The love for Akaroa Harbour runs deep in the veins of Akaroa Dolphins owners, Pip and Hugh Waghorn, as well as their passionate local crew. Pip’s family arrived in Akaroa in 1838, while Hugh’s family came to Banks Peninsula aboard the ship Randolph in the late 1850s.

Hugh’s cousin, Morgan Waghorn, played a key role in the early days of Akaroa Harbour’s nature tourism. Morgan worked on the very first Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise in the 1970s to 1980s, (which began in the 1950s), skippering the boat Miss Akaroa, owned by George Brassell.

Today, we proudly preserve this history. Below is a collection of beautiful photos and clippings from the first Harbour Nature Cruise in Akaroa, courtesy of the Akaroa Museum and letters from Lois Waghorn, Morgan’s wife.

"Miss Akaroa" looking through the spyglass at the original Akaroa Lighthouse. This was taken in 1960 as part of a series for an Akaroa promotion booklet.

A postcard from 1982.

Miss Akaroa" returning from a Harbour Nature Cruise.

A thank you letter from 1983.

1955 Newspaper Clipping