Who'd have thought we'd end up feeling even closer to home from the opposite side of the world upon invitation from my cousins Chris and Helen to visit their holiday home in Akaroa.
As soon as we hit the ridge of one of the two old calderas that have formed the Banks Peninsula just south of Christchurch, it felt like we we're heading off for a holiday within our holiday... and it appeared we had arrived in France!
Akaroa in 1838 was sold from the Maori to a captain of a French whaling ship and the seaside village still keeps hold of its touch of France today with tricolours flying on flag poles, French titled bars and restaurants and the very originally named L'hotel! But my favourite was discovering all the french 'rues' (Rue de Jolie, Rue de Mal Manche, Rue Balguerie...) that all flowed off from the very English 'Beach Road' than runs the length of the harbour (a not so subtle reminder that when the French captain returned from France with his 57 emigrants he found that NZ had already become an English colony!)
This stunning setting really did feel like an escape hole from the quake damage in Christchurch...a haven of tranquillity and normality for many.
The beauty of the bay wasn't just the 'petite peu de france' but also in the beautiful gardens (citrus fruit trees a plenty)...
...and my first sight of wild dolphins and blue penguins on our Black Cat cruise trip around the bay - an amazing experience (worth every penny!)
Akaroa left us feeling like we didn't want to leave, yet very excited to pick up our hire car and explore further into the depths of New Zealand.
As soon as we hit the ridge of one of the two old calderas that have formed the Banks Peninsula just south of Christchurch, it felt like we we're heading off for a holiday within our holiday... and it appeared we had arrived in France!
Akaroa in 1838 was sold from the Maori to a captain of a French whaling ship and the seaside village still keeps hold of its touch of France today with tricolours flying on flag poles, French titled bars and restaurants and the very originally named L'hotel! But my favourite was discovering all the french 'rues' (Rue de Jolie, Rue de Mal Manche, Rue Balguerie...) that all flowed off from the very English 'Beach Road' than runs the length of the harbour (a not so subtle reminder that when the French captain returned from France with his 57 emigrants he found that NZ had already become an English colony!)
Rue de Jolie, Akaroa (16th November 2013)
This stunning setting really did feel like an escape hole from the quake damage in Christchurch...a haven of tranquillity and normality for many.
Le Tricolour, Akaroa (15th November 2013)
The beauty of the bay wasn't just the 'petite peu de france' but also in the beautiful gardens (citrus fruit trees a plenty)...
The delicious fruits at Akaroa (17th November 2013)
...and my first sight of wild dolphins and blue penguins on our Black Cat cruise trip around the bay - an amazing experience (worth every penny!)
4 of the 9 (at least!) dolphins circling our cruise boat (16th November 2013)
Akaroa left us feeling like we didn't want to leave, yet very excited to pick up our hire car and explore further into the depths of New Zealand.
Our wonderful and extremely generous hosts (Chris and Helen)
who kitted us up well for the next leg of our journey...
we can't thank you both enough! xxx
who kitted us up well for the next leg of our journey...
we can't thank you both enough! xxx
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