New Zealand

Wednesday, 02 December 2015 Akaroa, a French enclave, reached via winding roads at high altitude. The weather was very hot, and a woman in a café in Christchurch simply said, referring to the weather: “Go to the beach.” And yes, I cursed the odd hill or two that day on the partly unpaved roads to Pigeon Bay. The campsite was about 75 meters above the town. 105 km today. Nelson Akaroa is a charming harbour town on the Banks Peninsula in New Zealand’s South Island, famous for its French heritage, picturesque setting, and dolphin encounters. The name means “Long Harbour” in Kāi Tahu Māori, and the area was shaped by the remnants of a Miocene volcano. Just 84 kilometres from Christchurch, Akaroa's scenic hills and sheltered waters once attracted whalers, and today they draw visitors seeking a peaceful escape. Its unique historical blend stems from both Māori traditions and European ambitions—particularly the rare French attempt at colonisation in New Zealand. In 1838, ...