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Dunedin - Akaroa / Banks Peninsula
From Dunedin, head north again today to the Banks Peninsula. Without stops, the journey takes around five and a half hours.
You should make a stop in Moeraki on your journey. On the beach you will find the Moeraki Boulders, huge ancient boulders in the shape of a sphere, some of which are up to four metres wide. Nearby Oamaru is also recommended for a break. Stroll through the town with its historic sandstone buildings and visit the Harbour Tyne district with the best-preserved collection of historic commercial buildings in New Zealand. Other attractions include the penguin colony, the museum and the pretty town garden.
If the weather is kind to you, you can look forward to a very special backdrop on the now very flat, straight motorway: the Southern Alps stand out picturesquely against the horizon on the western side. Shortly before Christchurch, you reach Rakaia, the salmon capital of New Zealand. The Rakaia Bridge is 1.8 kilometres long and one of the world's best examples of a "braided" river system.
Shortly before Christchurch, turn off and drive onto the peninsula to Akaroa - a historic French and British settlement at the foot of an ancient volcano. If you fancy a bit of exercise after the long drive, take a stroll through the pretty town and along the bay. You will see a charming town with colonial architecture, galleries, arts and crafts, a lighthouse and cafés. Akaroa invites you to relax and linger as well as enjoy a variety of activities such as whale and dolphin watching.
2 nights in the 4.5★ Hotel Annandale, Shepherds Cottage incl. breakfast and dinner – Details about the hotel