Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Akaroa
Giant's House
GARDEN
(
www.thegiantshouse.co.nz
; 68 Rue Balguerie; adult/child $20/10; noon-5pm Jan-Apr, 2-4pm
May-Dec)
An ongoing labour of love from local artist Josie Martin, this playful and whim-
sical combination of sculpture and mosaics cascades down a hillside garden above
Akaroa. Echoes of Gaudà and Miró can be found in the intricate collages of mirrors, tiles
and broken china, and there are many surprising nooks and crannies to discover. Martin
also exhibits her paintings and sculpture in the lovely 1880 house, the former residence of
Akaroa's first bank manager.
Akaroa Museum
MUSEUM
(
www.akaroamuseum.org.nz
; cnr Rues Lavaud & Balguerie; adult/child $4/1; 10.30am-4.30pm)
This interesting museum is spread over several historic buildings, including the old court-
house; the tiny 1858 Custom House by Daly's Wharf; and one of NZ's oldest houses,
Langlois-Eteveneaux. It has interesting displays on the peninsula's once-significant Maori
population, a courtroom diorama and a 20-minute audiovisual display on peninsular his-
tory.
St Patrick's Catholic Church
CHURCH
(
www.akaroacatholicparish.co.nz
; 29 Rue Lavaud; 8am-8pm)
Akaroa's cute frilly-edged Cath-
olic church was built in 1865, replacing an earlier one which had blown down in a storm.
The richly coloured stained glass was imported from Stuttgart.
Tree Crop Farm
GARDEN
( 03-304 7158;
www.treecropfarm.com
;
Rue Grehan; admission $5; 10am-4pm in good weath-
er only; )
This quirky private wilderness garden (based loosely on Renoir's) has ram-
bling, overgrown tracks and sheepskin-covered couches on a ramshackle verandah.
