Akaroa Harbour is part of Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.

[2] The harbour enters from the southern coast of the peninsula, heading in a predominantly northerly direction.

The name Akaroa is an alternative spelling of Whakaroa,[3] Whangaroa or Wangaloa[4] from the Kāi Tahu dialect of Māori.

[6] Cruise ships occasionally enter the harbour, with the passengers visiting Akaroa.

[8] Akaroa, Duvauchelle, Takapūneke, Takamatua, Barrys Bay, French Farm and Wainui lie on the shoreline of the harbour.

As of 2011[update], of the seven sites that are sampled in the harbour for water quality, six are graded as "good" and one as "fair" in terms of recreational use.