Akaroa                                                                                            February 5, 2000

The little town of Akaroa is at the end of a peninsula that juts into the Pacific southeast of Christchurch.  The a one and a half hour scenic drive, is easy and relaxing (especially if your hubby is doing the driving).  And if you're lucky, like we were, there's even a bonus herding of lambs to enjoy en route.

Driving a few kilometers outside Christchurch's suburbs, we saw two dogs working a flock of sheep down a side road.  I forced Dick to turn around.  This was the photo op I'd been waiting for since we'd arrived in New Zealand: some good sheep photos.  (Remember: there are about 12 sheep for every person in New Zealand!)  While I was snapping away, the farmer-woman backed up her car to ask if we'd like to see a bit more.  They were going to spray and drench the sheep to prevent diseases.  Apparently the lambs need this every 2-3 weeks.  

We followed the herd a quarter of mile or so and watched with some amusement as the sheep dogs mostly scared the hapless animals from pen to pen.  Hundreds of rather dumb sheep are easily handled by two dogs given a few instructions from the farmers. 

Anyway, back to Akaroa.  This is Carmel-by-the-Sea about 60 years ago.  It's an absolutely lovely spot, a week-end destination for the locals.  Hillside houses, a few modern, small hotels, B&B's, an historic lighthouse, a few tourist shops and some restaurants line a road along the harbor shore.  Akaroa was settled in part by the French.  They arrived circa 1840, 6 days after the British flag was first set onto New Zealand.  If the French had only sailed a little quicker, New Zealanders might be speaking French today!  

Sailing and kayaking are popular activities on the spectacular aquamarine waters of the bay.  There's also the occasional fishing boat.  Tour boats will take you out to see (or swim with!) the dolphins and catch a glimpse of the world's smallest penguins.  The water is pretty cold, so swimming is definitely a wetsuit adventure.

After a walk around town and a bit of lunch, we, being golfers, decided to play the Akaroa golf course.  This hilly course has lots of blind shots and is a rather short, par 65.  So far, it's my least favorite golf course, but the views were brilliant.  At the higher elevations you can see the bay, and at the lower elevations, you can look up at trees dotting the green and gold hillsides.

If you come to the South Island, find a sunny day and drive to Akaroa.

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