Coast Up Close is a small, owner-operated wildlife and fishing charter based at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, in the Canterbury region near Christchurch. Tours run aboard *Wairiri*, a 41-foot kauri launch built in 1964, operating from Drummonds Jetty in Akaroa Harbour.
The operation is deliberately small-group, giving passengers room to move around the boat for wildlife viewing and photography. Trips explore the harbour's towering cliffs and sea caves and bring guests close to the area's marine wildlife, and the operator also offers fishing experiences and private charters. Skipper Tony has explored the peninsula's waters since the 1960s and crayfished commercially here in the 1990s; co-skipper Mafi has guided kayaking and dolphin-swimming tours on Akaroa Harbour since the early 1990s.
For MICE and incentive organisers, Coast Up Close suits smaller delegate groups looking for an authentic, small-boat wildlife experience as part of a Canterbury incentive itinerary or a post-conference excursion. Its private-charter option makes it adaptable for exclusive-use group outings on Akaroa Harbour.
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