Akaroa

Categories: holidays

Date: 12 June 2008 11:13:27

This is the view I had as I drove into Akaroa at sunset: a good omen of what would be a wonderful two days on the Banks Peninsula. Photo set here.

Akaroa is an historic French and British settlement, hidden away in the crater of an extinct volcano. The French had come looking for a base for whaling expeditions -- and unfortunately their arrival and plan to make a colony occurred only a few months after the British had claimed New Zealand for themselves. The French were, however, allowed to settle and many made their home there. The English and French settlements were separated by a beach, and the town is still divided in two by this beach.

It is a beautiful part of the world: not only for its dramatic scenery, which is truly stunning as can be seen,

but also for the beauty, tranquil beauty, of the town and the architecture of many of its historic buildings.

Mid-way through Saturday [I arrived Friday afternoon], the weather turned, so after doing an outdoor tour with CD audio guide and climbing a small hill and surveying the town and surrounds, I turned to indoor activities such as eating, a drive past the lighthouse and to a Maori settlement where a Maori church was, and then driving back and visiting the very interesting [and warm!] museum -- where I noticed a sign indicating the men from Christchurch Cathedral were to sing that afternoon in the Anglican church to raise money for their trip to England, where among other places, they will be the choir in residence at Westminster Abbey. Inside a warm church, and hearing music ranging from mediaeval sacred to 20th century jazz and pop was a wonderful experience.

Sunday morning I awoke to find the hills were alive with snow, which had fell overnight: truly beautiful: if not a tad chilly. We do not get snow in Sin City, so I am one of those people who locals must find terribly naïve and annoying when I say, "Ohhhh...snow: how lovely!" when the locals are cursing the inconvenience [it didn't snow in Akaroa that day; just in the hills].

In addition to the beauty of the place, the food was simply superb: delicious seafood, as you'd expect from a town on a harbour, but also wonderful food of all variety -- and at all times of the day. I had some simply delicious breakfasts, with lovely coffees, and the lunches and dinners were equally scrumptious. Mmmm. That, with the scenery and the slow, gentle pace of a day, would bring me back: but another excuse is that due to the poor weather the daily cruise was cancelled -- so I have to go back and do that. Perhaps summer, or early autumn, next time.

I drove on through the snow [thankfully the roads had been cleared] to the little town of Little Akaloa, which is set in a beautiful little bay, and it also has a lovely old Anglican church; a place of beauty and tranquility -- and can you imagine leaving the church to this view every Sunday -- or at least the first Sunday of each month now, which is when services are held.

A wonderful two days. Adventures in Christchurch to follow in a day or so...