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Madison & Samuel

March 5, 2026 • Little Akaloa, New Zealand

Madison & Samuel

March 5, 2026 • Little Akaloa, New Zealand

Venue

Our wedding will take place at Ridgecliff, a beautiful farmhouse nestled in Little Akaloa, New Zealand.

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Travel from the U.S.

If you’re traveling from the U.S., we recommend flying into Christchurch International Airport (CHC).


Please note that, due to the time difference, you’ll lose a day when traveling to New Zealand. To arrive in time for the wedding, we suggest planning to arrive in Christchurch no later than March 4th, which typically means departing the U.S. by March 2nd.

Accommodation

Surrounding Ridgecliff are several areas with accommodation options to suit different travel styles and budgets:


Little Akaloa – 5 minutes away from the venue

Okains Bay – 15 minutes away

Duvauchelle – 25 minutes away

Akaroa (Main town hub) – 35 minutes away

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We’ve shared a few hotel and Airbnb recommendations below, but there are many other great options in the area! We recommend booking early—accommodations in the area can fill up quickly, especially in the summer months.

Little Akaloa Old Store and Post Office

Picture of Little Akaloa Old Store and Post Office
Little Akaloa, NZ

This historic cottage was originally the Old Store and Post Office. It was built in 1855 but has been extensively renovated and is now a five bedroom holiday house. The house has great views out to the bay and surrounding hills.


The house is approximately 100m away from the beach, which is sandy and gently sloping making it very child friendly. The bay has an excellent boat ramp facility, tennis courts and a playground.

West peak Cottage

Picture of West peak Cottage
Okains Bay, NZ

Welcome to our charming Westpeak farm cottage nestled in the picturesque Okains Bay. This cozy hut offers a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort.


Surrounded by stunning farm landscapes, our cottage features a basic kitchen, a comfortable living area and two cozy bedrooms that can accommodate up to four guests.

Duvauchelle Seaside Motel

Picture of Duvauchelle Seaside Motel
2 Onawe Flat Road, Duvauchelle 7581, New Zealand

Located on the beachfront in Duvauchelle, Duvauchelle Seaside Motel features barbecue facilities. Each room at the 3-star motel has sea views, and guests can enjoy access to a garden and to a terrace.


Guest rooms are equipped with a fridge, microwave, an electric tea pot, a shower, free toiletries and a desk. Each room includes a private bathroom with a hairdryer, while selected rooms contain a balcony and others also offer mountain views.

Akaroa Criterion Motel

Picture of Akaroa Criterion Motel
75 Rue Jolie, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand

Located just meters away from Akaroa's iconic Daly’s Wharf, The Akaroa Criterion offers you the perfect spot for your next holiday in Akaroa. With beautiful harbour views and a stone's throw away from some of the best dining and entertainment Akaroa has to offer, we provide the ultimate retreat.


Choose from our array of rooms, each featuring either a balcony or patio. Recently upgraded, every room now boasts modern amenities, including a well-equipped kitchenette. The Akaroa Criterion ensures a seamless blend of comfort and luxury, promising a memorable stay in this charming French coastal town.


Akaroa Waterfront Motels

Picture of Akaroa Waterfront Motels
64 Rue Jolie, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand

Located in the historic French village of Akaroa, this property offers self-contained accommodations with a patio, a balcony and free on-site parking. Guests can enjoy swimming, fishing, biking and kayaking just yards from Akaroa Waterfront Motels.


Akaroa Waterfront Motels is surrounded by lovely gardens and offers spectacular harbor views. It is 8 minutes' walk from Akaroa Harbor where you may be able to spot Hector's Dolphins. There is a private on-site boat ramp and spacious lawn and picnic areas shaded with palm trees.


All accommodations includes a kitchenette, a dining area and a work desk. Each apartment offers a lounge area with a sofa and flat-screen TV.

Twin Gullies

Picture of Twin Gullies
5971 Christchurch Akaroa Road, Akaroa 7581, New Zealand

Nestled in five acres of gardens, paddocks, and woodland. Twin Gullies offers relaxation for the body and soul. With its spectacular views of Akaroa Harbour and Onawe Peninsula, you will feel like you have been transported to paradise.


Twin Gullies sits at the top of Akaroa Harbour on State Highway 75. Close by are the Barrys Bay Cheese Factory and French Farm Winery. The Akaroa golf course is a mere 2 minutes away. Great walking tracks are abundant and further up the harbour, good swimming beaches are to be found. In popular Akaroa (a 12 minutes drive along the harbour) there is plenty to see and do, both on land and on the water.

La Rochelle Motel

Picture of La Rochelle Motel
1 Rue Grehan, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand

Located in the French-inspired village of Akaroa, La Rochelle Motel features accommodations with a balcony or patio offering views over the surrounding gardens. All accommodations have cooking facilities and an LCD TV. It is a 3-minute walk to Akaroa Beach.


Guests can play a game of petanque or tennis, and fishing equipment is also available. A kitchenette with a stove-top, microwave and refrigerator is standard in all accommodations.


La Rochelle Motel Akaroa is a 10-minute walk from the waterfront shops and restaurants of Akaroa.

The Grand Hotel

Picture of The Grand Hotel
6 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand

Located in Akaroa, 700 metres from Akaroa Beach, The Grand Hotel & Bar - Akaroa provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a bar. The historic Grand Hotel in Akaroa is the perfect place to stay, eat, drink and relax. Families and dogs are not only welcome but encouraged and there is lots of space to sit outside and soak up the sun.