crazyscot

We made a day trip to Akaroa today.

Akaroa is a curious little village, about an hour's drive from Christchurch at the end of State Highway 75. Geographically it's on the Banks peninsula, a couple of ancient volcanoes which let go in dramatic fashion several million years ago giving rise to some magnificent natural deep-water harbours, one of which is home to Lyttelton, Christchurch's port.


What makes Akaroa special is its origin. It was first settled by a French party in 1840, the same year the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. A number of Tricolores fly from buildings, some buildings are of noticeably different colonial style to what we've seen around NZ, the main road is named Rue Lavaud (although, interestingly, a 1930s map in the museum names it as Lavaud Street), and there's even a shop of French imports named la Jolie Folie with a sign advising passers-by to eviter les contrefaçons.

It's a sleepy little village - under 600 residents by the last census, about a third of whom are of pensionable age - and it's enjoying increased cruise ship traffic since the quakes have affected Lyttelton's effective capacity. This morning there was a small troupe of Morris dancers performing on the waterfront. We boggled slightly.