Cruise Ship Destination: Akaroa, New Zealand

Day 10 -On the way into Akaroa Harbour we saw tiny dolphins swimming beside the ship, lovely to watch while having tea on the balcony. After the debacle with the tenders at Bay of Islands, we got out tender tickets before breakfast. We had finished breakfast and we were in our room getting our things for shore when our tender number was called, so that worked out well.

Akaroa is a lovely little fishing village first sighted by Captain Cook in the 1770's. It was first inhabited by the Maoris and the name Akaroa means long harbour in Maori. It was settled by the French in 1840 as a safe haven for whalers and sealers, and is the oldest colonial town in the South Island. The harbour was made from two extinct volcanoes.

There were a lot of tours available at the end of the wharf for both Akaroa area and Dunedin. Christchurch is a 90minute drive from Akaroa and shuttle buses are $45NZ return and leave 9.30 and 10.30. They return leaving Christchurch at 3pm. One can pay directly at the wharf. The same return bus booked on the ship does give one more time to explore Christchurch. They leave at 8am and cost $65.95US. There are local 2hr bus tours, $40NZ are also available from the wharf. One unique mode of transport was the old vintage car, a 30 minute tour costing $60NZ for 2 people. We also saw the trikes again. We found out too late that there was a free shuttle from the wharf down to the other end of the bay – and I thought I had done my homework – where there are markets on cruise ship days. Marg and Steve did a tour and booked another tour for Dunedin the next day.

We walked past many coffee shops and gift shops and when walking around the first block, down to the 'historical houses' we can upon a great fish and chip shop on the corner. It is across the road from the library and the free wifi, which was really fast.

The old homes were lovely. Walking around the bay one will come to the oldest dwellings in Akaroa and some quirkey places like the giant house – a famous mosaic garden and art galley. There are many short walks from the wharf to historical areas. The pop-up i-site at the end wharf will have details.

We were going to walk around to the other end of the bay, but I was way too tired from walking each day, and Peter and Jonnie were not interested in seeing the other older houses so we went back to the ship for afternoon tea.