Akaroa is about 75/80 kilometers from Christchurch; on this straight-away you can see what’s in store for our drive. I was surprised to look out and find this one patch of trees straddling the top of the mountain. Was this all that’s left from deforestation?
13 of the 75 kilometers winds through the mountains and craggy volcanic hills, switching back and forth and climbing at the same time. It was beautiful, and at times nail-biting. It started out nice and easy with low rolling hills; but as you can see we’re already in winding-mode.
Then we got higher and higher . . . with more height to go.
. . . looking down into the valleys and spotting lakes
The three important points of real estate are — Location, Location, Location. We hit the apex of our 13 kilometers and came upon this cafe perched at the rim of the volcano overlooking Akaroa Harbor.
from there we plunge winding down into Akaroa.
“Although sailors from the hastily-dispatched HMS Britomart proclaimed British sovereignty over the South Island at Akaroa in 1840, the area was settled that same year by French settlers who had intended to establish a colony. The area still has a French influence, reflected in many local place names.” (But the important signs are in English 
)
“The French settlement was known as Port Louis-Philipe; before 1840 it was also known as Wangaloa. The name Akaroa is “Kāi Tahu” Māori for ‘Long Harbour’.”
At this time of year it wasn’t hard to find parking. Though the permanent population here has decreased some over the years, about 300 some residents, the summer population can swell to 7,000!
A memorial to fallen soldiers, a sculpture of an artist painting – you provide the “picture”; and a sculpture of the Hector’s Dolphins.
We took a stroll along the main street that fronted the water and also walked down to the beach area.
The harbor at French Bay is home to many of the Hector’s Dolphins, one of the smallest and rarest dolphin found only in New Zealand. No, we didn’t see any; they were probably frolicking and playing in the surf the day before; like the humpback whales did in Kaikoura! We were too cold to go out on a dolphin watch cruise.
Do you think the guy at the end of the pier is just contemplating life or wondering how he’s going to get back on the boat?
While we were walking around I spotted this interesting little building on a side street and went over to check it out. It looked like it could have been a post office or some other government type of building; or a movie prop. It turned out to be The Old Shipping Office, established in 1895.
Mick went around to the other side and peeked into the window and found that it had been converted to a tiny B&B. What a neat place to stay, a whole little building to yourself.
We couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get lunch and the view from the Hilltop Cafe. The menu offered “real” goulash, (served with bread dumplings), a dish you don’t see often. The owner told us that the chef is from Czechoslovakia and this was his specialty. If it was socially acceptable I would have licked my bowl clean. I grabbed one of their muffins for the ride back, truly delicious.
Just one more full day left of our journey . . .
