nzflag(1).gif (9615 bytes)        S/V TETHYS

Touring New Zealand by Car
December 2000, February, March 2001
Akaroa A bit of France in N.Z.
Historically important as an early French settlement, the little village of Akaroa lies at the Eastern extremity of the Banks Peninsula.The street names are still in French and although the language is not spoken anymore, there are still French family names evident in the business signs.

Driving from Christchurch to Akaroa is harrowing as the road follows the volcanic contours of the land. Akaroa itself is situated in a bay within a large sound.  The view from the pass above is awesome.

 Akaroa view (9033 bytes)
Akaroa lighthouse (7913 bytes) This lighthouse on the outskirts of the village was originally at the headlands into the sound. Having outlived its usefulness and being replaced by a modern light, the lighthouse was saved from the scrapheap by a group of local citizens and re-erected here for tourist photo opportunities.

Akaroa harbour is one of the few places in the world where the rare Hectors dolphins can be seen but you have to take a tour boat to the outer part of the harbour.  Hector dolphins are the smallest of toothed whales and are found only in NZ waters.

Still, we did see a Little Shag.

 
It is hard to find many French influences here. Some streets have French names and there are instances of French surnames on signs of local businesses. This little cottage looked like it was built during the French presence here and is certainly cute.. Akaroa cottage (15544 bytes)
We had a very nice lunch of local fish and went on our way back to Christchurch.
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