Akaroa

Our first stop after leaving Chrirstchurch was a little French town called Akaroa. It is made up of many small bays which make up the coastline of Banks Peninsula. Akaroa(Maori for long harbour) is a small fishing village that was created when the crater wall of an extinct volcano collapsed into the sea.

Akaroa was chosen as the site for a French Colony in 1838 and the first French settlers arrived in 1840 only to find that the British had already established sovereignty over New Zealand by the Treaty of Waitangi. After less than 10 years the French abandoned their attempt at colonisation, however settlers still remained and gradually intermarried with the local English community. A French past is still evident with the street names all starting with 'rue' (French for Streets) and several French flags flying. Bastille Day is also celebrated here on the 14th of July.

We took a walk along the harbour and the beach to admire the surroundings.