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Only about an hour’s drive from Christchurch on the Banks Peninsula,  is the small seaside town of Akaroa. The scenic drive from Christchurch takes you through beautiful countryside dominated by steep sided hills and coastal scenery. The entire Banks Peninsula is an extinct volcano, and the hilly terrain leads down to picturesque inlets and bays. The area was originally settled by many French settlers, and the town still has a bit of a French feel to it. The town itself sits in a sheltered bay in Akaroa Harbour.

View to Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand

Things to do in Akaroa

Akaroa is a quiet, relaxed little town, and has some lovely pubs and waterfront cafes and restaurants to sit and watch life go by. On a nice evening take a walk along the waterfront as the sun goes down.

Old building in Akaroa, New Zealand

A great way to see the area is to take a cruise on the harbour which can take you out to a seal colony and swim with the rare Hector’s Dolphins. If you get good weather, you can also hire a kayak or take a kayaking tour. Blackcat run regular cruises along the harbour.

Jetty in Akaroa, New Zealand

If you love your trekking like me, then the 2 or 4 day Banks Peninsula track is a great way to see the rugged beauty of the area. The track takes you from Akaroa through beautiful forests, waterfalls, wildlife, coastal scenery and sandy beaches. There are huts to stay in at designated points along the way. The track cannot be walked in the wintertime, and is a bit on the pricey side if you are a budget traveler. For more information go here.

Where to stay in Akaroa

view of Akaroa, New Zealand

There is a wide range of accommodation for all budgets, from hostels and B&Bs to hotels and apartments. I was travelling around New Zealand in a campervan when I went there, so I had one of the cheapest options by staying at a campground. I stayed at the Top 10 Holiday Park – the picture above is the view from my campsite. The Historic Shipping Office is a cute boutique apartment in a historic building with water views. Another great boutique option is French Bay House. For cheaper, motel style accommodation, Tresori Motor Lodge is a good choice, only 2 minutes walk to the harbour.

Akaroa was my first stop on my tour of the south island of New Zealand after leaving Christchurch, and I would definitely go back again.

*Update* (I did go back, in 2016 and stayed at the same campground. Akaroa is still just as beautiful. The first three photos are from my latest visit).