Our first stop after Christchurch was Akaroa, about 80km away. The 90 minute drive was across plains and over mountains, alongside clear blue lakes and farmland. The clouds were grey and low, which made it difficult to see all of the landscape, so I felt that New Zealand was very much only 'showing me a bit of leg' on this first day of travelling.
Akaroa itself sits within a series of bays just away from the open sea. Although the town is small, it is very popular with visitors from all over the country and abroad, and what with it being a bank holiday weekend, it was very busy.
We checked into our accommodation above a pub, which we were a bit apprehensive about, but we found the room to be clean and comfortable. We set out to take a walk through the town, stopping first to play a spot of crazy golf.
After beating my wife (by two shots), we continued down through the town, taking in views of the bay and its striking sapphire-blue water. We sampled some of the local beer and ate an early dinner at the town's fish and chip shop.
In the evening, we got changed and went out to see what the town's nightlife was like. The pub below us had a 50's, 60's and 70's music night. A group of people dressed in Hawaiian clothing danced merrily away. The setting and atmosphere was like that of a working men's club in the 80's.
We only had the one drink in there, as the time travel effect was getting a bit unnerving. We travelled a little further up the road and found another pub that was a bit more modern, and although very much a local's pub, very welcoming and serving cheap local beer. After beating the wife once more (at pool), we decided to call it a night and head back to our room.
Next stop after Akaroa will be Selina's old home town of Ashburton.
TTFN
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