Akaroa
Meaning
Akaroa, originally spelt Hakaroa, is a Māori word meaning Long harbour.
In 1838, it was named Port Louis-Philippe by French settlers after the reigning French king, Louis Philippe I. When the formal connection between France and New Zealand came to an end in 1846, Port Louis-Philippe became officially Akaroa.
Location
- South Island, Canterbury Region, Banks Peninsula
- Coordinates:
- 43°48′15″S
- 172°58′00″E
- 84 km by road from Christchurch or 49 km from Christchurch International Airport
How to get there from Auckland
- By car: 17 hours, excluding stops, including ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton
- By plane: fly to Christchurch, and then it’s a 1.5-hour drive to Akaroa
For more details, visit Rome2Rio.
History
Akaroa is unique because of its French character, which stems from an 1840 settlement by French colonists.
The story of the French colonisation of Akaroa is well-documented. For a detailed overview, read The Story of the French Colonisation of Akaroa on the National Library of New Zealand’s website.
If you don’t want to read the long version, here is a short summary.
In 1838, French whaler Jean François Langlois negotiated a land purchase from local Māori, aiming to establish a French colony. By the time 60 settlers arrived aboard the Comte de Paris, the British had already claimed sovereignty over New Zealand through the Treaty of Waitangi.
Despite this, the French remained, founding a community complete with French institutions and architecture.
Today, Akaroa retains its French heritage through its street names like Rue Jolie and Rue Lavaud, preserved buildings and cultural festivals, offering a unique blend of French, Māori and British influences.
Climate
- Average temperatures: 8–16°C / 47–62°F
- Coldest month: August (–6.01ºC / 21.18ºF)
- Warmest month: February (15.27ºC / 59.49ºF)
- Rainfall: consistent throughout the year, average of 685 mm annually
- Sunshine: average of 3,046 hours annually
Check Weather and Climate and Climate Data for more details.
Why You Should Visit Akaroa
There is so much to see and do in Akaroa, I couldn’t possible cover it all in one paragraph.
Whether you’re a food lover, enjoy nature or prefer a cultural experience, this famous little town in the South Island has something for everyone.
- French cuisine
- Swimming with the dolphins and dolphin cruises
- Sightseeing
- Ōnuku Church: a small Christian church with remarkable Māori carvings, a blend of two very different cultures
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- Akaroa Museum: a display of the rich history of Akaroa and Banks Peninsula
- Akaroa Lighthouse
For more ideas, visit Akaroa at 100% Pure New Zealand.
Anything Else You May Want To Know
Earthquake zone
Akaroa is prone to earthquakes.
The 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes caused significant damage in Christchurch and its surrounding areas, but Akaroa escaped the worst. It only suffered damage to the war memorial, the hospital and some homes.
Akaroa has had two quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900.
GeoNet monitors and records all seismologic and volcanic activity in New Zealand.
[It is] a modern geological hazard monitoring system in New Zealand. It comprises a network of geophysical instruments, automated software applications and skilled staff to detect, analyse and respond to earthquakes, volcanic activity, large landslides, tsunami and the slow deformation that precedes large earthquakes.
An excellent international database of quakes worldwide, including New Zealand, is Volcano Discovery.
A search per region provides details of the most recent earthquake but also quakes that have happened since 1900. It allows you to search per region; for example, Akaroa.
From earthquakes to volcanoes.
Akaroa Harbour is the remnant of a collapsed volcanic caldera (crater), so when you sail into the harbour, you’re cruising through the mouth of a prehistoric volcano that last erupted a few million years ago.
Don’t be alarmed, though. When visiting the South Island, be sure to stop by Akaroa. You won’t regret it.
Arrowtown
Meaning
Māori: Kā-muriwai
The name Arrowtown likely comes from the River Arrow in Wales.
When William Rees, the district’s first runholder, emigrated from Wales, he named the township The Arrow, which eventually became Arrowtown around 1866.
The Māori name Kā-muriwai refers to the three waterways in the region, one of which is the Arrow River.
