Akaroa:
A French Flavor in New Zealand
The
Norwegian Jewel sailed into the picturesque harbor of Akaroa, a charming French
settlement nestled on the Banks Peninsula. As we disembarked, we were
immediately captivated by the quaint French architecture, cobblestone streets,
and the serene beauty of the harbor. Akaroa's unique blend of French and Maori
influences promised to offer a truly unforgettable experience.
NORWEGIAN
JEWEL NEW ZEALAND CRUISE – FIFTH PORT AKAROA
After calms
seas overnight we woke to a glorious sunrise at Akaroa, meaning “Long Harbour”
in Maori, is an old whaling township
situated on the Banks Peninsula, south-east of Christchurch. Akaroa is a small town with French and British
colonial history, nestled among hills and the Akaroa Bay.
Tip: Did you know
that there is a waterfall in Akaroa? Enjoy walking, but short on time? Well
this is the perfect de-tour for you. Try the Newton’s Waterfall walk, departing
from Aylmer’s Valley Road. It’s a pretty easy 10-minute walk to the waterfall
which flows all year round.
Tip: Did you know
that the Lighthouse has been in Akaroa for over 40 years? It is now run by
dedicated volunteers. The best time to
visit is on Sundays from 11am-2pm or on cruise ship days. Have a look at this
historic building; all it takes is a 10 – minute walk from Akaroa town along
the water and through the beautiful nature. And make sure to take a picture in
or around the lighthouse to remember the beautiful historic building.
With a population of
less than 700 residents, quaint doesn’t even begin to describe it. Akaroa
Village has many historic buildings, arts and crafts shops, cafes and
restaurants. During your stay in Akaroa, you can enjoy a boat ride around this
harbor, stopping to take in the natural beauty and snap picturesque photos.
Tip: Picture
perfect The ÅŒnuku Marae has been
around for centuries and has been involved in some significant and historic
events including the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Want to see the real
culture of New Zealand ? Then take a visit to the ÅŒnuku Marae. The ÅŒnuku Marae
is located 5.2km away from the township and is a 9-10-minute walk along the
coast and through the trees.
Many
tourists come to Akaroa just to view Hector’s Dolphins, which is a small
species of dolphin found exclusively in New Zealand. The peninsula is also known for Blue penguins
(smallest of all penguins) and seal colonies.
Since there are little predators or natural dangers to New Zealand’s
wildlife, you often have an excellent chance of seeing them in their natural
setting. In fact, New Zealand has often
been called the “Seabird capital of the world” due to the number of species
that live there or breed along its coasts.
Tip: An absolute
Akaroa treasure. If you want to find out more about the fascinating historical
French township of Akaroa and the history of Banks Peninsula. Its varied
collections include archives, art, photography, costume and textiles, taonga,
and technology.You can also learn about what buildings are heritage buildings,
and they provide a research service. With it being open from 10:30am – 4:00pm
during the winter and 10:30am – 4:30pm in the summer months you can come and
visit 363 days a year for free.
Tip: Interested in
a little free fudge tasting or a delicious piece of cheese? Head to Pot Pourri
to try some cream and butter fudge. Pot Pourri is located just as you come into
Akaroa on the right-hand side after the playing field. They hand make a variety
of fresh delicious fudge daily and offer a complimentary tasting before you
buy.
We
didn’t book any tour for Akaroa and waited for the herds of touring people
tendered for their trips to see Christchurch, wineries and Dolphins Tours. Later we headed off the ship to the shore,
which boasted beautiful boutiques, jewellers and galleries. With the
delightfully sheltered French Bay dividing the retail area of town into two,
it’s was a pleasant stroll between the two shopping areas sited between the
recreation ground and the main wharf. It was only just over 1 km from one end of
the town to the other so we took a leisurely stroll there and back so Kim could
search out a souvenir of her Akaroa visit. We took our time and enjoyed the
sights as we wandered along the waterfront and we made sure we peeked around
the corners for the hidden gems.
Tip: If you are
more interested in the cheesy side of things then you must stop off at the
Barrys Bay cheese factory to try some traditional handcrafted cheese. Local New
Zealand cheese, made by local people…they’ve been handcrafting cheese’s for
over 120 years.
We thoroughly
enjoyed our trip to Akaroa and were glad
to have finally experienced another really beautiful part of New Zealand. For
us Akaroa was rated first in Ports we visited in New Zealand. Akaroa is a tiny
coastal town with a volcano to cycle on and the world’s friendliest dolphins. What
more could you ask from a hidden gem than this! Sometimes when you travel, it's
refreshing to visit a place like Akaroa. We personally can't recommend it
enough.
Check out our time in Akaroa:
Day 8 on the cruise the Entertainment was:
Showtime: Velvet.
Velvet is a nightclub, a state of mind, a fantasy. Inspired by Studio 54, famous for wild parties and non-conformity, a culture of acceptance blind to color, creed, class and given to wild abandon. The Jewel Production Cast present Velvet, and amalgam of Variety and Concert forms - sheer entertainment set to a blistering disco soundtrack.
Karaoke Blast with Cruise Staff
Everyone belting out their favorite tunes in the Bliss Lounge.
Diva Fever with Prism
Prism played tribute to music of the most notable Divas.
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