Akaroa is 50 miles (81 km) southeast of Christchurch, on the Banks Peninsula. The small town with French heritage is easy to reach from the city in less than an hour and a half.
By Rental Car or Private Transfer
Duration: 1.5 hours
Many travelers to New Zealand like to rent their own cars as this gives them the flexibility to travel to many out-of-the-way places. While Akaroa is quite easily accessible from Christchurch, having your own car is definitely the easiest way of getting there.
Travel south of the city along State Highway (SH) 75 for about 80 minutes, until you reach Akaroa. It's a very scenic drive once you get onto the Banks Peninsula, with its volcanic formations and many inlets. Take care not to end up on SH 74 or 76 leaving Christchurch, as these will lead you in different directions.
By Bus
Duration: 3 hours
A couple of shuttle buses leave Christchurch in the morning, arriving in Akaroa around midday. They take around three hours. Book a seat in advance because these services are more like shared transfers than public buses. As Akaroa is the cruise ship port for Christchurch, these services are mainly used by cruise ship passengers.
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