Planning an Akaroa Trip from Overseas: What to Know Before You Book

If you're planning your New Zealand holiday from Sydney, Melbourne, London, Vancouver or anywhere in between, Akaroa is the kind of place that makes the itinerary feel special. It's not just "another stop", it's a French-inspired, harbour village inside an ancient volcanic crater, with wildlife cruises, small vineyards, and boutique accommodation looking straight out over the water. And because it's only around 1.5 hours' drive from Christchurch, it's one of the easiest "wow" destinations to add to your South Island trip.

Below is a simple guide we give our international guests at Newton Heights when they're planning 6-12 months ahead for a December to April visit.

1. How to get here

•  Fly into Christchurch (CHC): this is your South Island gateway, with direct flights from Australia and easy connections from Asia, North America and Europe.

•   Drive to Akaroa: hire a car at the airport and take the scenic route via Little River - allow 90 minutes and plan to stop forphotos because the views get better as you climb toward the Peninsula.

•   Prefer not to drive? We can offer private transfers on request, or there are coach and shuttle transfers from Christchurch toAkaroa.

2. When to book

•   December and January are peak times with New Zealand school holidays, and lots of visitors from around the world.

•  March and April are golden for overseas travellers with warm, settled weather, fewer crowds, and most restaurants and tours still operating at full swing.

•  If you want a specific room or apartment at Newton Heights (e.g. a private spa, or a particular view line), booking a minimum of 6 months out for summer is wise.

3. What to do once you're here

•  Harbour & wildlife experiences: Akaroa is famous for Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest and rarest.
•  Village time: wander the main street with its French heritage, galleries and cafes, then head up the hill to watch the harbour change colour from Newton Heights.
•  Day trips: we can point you to vineyards, the Garden of Tane for an easy walk, or scenic drives around the crater rim and gorgeous local beaches.

•  Get out and explore one of the many coastal and bush walking tracks — or swap walking for a bike ride or kayak adventure on the harbour.

•  Visit Shamarra Alpacas, get up close and feed the Alpacas

4.  Why stay at Newton Heights?

Because when you've flown across the world, you want the luxury you deserve. Newton Heights sits above the village, so every stay feels elevated, literally. You'll wake to harbour light, eat breakfast made with local ingredients and get personal recommendations from hosts who actually live here.

We can also help you stitch Akaroa into a wider New Zealand itinerary - for example: arrive Christchurch ➔ 1 night to rest ➔ Akaroa 2-3 nights at Newton Heights➔ continue on to Tekapo, Aoraki or the West Coast.

5. Planning from overseas? Tell us:

•  Your flight arrival (and if you're likely to be tired/ jetlagged)

•  Whether you want a hosted, "everything done for me" stay or a self-contained one

•  What you want to see most (dolphins, wineries, walking, photography)

...and we'll match you to the right room and the right season.

Book early for December, January and cruise-heavy weeks, those are the first to go.

When you've come all this way, the thing that matters most is how it feels to arrive. Newton Heights has some of the best views in Akaroa, the part with the light, the quiet, and the harbour spread out in front of you. It's hosted enough that you're looked after, private enough that you can do your own thing, and close enough to town that you can be on the waterfront in minutes. If you want Akaroa at its most beautiful, morning coffee on the deck, dolphins in the bay, dinner in the village, spa under the stars, this is the place to stay.