Often spotted lounging on rocky outcrops or swimming through the bays, these sleek marine mammals are common around Akaroa Harbour and the outer bays.
Fur seals are curious, playful in the water, and impressive divers, capable of holding their breath for several minutes while hunting fish and squid. On land they may look relaxed, but they are wild animals, so it’s important to admire them from a distance and never block their path to the sea.
Among the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins, Hector’s dolphins are instantly recognisable by their rounded dorsal fin and soft grey colouring.
Akaroa Harbour is one of the best places in the country to notice them, often seen gliding through the water in small groups close to shore. They are naturally curious and sometimes approach boats, but they are also protected, so slow speeds and respectful distances are essential.
Listen closely and you might hear one of Akaroa’s most distinctive voices, the tūī.
With glossy black feathers, a hint of blue-green sheen, and their unmistakable white throat tufts, tūī are a familiar sight around Akaroa and the bays. They’re expert nectar feeders, drawn to flowering natives like pōhutukawa, flax, and kōwhai, but it’s their song that really stops people in their tracks. A mix of rich notes, clicks, and surprising electronic-style sounds, no two performances are ever quite the same.
Named for its beautiful bell-like song, the bellbird is often heard before it’s seen. With olive-green plumage and a graceful presence among native trees, these birds are frequent visitors to gardens, bush tracks, and coastal walks.
Like tūī, they feed on nectar, fruit, and insects, and play an important role in pollinating native plants.
With its bright blue wings, warm chestnut tones, and sharp watchful stare, the kingfisher is a striking sight around Akaroa and the bays.
Despite the name, they don’t just fish, they also hunt insects, lizards, and small crabs, diving swiftly from their perch with impressive accuracy. You’ll often hear their sharp call before you see them flash past.
These pocket-sized locals are found around Akaroa and the bays, spending their days fishing at sea and returning to shore under cover of dusk. Their slate-blue feathers and white-edged flippers give them their name, but it’s their evening waddle back to nesting sites that really steals hearts.
Because they are vulnerable on land, especially at night, it’s important to keep dogs leashed, lights low, and give them plenty of space.
Bold, noisy, and full of character, the oystercatcher is a familiar sight along the shores of Akaroa and the bays.
Easily recognised by their long bright red bill, pink legs, and sharp piping call, oystercatchers patrol beaches and estuaries in search of shellfish, worms, and crabs. They nest on open sand and gravel, blending in remarkably well, so it’s important to watch your step and keep dogs under close control, especially during breeding season.
Known for their fanned tail and quick, fluttering flight, fantails often flit just ahead of walkers on bush tracks, snapping up insects stirred from the path. Their friendly, curious nature makes them feel almost like they’re guiding you along. With soft brown, black, and cream markings, they’re small but endlessly entertaining to watch.
Spotting a fantail is often taken as a good omen.
Often seen drying their wings like living sculptures, cormorants, known in Aotearoa as shags, are a familiar coastal presence around Akaroa and the bays.
Several species call this area home, including the bold pied shag, the more delicate spotted shag, and the sleek little black shag. All are expert divers, slipping beneath the surface to hunt fish with remarkable speed and precision. Perched on rocks, wharves, or channel markers, they add a sense of movement and life to the harbour.
Kererū are recognised by their glossy green and purple feathers and bright white chest. You’ll often see them perched heavily in native trees or swooping through the bush with surprising speed.
Their diet is mostly fruit, and they play a vital role in spreading seeds, helping native forests around Akaroa and the bays to thrive.
Often seen hovering briefly before diving cleanly into the water, terns are skilled fishers, feeding on small fish close to the surface.
With their slender wings, sharp bills, and graceful flight, they’re easy to spot as they patrol beaches, harbours, and headlands around Akaroa and the bays. Their sharp calls and quick movements add energy to calm coastal days.
Small, social, and instantly recognisable, the California quail adds a touch of charm to Akaroa’s hillsides and gardens.
Introduced to New Zealand in the 1800s, these plump little birds are best known for the forward-curving topknot that gives them a perpetually curious look. They move in tight-knit groups called coveys, often scurrying through grass and scrub before bursting into short, whirring flights. You’ll most likely spot them early in the morning or towards dusk.
Often mistaken for stingrays, these flat-bodied fish can sometimes be seen cruising over sandy shallows around Akaroa and the bays, their wing-like fins moving in slow, effortless waves.
Harmless and shy, they feed on small shellfish and creatures hidden in the sand, leaving delicate patterns behind them. On calm, clear days you might spot their outlines from a wharf, beach, or kayak.
With glossy blue-black upperparts, a rufous throat, and a deeply forked tail, these birds are easy to spot swooping low over water, fields, and coastal roads.
They feed on insects mid-flight and often nest under eaves, bridges, and wharves, making them a familiar companion to both towns and countryside. Their chirpy calls add a lively soundtrack to summer days.
With soft grey-blue feathers, a clean white face, and long slender legs, these herons are often seen stalking quietly along beaches, tidal flats, and rocky edges around Akaroa and the bays.
They move slowly and deliberately, pausing often before striking at small fish, insects, or crustaceans. When disturbed, they lift off with broad, steady wingbeats and a low croak.
kererū are recognised by their glossy green and purple feathers and bright white chest. You’ll often see them perched heavily in native trees or swooping through the bush with surprising speed.
Their diet is mostly fruit, and they play a vital role in spreading seeds, helping native forests around Akaroa and the bays to thrive.
Often spotted lounging on rocky outcrops or swimming through the bays, these sleek marine mammals are common around Akaroa Harbour and the outer bays. Fur seals are curious, playful in the water, and impressive divers, capable of holding their breath for several minutes while hunting fish and squid. On land they may look relaxed, but they are wild animals, so it’s important to admire them from a distance and never block their path to the sea.
These striking black-and-white predators are occasionally seen patrolling the waters around Akaroa and the outer bays, often in small family groups called pods. Highly intelligent and social, orcas feed on fish, squid, and sometimes marine mammals, using sophisticated hunting techniques passed down through generations.
Encounters are rare but unforgettable, usually glimpsed from boats or headlands as they glide effortlessly through the harbour waters.