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A scenic one and a half hour’s drive from Christchurch leads to Akaroa on the Banks
Peninsula, a quaint town steeped in European history with more than a touch of French
charm. Captain James Cook and the crew aboard the Endeavour were the first Europeans
to sight the peninsula in February 1770. Cook, deceived by the peninsula’s lowlying
marshes and high headlands, mistakenly recorded it as Banks Island after his botanist
Joseph Banks. It wasn’t until some 40 years later, when a mariner sought a non-existent
sea passage, that the mistake was discovered and charts were corrected.
day one: akaroa
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
During the early 1800s flax traders and sealers made irregular visits to the peninsula
and in the mid 1830s whalers established several land stations around its southern
shores. Local forests also provided a source of income and several timber mills
opened to supply wood for the buildings of Christchurch.
It wasn’t until April 1850 however that the first British settlers arrived aboard
the SS Monarch. From this point onwards the township of Akaroa was established with
the French located at the north end of the beach and the British at the south end.
A small bay divided the settlements.
Today evidence of the town’s Gallic past remains in many of the street signs and
historic buildings. Keen historians will find much of the town’s varied and colourful
history on display at the Akaroa Museum. There are Maori taonga (treasures), relics
from its whaling past, and the museum incorporates several historical buildings
including the Customs House at Daly’s Wharf, the old courthouse, and the Langlois-Eteveneaux
House, built in the early 1840s and one of the oldest houses in the South Island.
A 20-minute audio-visual relates the complete history of the town.
The Akaroa Historic Area Walk also provides an insight into Akaroa’s history, following
the town’s narrow winding streets past old colonial cottages, churches and other
mid-nineteenth century buildings which reflect the influence of the early French
and British settlers. Guide booklets detailing the walk are available at the museum
or from the Akaroa Information Centre.
Alternatively Akaroa’s ambience can be soaked up while relaxing at one of its many
seaside cafes overlooking the deep, still waters of the harbour. Here all sorts
of fishing, pleasure and charter boats travel to and fro on the changing tide. Fresh
catch of the day can be sampled at these tables by the sea as can some of the excellent
local Akaroa wine...
To read the full story
Please click the link to download the full
akaroa and banks perninsula scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals
new zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives
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