Location
- South Island, Otago Region
- 20 km east of Queenstown
- Located on the Arrow River
- Coordinates
- 44°56′33″S
- 68°50′09″E
How to get there from Auckland
By car: roughly 21 hours, excluding stops but including the ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton
By plane: fly to Queenstown and then drive to Arrowtown. Most visitors stay in Queenstown or Wanaka and make a day visit to Arrowtown. Or you can spend a few days in Arrowtown, of course. There is plenty of accommodation to choose from.
Visit Rome2Rio for more details.
History
Arrowtown is a mixture of beauty, history and culture.
Miners were drawn to the area after Jack Tewa found gold in the Arrow River in 1862.
By early 1863, 340 kg of gold was removed from the area. Chinese settlers arrived in the 1870s, and the population soon rose to 7,000.
The current historical buildings are a testament to the gold-mining history of the 19th century.
Arrowtown: Our history has the full story.
Climate
- Average temperatures: ~11 °C (51 °F)
- Coldest month: July mean high ~6 °C (41 °F), mean daily ~0 °C (32 °F)
- Warmest month: February mean high ~17 °C (63–66 °F), mean daily ~12 °C (54 °F)
- Rainfall: average annual rainfall is ~1,420 mm (~56 in); rainfall is well-distributed year-round
- Sunshine: average annual sunshine is ~2,770 hours; sunniest months are December–February with 250–314 hours monthly (~9–10 hr/day)
Source: Weather and Climate
Why You Should Visit Arrowtown
- Arrowtown is a beautifully preserved 19th-century gold mining town, offering a glimpse into New Zealand’s colonial past. The Lakes District Museum showcases the rich history of the district. You can also explore the restored miners’ cottages.
Arrowtown, New Zealand: Miners’ Cottages. Credit: Makalu/Pixabay - Arrowtown is just a 20-minute drive from the ski fields, so if you visit in winter, you’re never far away from a day on the slopes.
- Arrowtown is world-famous for its autumn foliage. The Arrowtown Autumn Festival runs from March to May and is filled with heaps of activities. Check Arrowtown in autumn for more details.
- The area boasts excellent trails for all levels, with breathtaking landscapes. The Lake Hayes Loop Track is one of the easier parts of Te Araroa, one of the world’s most diverse long-distance trails, spanning the length of New Zealand. This easy walk or bike ride only stretches 8 km.
- Read 5 Best winter walks in New Zealand for more details about this walk and 4 other winter walks suitable for the general public.
- Arrowtown offers a wide variety of high-quality dining, boutique eateries, wineries and cosy cafés. The Arrowtown website has a full list of all cafés, restaurants & bars.
- Finally, I should not forget to mention that the area was used for the filming of some scenes of Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring.
The Arrowtown and 100% Pure New Zealand websites offer a wealth of information that I cannot cover in this blog post, so be sure to visit them to discover more ideas on how to experience this exciting little town.
Whether you’re into sport, nature, food, history or shopping, there are plenty of reasons why Arrowtown should be included in your itinerary.
Anything Else You May Want To Know
- Arrowtown was named the most beautiful small town in New Zealand in the 2020 Keep New Zealand Beautiful awards.
- Arrowtown is known for its abundance of wild garlic, which pops up across reserves and riverbanks in spring. The scent fills the air in early October, much to the delight of foodies. It is great in pestos and soups and, of course, to make garlic bread.
- The Arrowtown Golf Club, established in 1911, is one of the oldest in New Zealand and also one of the most scenic.
Auckland
I should practise what I preach.
I try to live by the principle that if you’re not happy with a situation you find yourself in, you should change it.
If you have no control over it, stop worrying about it. Let it go.
Easier said than done, I know, but I try.
I have a love–hate relationship with Auckland. I catch myself from time to time complaining about the traffic, the weather, and housing prices, but I’m still here.
Why?
Because for me, the positives far outweigh the negatives. I live in a small beach town north of the city on the Hibiscus Coast, and I work from home. So I don’t have to spend hours in traffic every day, and I get to enjoy beautiful views and the pleasures of living in a small place. Here in Ōrewa, you can be forgiven for forgetting that you’re actually in Auckland.
Although Auckland is not the capital of New Zealand (Wellington is), it is the largest city. As of June 2024, approximately 1.8 million Kiwis live in the greater Auckland region.
It is the major economic and financial centre of the country, which explains why so many people choose to make it their home.
I will dedicate a separate blog post to Auckland, as there is so much to talk about.
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