛵️ We saw loads of dolphins🐬 🐬 🐬, birdlife 🐦🐦🐦, seals🦭🦭🦭 Thank you guys for a fab cruise... we would highly recommend😊