Banks Peninsula to Lewis Pass - Day 273

Trip Start Jan 31, 2008
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194
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Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
In my car somewhere
(Auckland hotels)

Flag of New Zealand  , South Island,
Saturday, November 22, 2008

Left Christchurch this morning and headed to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula. The Landscape of rolling green hills on the peninsula is a carbon copy of the Peak district close to where I live back in the UK. This brought my thoughts to home for a while. I'll be home in less than 3 weeks now and I'm quite looking forward to seeing by family and friends after nearly a year of living as the Mountain Nomad. "There's no place like home" and it will be nice to enjoy the comforts of familiar surroundings for couple of weeks over the festive period before I head off on another adventure.

Akaroa is the biggest town on the Banks peninsula and has a big French influence due the French settlers who arrived here in the mid 19th century. The British had already laid claim to the land, but if the French arrived just a little earlier the south islanders could have been speaking French today.

Headed back up to Christchurch and drove north where I joined the Lewis pass road which will take me west to the coast through the northern Alps. Once again more beautiful scenery along this windy mountain road. I'm sleeping tonight on the highest point of the pass at around 870 metres. Pretty mild tonight but rather wet and misty. Will probably head for Abel Tasman national park tomorrow, suppose to be some stunning coastline near the most northerly tip of the south island.
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