Akaroa

Akaroa is the only town of significance on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch.  Akaroa means 'long harbor' in Maori and it has one, thanks to the area's birth as a volcano, complete with deep and long fissures.  Yesterday we drove from Lake Tekapo to Akaroa via Timaru, Geraldine, and Lincoln. None of those towns were much to speak of and the windy and scary road to Akaroa was one for the books!  Still, we arrived safely and today will explore the town at leisure.

After a lazy start, we ambled straight down to the town. The path, which thankfully has many stairs, is down a very steep slope. We had the town to ourselves, very few shops were open and the tour buses hadn't arrived. It was great, even if finding a coffee shop that was open wasn't to be.  We walked the length of town, really small (less than a kilometer long), and enjoyed the small harbor, the gulls, the boats and a calm, unhurried morning.  We finally found a coffee shop and then wandered some more.  After a bit more exploring and lunch with cheeky seagulls who walked all over the awnings, we trudged back up to the campground and a rest.  Tomorrow, probably more of the same - enforced rest!

We are ready to come home.  It has been a trip full of sights and adventures but it isn't home, doesn't feel like home and will never be home. Unlike Australia, which will always be the home of our hearts, even if that isn't reality. :)

View from the campground

Akaroa Harbor

Quaint old home

The hills keep the clouds at bay

Delivery Service

Little Digger

Keeping it ship-shape

B&B

Felt even out here

Get the Picture?

Walkabout

Fixing it after the quakes

On a bit of a cruise