8 April – NE to Akaroa

The next morning dawned clear and bright….of course … we’re leaving...., so we managed to get some nice shots of Mt Sefton at dawn (along with the Japanese hotel guests stood on their balconies in their jim-jams).

Then we drove along Lake Tekapo and got the final views of Mount Cook.

Akaroa is the oldest colonial town in the South Island – and the only French settlement in New Zealand.

It’s situated in the heart of an ancient volcano and being just 85 kms from Christchurch, a very popular weekend getaway. The harbour town is full of English & French historic buildings (historic for NZ anyway) and the streets still have French names.

We stayed at La Belle Villa B&B, one of the colonial houses on the main street owned by an ex-schoolteacher. She had always loved the house and finally had the chance to buy it when she took early retirement due to her school’s closure.

You know you’re old when, .....

you remember playing on one of these!!