About this property

Historic Setting: French Bay House in Akaroa offers a unique stay within a historic building. The property is highly rated for its attentive host and delicious breakfast. Exceptional Facilities: Guests enjoy a sun terrace, lush garden, bar, and free WiFi. Additional amenities include a private check-in and check-out service, lounge, and outdoor seating area. Comfortable Accommodations: Rooms feature private bathrooms with walk-in showers, garden or sea views, and soundproofing. Free on-site parking and electric vehicle charging are available. Local Attractions: Akaroa Beach is a 1-minute walk away, while Christchurch International Airport lies 53 mi from the property. Activities such as hiking and cycling are nearby.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.8 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

    • Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.8)

    • Free Private Parking Available On Site


Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 queen bed
1 king bed
1 queen bed
or
2 twin beds
1 queen bed
or
2 twin beds
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.

Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free Wifi

Select topics to read reviews:

Guests who stayed here loved

  • Michael
    New Zealand New Zealand
    Beautiful 150-year-old villa in a magical setting. Lovely gardens and a 2-minute walk from the Akaroa village. Excellent breakfast and complimentary welcome drinks. We have stayed here before and would do so again. Highly recommended
  • Gail
    United States United States
    Rhonda, her son and husband were the most hospitable and communicative. The breakfast was a feast for the eyes and palate. I don’t think I’ve ever had such perfect poached eggs. French press coffee, delicious granola and yogurt. I wish we could...
  • Jamie
    United States United States
    The most charming property!! It is right off the main town centre is surrounded by the most beautiful garden. The room was incredibly comfortable with all the modern amenities. House was quiete and breakfast in the am was delicious! Will...
  • Kenneth
    United States United States
    We had a comfy room and bed. Jacqui and Tim took great care of us. Breakfast was splendid and the other guests were a pleasure to be with. The location was convenient to everything in the small town. We plan to visit this house and town again...
  • Andy
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Hosts were very good, very welcoming and made our short stay a very memorable one
  • Kirsten
    Switzerland Switzerland
    Everything was lovely . We particularly loved the warm fire in the lounge where we could relax !
  • Sharron
    New Zealand New Zealand
    Very comfortable bed. The location was perfect. The breakfast was outstanding and the hosts were very helpful.
  • Revital
    United States United States
    The house is so charming and right near all of Akaroa’s restaurants and shops. Breakfast was such a highlight — we loved getting to know other guests and of course Tim’s amazing food!
  • Cynthia
    United States United States
    Having a sitting room with inviting comfortable furniture with a whole library, wall was super inviting, and we took advantage of it. The complementary glass of wine on arrival was pretty wonderful. They offered a cooked breakfast as well as a...
  • Allida
    United States United States
    Delicious and healthy breakfast provided. Lovely rose garden around the well kept house. Central location made it easy to explore the town on foot.

Managed by Jacqui and Tim Richardson

Company review score: 9.9Based on 201 reviews from 1 property
1 managed property

Property info

French Bay House is a beautiful historic villa in the heart of Akaroa. It is the most photographed house in the village due to the stunning gardens and its iconic architectural style. The house is situated close to Beach Road where you will find a number of shops and restaurants along the water front and is within easy walking distance to the wharf where you can catch a number of different boats to see the dolphins and penguins which live in the harbour. The perfect spot for a relaxing stay!

Neighborhood info

It is a short walk to the beach and the main harbour front road where you will find plentiful shops and cafes to enjoy. This is also where you can book trips to see the dolphins and penguins in the harbour or take a class at the Akaroa Cooking School. The town library is five minutes walk away and is next to the cinema which shows all the new movies. Fancy fish and chips? The best fish and chip shop is just across the road!

Language Spoken

English

Area info

House rules

French Bay House takes special requests – add in the next step!
Check-in
From 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children not allowed.

Crib and extra bed policies

Cribs and extra beds aren't available at this property.

Age restriction
The minimum age for check-in is 18
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Accepted payment methods
VisaMastercardEftposCash
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.

The fine print

Must-know information for guests at this property

Please inform French Bay House of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.