Last updated October 2026
Duvauchelle Bay sits at the head of Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula, on State Highway 75 just before Akaroa and about 90 minutes by road from Christchurch. The beach runs along the waterfront in front of the Duvauchelle Holiday Park, with calm harbour water that suits kayaking and paddleboarding as well as a swim.
Environment Canterbury includes the bay in its summer monitoring of popular swim spots and tests it every week, with results sent to LAWA. The site holds a Good long-term grade, though recent summers have had more unsuitable results after rain. A playground and the holiday park are close to the beach.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Nov–Mar by Environment Canterbury. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Duvauchelle Bay
Saturday 24 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (186 per 100 mL from 77 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Duvauchelle waterfront, head of Akaroa Harbour, in front of the holiday park
- Distance from Christchurch
- On State Highway 75, shortly before Akaroa (Akaroa is about 90 minutes by road)
- Water
- Sheltered harbour beach, tidal
- Water quality
- Good (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Environment Canterbury, in front of the camping ground
- Nearest tide station
- Tikao Bay (times only)
- Facilities nearby
- Playground, Duvauchelle Holiday Park, public toilets at the Duvauchelle Showgrounds
About Duvauchelle Bay
Duvauchelle sits at the head of Akaroa Harbour, and for many visitors it is the first harbour town they reach on the drive from Christchurch.
ChristchurchNZ describes it as a natural place to pause and take in the scenery, with nearby beaches and walking tracks that make it a good base for exploring the harbour. The Ōnawe Peninsula separates Duvauchelle Bay from Barry’s Bay to the west.
The area has a long Māori history. Akaroa District Promotions notes that the ground around the present Duvauchelle Hotel was once a fortified Māori settlement (pā), and that the peninsula between Duvauchelle and Barry’s Bay was the site of a major battle and massacre during Te Rauparaha’s invasion in the early 1830s.
The town takes its name from the French brothers Jules-Augustin and Louis-Benjamin Duvauchelle, who held land here through the Nanto-Bordelaise Company at the time of the French settlement at Akaroa in the 1840s.
Timber was the main early industry, along with boat building, and sawn timber was shipped out of the bay on locally built vessels. From 1910 to 1989 Duvauchelle was the seat of the Akaroa County Council.
Today the waterfront is a quiet stretch of harbour edge. The historic Duvauchelle Hotel looks over the water, the wharf is popular for a stroll or some fishing, and Akaroa District Promotions notes that the calm harbour water suits kayaking and paddleboarding.
Swimming and Water Quality at Duvauchelle Bay
Environment Canterbury samples the water in front of the camping ground every week from November to March and publishes the results on LAWA. The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 77 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Across 160 tests between November 2019 and April 2025, 84% were suitable for swimming. A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable, but it is a long-term record, not a forecast for the day you visit.
Results have been more mixed lately. In the 2024/25 summer, 27 of 40 samples were suitable, 2 called for caution and 11 were unsuitable, and Environment Canterbury’s 2023 grading had listed Duvauchelle Bay as Fair.
Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and look at the hourly water quality predictions LAWA shows for Banks Peninsula harbour sites where they are available.
Environment Canterbury advises staying out of the water for 48 hours after rain, as runoff can carry bacteria into the harbour.
Testing has found faecal contamination from human and other sources, including birds, dogs and livestock, in a number of bays around Lyttelton and Akaroa harbours after rainfall, and Christchurch City Council has led an investigation into how it gets into waterways.
Boats use the bay and the holiday park has parking for boats, so swim away from launching areas and the wharf, and keep children within reach.
Getting There and Facilities
Duvauchelle is on State Highway 75 at the head of Akaroa Harbour. Christchurch City Council describes the Duvauchelle Holiday Park as situated on the waterfront just before you get to Akaroa, with parking for boats, tennis courts and a children’s play area. Akaroa District Promotions places the camp about three minutes towards Akaroa from the local store.
Public toilets are at the Duvauchelle Showgrounds. Fuel is available in Duvauchelle (card only), and the Duvauchelle Hotel serves meals on the waterfront.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Environment Canterbury: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and long-term grade for Duvauchelle Bay.
Environment Canterbury: how the regional council samples swimming sites from November to March and works out long-term grades.
Akaroa District Promotions: visitor guide to Duvauchelle, its history, wharf, camp ground and local services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Duvauchelle Bay?
Yes. Environment Canterbury monitors Duvauchelle Bay as one of its popular swim spots and tests it weekly from November to March. Check LAWA before you swim and stay out for 48 hours after rain.
What is the water quality like at Duvauchelle Bay?
Duvauchelle Bay has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 77 routine tests over summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 160 tests between November 2019 and April 2025, 84% were suitable, but 11 of 40 samples in the 2024/25 summer were unsuitable.
Where is the water tested?
Environment Canterbury takes its samples in front of the camping ground. Results are published on LAWA.
Is there camping at Duvauchelle?
Yes. The Duvauchelle Holiday Park is on the waterfront, with parking for boats, tennis courts and a children’s play area.
How far is Duvauchelle from Christchurch?
Duvauchelle is on State Highway 75 at the head of Akaroa Harbour, shortly before Akaroa, which is about 90 minutes by road from Christchurch.
Where are the toilets at Duvauchelle?
Public toilets are at the Duvauchelle Showgrounds.
How did Duvauchelle get its name?
It is named after the French brothers Jules-Augustin and Louis-Benjamin Duvauchelle, who held land here at the time of the French settlement at Akaroa in the 1840s.
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