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Akaroa Harbour, CanterburyThe Banks Peninsula & AkaroaFormed by the eruption of the Akaroa volcanomillions of years ago, the Banks Peninsula is litteredwith reminders of its dramatic geological past fromrocky volcanic outcrops to craggy headlands, deepvalleys and precipitous bluffs. At the heart of thepeninsula is the historic harbour town of Akaroa,the oldest in Canterbury and by far the mostscenic. Originally a French settlement, it has thefeel of a provincial village steeped in Gallic charm,and there are still descendents of the early settlersliving in the area. The peninsula boasts a wealthof wildlife and dolphins are often seen in theharbour. This region can easily be visited on a daytrip from Christchurch but it is worth taking a fewdays to explore.The Olive Grove, Akaroa46French street names, AkaroaThe Olive Grove, AkaroaLocated in a sheltered valley, just a short drivefrom picturesque Akaroa and an hour fromChristchurch, The Olive Grove offers luxuryB&B accommodation with breathtaking views.The 1915 character home has been fullyrenovated to provide light, spacious rooms andcosy lounges with open fires. Each of the fouren suite guest rooms has its own unique characterand personality and is named after one of theolive varieties that grow in the grove. There is anoutdoor deck ideal for relaxing and taking in theviews, and a delicious breakfast of homemademuesli, yoghurts and jams, freshly squeezed juices,seasonal fresh fruits and a selection of cookeddishes is served by your hosts. Set amid the 1,000trees of a working olive plantation, you will alsohave the opportunity to sample the pure andflavoured oils and table olives produced here.Hector’s dolphinharbour cruiseThe sheltered harbour of Akaroa is an ideal placefor a unique encounter with the smallest, rarestand friendliest of the world’s dolphin species, theHector’s dolphin. Cruise the tranquil waters of thepicturesque Akaroa harbour and, if conditionsallow, take to the water to join the dolphins intheir natural environment. With only a smallnumber of passengers on board you areguaranteed a memorable and very personalexperience.Akaroa Cooking SchoolLocated right on the waterfront with spectacularviews of the harbour and surrounding hills, theAkaroa Cooking School offers an indulgent butlight-hearted day of cooking lessons, exquisitefood and fine wine. Using the finest local, seasonalproduce, much of it home grown or from artisanproducers, the chef demonstrates how to createsome signature dishes with the abundance of localproduce available in the region. Each dish is pairedwith award-winning local wines and with smallclass sizes you will have plenty of one-on-onetime with the chef so you can ask as manyquestions as you wish.