Fotoeins Fotografie

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New Zealand: Akaroa’s long harbour

Above: Black Cat catamaran.

It’s a cool grey morning in Christchurch, and I’m waiting outside the Canterbury Museum for a ride to Akaroa. Will the conditions improve by the time I arrive?

I’ve signed up with French Connection for the shuttle between Christchurch to Akaroa along State Highway 75. As the bus rolls onto the Banks Peninsula, the undulating hills gently rise and fall around the entire horizon. Some of the secluded bays and harbours look steep enough to have been carved by mini-glaciers. It makes a lot of sense, as Akaroa means “long harbour” in Kāi Tahu Māori.

It’s easy to forget Akaroa has French history and roots, but I realize I’m standing on top of an extinct volcano which last saw activity about 6 million years ago. Over time, weather eroded and gradually removed the top layers of the volcano. The post-glacial meltdown about 15,000 years ago saw the sea-levels rise and subsequently inundated the former caldera. It’s not the only extinct volcano around, as the nearby Lyttleton harbour was formed in a similar way.

I decide to go with a nature cruise on Black Cat cruises, and the catamaran heads out with six passengers and two crew. Within 30 minutes of leaving the dock in Akaroa, the skies clear as the breeze breaks and moves the clouds aside. Finally, in the open waters of the Pacific, the boat bobs gently in the light swell.

It’s a perfect sunny winter day, complete with the appearance of a pod of Hector’s dolphins and a couple of yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho).

But all too quickly, the cruise returns to the calm waters of the inner harbour, and the ship comes to a halt back in Akaroa. I’ll doze on the ride back to Christchurch, with lingering memories of the former volcano, and the dolphins who said hello to us earlier in the day.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Is that not spectacular?

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

It really is that beautiful.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Salmon farm.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Near Jacob’s Ladder: so smooth. So rugged. So extinct.

Akaroa harbour, Akaroa, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, Aotearoa, fotoeins.com

Spectacular

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Cliff resident of the type “mountain goat”.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Some very special hooves.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Seal getting its sun on.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Another seal, lovin’ some sun.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Where Akaroa Harbour meets the Pacific.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Hector’s dolphin.

Hector's dolphins, Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean, fotoeins.com

Here come some more guests.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Curious about our boat.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Pacific Ocean: just southwest from Timutimu Head in Waihuakina Bay.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Crag resident of the type “moo”.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

A herd of moo.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Sharp escarpments on the Pacific side.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand - 16 July 2012

West side of entrance to Akaroa harbour: in foreground are Timutimu Head and Waihuakina Bay.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

East side of harbour entrance: towards lighthouse at Akaroa Head.

Yellow-eyed penguin, Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean, fotoeins.com

Another guest: yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho).

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Ship wake, inbound from harbour entrance.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Heading back, because the spectacular doesn’t stop.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

A lot of blue action happening here.

Akaroa harbour, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Final approach, return to wharf.

I made the photos above on 16 July 2012. This post appears initially on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins.com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-26S.

14 Responses to “New Zealand: Akaroa’s long harbour”

    • fotoeins

      Thanks, Jen! Those kinds of special guests are always welcome, especially when humans let them be. 🙂

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  11. A-3 in Aotearoa (LAPC) | Fotoeins Fotografie

    […] •   Population: On extinct Banks Peninsula Volcano, cozy village of 800 with French origins. •   Māori: S.Island variant of “Whangaroa” (“long harbour”); originally spelled “Hakaroa”. •   Getting there: Day trip, from Christchurch. •   More here. […]

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