The wee-est post office
by TheWanderingCamel
Betwen Duvauchelle and Akaroa you pass this wee building on the road. What is it?
The red panels by the door give you the clue - this was the Robinson Bay post Office - you can still see the panel of post box doors and the posting box, though both are sealed up these days.
It's not quite as small as the littlest post office I've ever seen ( the famous Ochapeepost office in Florida) but just imagine then what it must have been like in the days when the two sisters who ran it for years until it closed were at work - the image conjured up by Gerry Trott, the mailman on the Eastern Bays Mail Run, of the two "more than portly" ladies at work did make us wonder how they managed to fit themselves, their work tables, telephone exhange and the mailbags all in at the same time!
Hector Dolphins
by CandS
While we were on our dolphin cruise we saw heaps of Hector Dolphins...they are so cute and so tiny compared to the dolphins we see in Australia. They apparently only live around the Akaroa area and were endangered at one stage but now there is a healthy amount of dolphins again...
Seals
by CandS
We came across a few lots of seals while we were on our dolphin cruise too... They were sunning themselves up on the rocks usually - looking very relaxed... Although these two were having a little tiff over who's rock it was... ;)
The harbour
by Kate-Me
One of the best memories I had is of taking a stroll by myself at leisure, down to the harbour, near the long pier, and admiring the palm and Norfolk Pine trees, and the small boats looking even brighter in the bright sunshine.
Takamatua - the German Touch of all French Akaroa
by Kakapo2
Although I do not really search German contacts in New Zealand, I think it is quite nice to know a place named German Bay. However, nobody would know it as officially it now is Takamatua Bay, and is located north of Akaroa. Takamatua Hill is the last hill you have to cross before reaching French Bay and Akaroa.
When the Comte de Paris arrived in Akaroa Harbour on 17 August 1840 - six days too late to claim sovereignty – approximately 60 settlers were aboard the ship. They were landed on 19 August, and they set up separate settlements. The French immigrants cleared land and built their homes in Pakariki Bay which is now the northern end of Akaroa, the Germans settled in Takamatua which you pass before reaching Akaroa.
Of course, the French and the Germans did not live in segregation, but mixed up. Christian Waeckerle, the owner of the first hotel, the Grand, even played an important role in Akaroa's urban life, and was mayor of the town for several years.
Photo:
This photo of Akaroa was taken from Takamatua Hill. It rises to 209 metres above sea level. Takamatua Bay which has a beach and a boat ramp would be behind the photographer. The view reaches over French Bay to the township of Akaroa.
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A new name
Brave doll swinging over the Balguerie Stream.
The Britomart Memorial and the Union Jack.
Have a seat and think of Captain Thomas ;-)