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Banks Peninsula

When Captain James Cook first spotted Hikuraki (Banks Peninsula) he thought it was an island because of the deep pathways made by the sea into Lyttelton Harbour on the northern side and Akaroa Harbour, on the southern side. If he had explored either harbour, he would have realised they did not join up.

Captain Cook named Hikuraki Banks Island after Joseph Banks, the botanist who accompanied him on his voyage to New Zealand.


Akaroa

In 1840, French settlers arrived at Akaroa, which had just been claimed under the Treaty of Waitangi by the English. To this day, Akaroa remains unique as the site of the only attempted settlement by the French in New Zealand.

Many streets have French names, and there are descendants of the original French families still living in Akaroa. The charm of this old French town, together with the incredible scenery encountered on the way, have assured Akaroa's popularity as a unique tourist destination.

Quicktime movie Take a look at Akaroa on a sunny Canterbury day (970 KB) - this 360o movie view of Akaroa Harbour lets you pan around and zoom in and out. It requires Quicktime (a free download) Leaving Environment Canterbury

Lyttelton

The beginning of Lyttelton as we know it today – a bustling and busy port town – began in the winter of 1849 with the levelling of the foreshore, laying out of streets, a jetty created and barracks built to provide short-term beds for the hundreds of new migrants on their way.

Lyttelton is Canterbury’s biggest port and an essential part of the transport of people and goods for over 150 years. It was originally called Port Cooper, but later named after Lord Lyttelton, who was a key member of the Canterbury Association, which organised the migration of people from England to Canterbury, 1850–1855.

Before these English settlers, Port Cooper was known and used by sealers and whalers in the 1790s and early 1800s, and by the Ngai Tahu much earlier. The Maori people travelled all around the peninsula and Akaroa and Lyttelton harbours harvesting birds’ eggs and kaimoana, and trading.

Read more about Lyttelton Harbour

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