Akaroa Harbour
A day paddle in the stunning Akaroa Harbour is one of the must do trips in Canterbury! With plenty of opportunities for cafe stops and the possibility of seeing dolphins, this is a great trip for all ability levels.
Quick Facts
Start / Finish - Wainui Beach, Wainui Main Road, Wainui, 7582
Distance - 20km
Time - 3-6 hours
Difficulty - Moderate
Tides - minimal affect, can be done at any point of the tide
Cautions - Big crossing, Southerly or South Easterly swell creates large waves, especially at Wainui. Northerly winds will blow you towards The Heads, which will be especially dangerous for weak paddlers.
Wainui is a small village mostly made up of batches. Theres no shops here, so bring everything you need with you! Park on the grass by the beach at the start of the village. If the tide is in, the dumping waves onto the rocks can make for a difficult start - instead use the boat ramp at the other end of the bay. There are public toilets in the middle of the bay, near where the large anchor is.
As you start the paddle, turn left towards the top of the harbour. Stay close to the shoreline and explore all the rocky outcrops. The second bay you come to is the pretty Tikao bay, another favourite with batch owners. Just after here, there are two small caves/tunnels which can be paddled into. One is quite deep and you will need a torch to see in it!
Follow the coastline around to French Farm. If time permits (and if you're happy to leave your boats), you can walk up the road to French Farm Winery. The 1km walk is well worth it for the great coffee, pizza and wine!
Top: Akaroa harbour from the hills behind Akaroa
Left: The view from Wainui beach, looking to the South
Next we're paddling onto Akaroa, first aiming for the end of Onawe Pa (the 'whale' which sticks out into the harbour). This is an original Maori settlement where a battle was fort between rival clans. As you paddle along the water front at Akaroa there are plenty of places to stop to eat lunch. Stopping at Daly's Wharf gives a short walk to excellent cafes, as well as the Four Square. After you leave Akaroa, be sure to paddle underneath the lighthouse which was built in 1880. 100 years later, it was moved from it's original position at Akaroa Head, around 10km South of the town.
Now comes the big crossing of the trip.This is approximately 3km long and care should be exercised. If the swell is too big, consider paddling back the way you came. 750m from the lighthouse is Green Point, rocks which stick out into the sea and are exposed at low tide. For a shorter trip, aim directly from here back to where you parked at Wainui. For a longer trip, and some excitement in certain tidal conditions, aim just South of Wainui to Cape Three Point, the collection of rocks and island which sticks out into the sea. This can be difficult to see from Akaroa, but by the time you are half way across it should be clearly visible. Paddle on a compass bearing of 240 from Green Point.
Right - Hector dolphins, the smallest breed in the world, are frequent visitors to Akaroa Harbour
At Cape Three Point, the swell moves through the rocks creating playable channels and rideable waves. In almost all conditions, this is a great spot to introduce beginners to the joy of rock hopping! The best times are mid to high water.
Alternatives - if the swell and wind are creating problems for the big crossing, or you just don't fancy it, try starting at Tikao Bay and doing a there and back trip.
Below: Cape Three Point
