I am pretty sure I have undervalued Akaroa.

Thought I had been and done all that I needed too there.

Turns out I haven’t.

I’ve been to The Giants House and wow was that something special!

At the time I had no idea what it was but our o.s. visitors wanted to check it out.

So we did. 

And I’m glad we did.

The Giants House itself is an historic Akaroa house with a grand entrance hall complete with a mahogany staircase imported from France, a conservatory with mosaic floor and beautiful large rooms which feature unique artwork throughout.

The creator of this beautiful haven is Josie Martin, an accomplished award winning artist (clearly) with a Diploma in Horticulture.

But it’s the gardens that take your breath away.

Not for their vegetation as such, although they are stunning and beautifully laid out.

But for the sculptures, mosaics and ceramics.

As their website suggests, it is a creative sensory, a quirky colourful feast.

Everywhere you look, you find something magical.

Josie has spent a lifetime of blood sweat and tears creating a wonderland that we can all enjoy.

You have to wonder what possessed her and how many hours she spent on each piece.

And be glad she did.

It’s well worth a visit.

The photos don’t do it justice.

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So yes, I’ve been to the Giants House.

I’ve been to the light house, wandered along the main streets, visited the museum and the old church, eaten in cafe’s and shopped at many of the little tourist shops.

I’ve been on a few walks, and been through the cemetery.

As you do.

But I missed one of the best attractions of Akaroa. 

I went recently to Akaroa with my two NZ besties for a girl’s weekend.

I was the designated driver so I picked up Bestie 1 (B1, named accordingly in order of pickup) and headed to Bestie 2’s (B2) place.

Well our intention was to head to B2. 

Somehow we got lost on a completely straight road. 

B1 and I had it in our head that B2’s place was hard to find.

There was some over thinking involved.

Newish suburb, didn’t believe it was on google maps.

Drove around for quite a while, taking a left here, a right there, wasting good coffee time, AND I have no doubt, although not confirmed, annoying B2. 

Started to think we would have to get B2 driven to us.

Until common sense prevailed.

And realised if we went straight we would end up at hers. 

Which we did. 

Picked her up, after a good laugh about our old age incompetency (she is much younger than both of us) we headed southish.

Akaroa is a small fishing harbour about 82km south east of Christchurch.

The name Akaroa is Kai Tahu Maori for Long Harbour.

Population maybe 700ish, and a high ratio of residents over 65. 

I felt I fitted in quite well.

Beginning from 1838 when French whaler, Captain Langlois decided that Akaroa was an ideal location for a town that could service whaling ships, it has a lot of history – French, German and Maori. 

Some good, some not so good.

The French influence is very clear in the street names, the French cuisine on offer and the shops. 

All in all a lovely little place to spend a weekend, without a doubt.

B1 had booked us into the most charming little house, looking out over the harbour, AND organised sailing with the Dolphins.

To be honest, I wasn’t that keen.

On the sailing.

Or the dolphins.

Been there, done that.

Hung out with seals from our boat.

Boating. Sailing.

All the same.

Yada Yada.

Right?

Wrong……

It was a stunning day however, so I went with the flow – probably better to go sailing than wandering around the town looking at shops.

After all I hadn’t been on ‘that’ boat.

The Fox II is the oldest sailing boat in Akaroa Harbour.

The owners donate a portion of their takings towards dolphin conservation research and in the ‘off’ season they use it exclusively for a charitable trust to help Canterbury children experience sailing, training over 1500 children each year in sailing basics.

It’s a classic gaff-rigged vessel built in 1922 in Auckland and is the oldest working gaff-rigged ketch.

I am sure some of you know what the hell all of that means.

So along I went with hat and sunscreen in hand plus a little bit of cash.

Yes I had heard the rumours there was wine on-board.

We got on Fox II with about 12 other people and off we went out into the harbour.

Complete with a narrative from the Capitan (said like Oi Capitan!) which was semi loud, to hear over the motor.

As we got out to the heads, the motor was cut, we started to drift and the narrative ceased.

Which was sort of good because B1 wasn’t keen on hearing the Capitan speak again on the history of the area.

B1 had done this same trip three weeks earlier.

B2 and I thought Oi Capitan was quite interesting.

On came classical music and out came the dolphins, magically appearing from the depths of the bay.

There is something to be said about these mammals.

Considered one of the most intelligent animals, they are able to see with sound. Echolocation, much like sonar with a submarine.

The dolphin emits a sound and then listens for the echo as that sound bounces off the objects, these sound waves travel back to the dolphin. They are able to get information out of the sound, such as the size and shape of objects or obstructions near them and what material they are made of.

Pretty amazing.

They know the sailing boats in the Akaroa water.

And this particular boat.

It was clear they loved the music.

I can’t describe how calming and humbling it was to watch them move in time to the rhythm of the boat and the sound of the music.

Mesmerising.

Serene.

Special.

Makes you think about life and how simple it really should be.

Yes, I have undervalued Akaroa and hadn’t enjoyed one of the best experiences of this charming little port.

Be warned future o.s. visitors.

We are going to Akaroa.

We are sailing with dolphins.

Everyone else?

If you get the opportunity.

Do it.

It will be one of those wonderful memorable, maybe even life changing experiences.

And that’s all I have to say about that.