Banks Peninsula
The Peninsula is the legacy of an eight million year old offshore volcanic island. Sediments from the erosion of the Southern Alps filled the sea between the Canterbury Plains and the volcanic island some 200000 years ago. The volcanic past of the landscape is easily recognized by high ridges, deep valleys and cliffs headlands.
There are five tourist drives to follow marked with brown and white signs. The starting point is at Little River or Acaroa.
Travel the summit road and visit the rural bays and beaches.
Little River
The old railwaystation is the place to go if you haven't picked up information in Christchurch. The railway to Christchurch worked between 1886 and 1962. It was used for timber mail and passengers.
Little Akaloa
Saint Luke's Church is situated on the road to Okainsbay. Built in 1906 the outer walls are inset with broken paua shell, the interior is lined with carved Oamaru stone.
Okains Bay
The Maori and Colonial Museum
The museum shows a lot of peninsula history, Maori and early European artefacts and buildings.
Akaroa - meaning long harbour
It's easy to recognize by many familynames, streetsigns and historic buildings that Akaroa was an attempt of France's colonisation in New Zealand. In fact just some days before the French ship arrived the Treaty of Waitangi gave sovereignty of New Zealand to the British. Today there are a lot of seaside cafes where you can sit out to watch the boats at the harbour.
Akaroa MuseumHistory is alive at Akaroa Museum where a 20 min film tells the story of Akaroa history.
Takamatura
The settlement was founded by German families who arrived with the French ship in 1840. The bay was known a German Bay till World War I when it was revetred to Takamatura.
Littelton Harbour
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