The Banks Peninsula was created by violent volcanic eruptions long, long ago.  The result today is rolling green hills with vistas of the sea and picturesque bays from their summits.  We stayed just outside Akaroa, originally a French Settlement (though the British jumped in just before the settlers arrived and officially claimed the area under the Waitangi Treaty).  There are still lots of French street names and historic spots to explore though.  We had a nice walk around town, through the Anglican and French cemeteries, by the lighthouse and the wharf.  It was quiet, as it was a Sunday, and the boats that carry tourists out to view rare Hector’s dolphins and penguins were docked for the afternoon.

The views from the Summit Road on our return from Akaroa were memorable.  It was a beautiful, warm day, and we could see small, rocky bays from either side of the road at times.  Wechose Pigeon Bay for a walk through paddocks and fields of sheep and cows on the way out to the sea.  It was a great walk, even if there was a lot of doo doo dodging along the way.  The walk is closed part of the year for lambing, and we saw LOTS of those.  It seemed every sheep had one or two lambs scampering about near her, or running closer when startled.

Back on the mainland, we stocked up on groceries and head on down the coast.

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