We headed to Akaroa which is about 80 km's south of Christchurch on the banks peninsula. The banks peninsula was formed out of 2 volcanoes and makes a pleasant change from the flat area that surrounds Christchurch.
Akaroa was a French settlement and is now a bit of a tourist trap where you can swim with dolphins, play mini golf or check out the light house. I'm not entirely sure of the point of Akaroa except to look pretty and attract tourists, both of which it does very well. It reminded me very much of a small fishing village in Cornwall.
On the way back we took the scenic route round the rim of the former volcano crater, which gave a stunning back down into the harbour.
