Wedding Venues in Akaroa and Banks Peninsula

Photo: Akaroa lighthouse and harbour, by David Zieglgänsberger on Unsplash

Wedding venues in Christchurch do not all sit on the city's flat ground. Four of them are out on Banks Peninsula, around Akaroa Harbour and the valleys behind it, where a wedding usually means a drive out and a stay overnight.

This page covers Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, and the five venues here share 673 Google reviews between them at an average rating of 4.7.

French Farm Estate is in French Farm Valley, about an hour from Christchurch, and looks over Akaroa Harbour. It began as a producing winery and has served the Banks Peninsula community for more than three decades.

It is rated 4.3 from 203 reviews. Gardens, a vineyard, the waterfront and a heritage building are all part of the setting,.

Mt Vernon Lodge Akaroa is a secluded lodge near Akaroa set up for weddings, private events and business retreats. Its accommodation includes the Alpine Lodge, the Chalets, the Lodge, Maison Cottage and Pheasant Cottage, with room for singles, couples or groups of up to 50 people.

Wedding guests can therefore stay on the property. It is rated 4.7 from 197 reviews.

Okuti Garden is a garden retreat in the Okuti Valley near Little River, where workshops run alongside weddings. Guests can stay in four yurts, a tipi and a house truck, which together sleep up to 15 people, and one or two tents of your own can be added.

The grounds include a Garden Kitchen surrounded by pick-your-own herbs, a 6m by 12m marquee, an art room and a garden banquet table. It is rated 4.9 from 38 reviews, a small number of reviews to read alongside the rating.

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Compare wedding venues in Akaroa and Banks Peninsula

4 venues whose own website says they host weddings, sorted by rating and reviews. Paid positions are marked.

Pins show each venue's location. Tap a pin for the venue page. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

4 of 4 venues

The guests filter and price sort use the figures venues publish; 1 venues here do not state a capacity.

Other places in Akaroa and Banks Peninsula that may host events

These 1 places are filed as wedding venues on Google, but their own website does not mention weddings. Ask them directly.

The Hilltop sits on Christchurch Akaroa Road above the Akaroa side of the peninsula. It is a luxury wedding and event venue with a Bridal Lounge, three reception areas and several ceremony areas, including an indoor option for a ceremony if the weather turns.

The restaurant 5th Street is its catering and operations partner. It is rated 4.7 from 24 reviews.

Ohinetahi is a garden of international significance at Allandale, with over 1.25 hectares of planted garden, woodland trails, sculpture and two galleries. The centrepiece is a 19th century sandstone homestead with Oamaru stone accents and a verandah, remodelled after earthquake damage and gifted to the nation in 2012.

It is now run by the Ōhinetahi Charitable Trust, and it is rated 4.9 from 211 reviews.

Couples who want a peninsula wedding without a long drive on the day can also look at the neighbouring pages for Port Hills, East Christchurch, Central Christchurch, West Christchurch and Selwyn. Ask each venue what accommodation it has and how many people it sleeps.

Common questions about wedding venues in Akaroa and Banks Peninsula

Which Banks Peninsula wedding venues have accommodation on site?

Mt Vernon Lodge Akaroa offers the Alpine Lodge, the Chalets, the Lodge, Maison Cottage and Pheasant Cottage for groups of up to 50 people. Okuti Garden near Little River sleeps up to 15 people in four yurts, a tipi and a house truck, and you can add one or two tents of your own.

Where can we marry in a garden around Akaroa?

Okuti Garden in the Okuti Valley has a Garden Kitchen surrounded by pick-your-own herbs and a garden banquet table. Ohinetahi at Allandale has over 1.25 hectares of planted garden, woodland trails and sculpture. French Farm Estate also has a garden setting above Akaroa Harbour.

Is there a winery wedding venue on Banks Peninsula?

French Farm Estate in French Farm Valley began as a producing winery and has served the Banks Peninsula community for more than three decades. It overlooks Akaroa Harbour and is about an hour from Christchurch. It is rated 4.3 from 203 reviews.

Which venue here is a heritage building?

Ohinetahi has a 19th century sandstone homestead with Oamaru stone accents and a verandah, remodelled after earthquake damage and gifted to the nation in 2012. French Farm Estate also has a heritage building as part of its setting.

Do we need a back-up venue for a wedding near Akaroa?

The government marriage licence page says you can only hold the ceremony in the places you put on the application, and it advises adding a back-up venue. If you plan an outdoor ceremony in the Akaroa hills, ask your venue what its indoor option is before you apply. The page was last updated on 18 June 2026.

Is there an indoor ceremony option on Banks Peninsula?

The Hilltop on Christchurch Akaroa Road has several ceremony areas, including an indoor one, plus three reception areas and a Bridal Lounge. Its catering is run by the team from 5th Street restaurant.

Wedding Venues near Akaroa and Banks Peninsula