Day 4 - Duvauchelle / Takamatua / Akaroa

This is a back blip.

I will have to wait a few days more before I can check in on blippers’ journals and respond to comments.  Our day was very full again today.

After a transfer from Duvauchelle, along the Summit Road above Akaroa Harbour we took a short walk amongst the totara forest on the Otepatotu Reserve track to warm up our legs. From the Otepatotu Reserve it was on to the old Le Bons Bay access track by which we descended into Takamatua and then walked to our accommodation in Akaroa via Childrens Bay.

The weather was good and the walk relatively easy although, once again, there was a long winding descent to get to our destination. 

After a lovely hot shower, I threw some washing into the machine as I couldn’t bear the thought of carrying our dirty walking gear to Kaikoura, back to Christchurch and then up to Auckland.  That done, we made our way to the restaurant where we were having our evening meal - Bully Hayes.  Stories tell that Bully Hayes (William Henry Hayes) arrived in the pacific in the mid 1800s as a smuggler, illegal grog trader, swindler, gun runner and slave trader. The food was excellent and we had an enjoyable last evening together.

The main blip and the extra show scenes from the day. Top left in the main blip is where we stayed in Duvauchelle.  Top right is the rather unusual chook house.  Bottom left are two of the chooks - they lay pastel-coloured eggs.  Top left in the extra is an amazing sculpture in the middle of a paddock. Top right is a sweet cottage and its garden. Bottom left are some other sculptures lurking in the grass, and bottom right is Takamatua Bay, where we sat and ate our lunch.