Name: The Artist's Palate
Address: 68 Rue Balguerie | Cafe at The Giant House, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand, Akaroa
Telephone: +64 3304 7501

The Artist's Palate

Located on the Banks Peninsula southeast of Christchurch, it is a 1.5-hour drive from Christchurch.  

The following is a travel guide to Akaroa:

Transportation

From Christchurch to Akaroa, you can choose to drive yourself, with beautiful scenery along the way, and you can also take Summit Road to overlook the crater. You can also choose to join a local one-day tour.

Attractions

- Akaroa Lighthouse: The red and white lighthouse is a sunset shooting point.  

- The Giants House: A sculpture world made of mosaics.

- Iron animals on the hill by the sea: a paradise for children.

- Akaroa Harbor: You can take a cruise here to watch dolphins, seals and other marine life.  

Food

- Ma Maison: Provides comprehensive Western food such as seafood and barbecue, and there is a children&#39;s playground at the door.

- Tini Gin Bar&amp;Eatery: Cocktail bar, pizza and burgers, good location.

- Akaroa fish and chips: Reputation is split, it is recommended to order fish and chips.

- Bully Hayes: It offers seafood cuisine from all over the world, seafood rice and seafood platter are worth a try.

Accommodation

You can choose to stay in Akaroa town or other places on Banks Peninsula. #Creative Incentive Plan to share 10,000 yuan in cash

#創創塵計劃分萬萬现金 
In New Zealand, in the southern hemisphere, there is a fairy-tale place - Akaroa. It is interwoven with romantic French style and magnificent natural scenery, as if it is a shining pearl left by God in the world. Now, follow this carefully prepared guide to start a unique French mountain and sea journey, encounter the wonderful world of volcanoes and dolphins, and have a healing date with cloud alpacas.

Highlights of the trip 
- Take a cruise to find the smallest Hector&#39;s dolphin in the world and start a wonderful ocean encounter. 
- Climb to the top of the crater lake observation deck, overlooking the unbeatable scenery at 360&deg;, and take in the volcanic relics of 23,000 years ago. 
- Walk into the same alpaca farm as &quot;The Lord of the Rings&quot; and interact closely with the soft and cute alpacas. 
- Enjoy French baked delicacies and the deliciousness of mussels to satisfy your taste buds.

Detailed itinerary planning 
Day1: Play the symphony of mountains and seas, and encounter natural miracles 
- 8:00 Explore the Crater Lake Observation Deck: Standing on the observation deck, it&#39;s like having a God&#39;s perspective. Use a drone to take a bird&#39;s-eye view of the volcanic ruins 23,000 years ago and explore the black sand beach hidden in it. Did you know? The salinity of the lake water here is only 1/3 of that of the Dead Sea. People can float naturally on the water. Isn&#39;t it amazing! 
- 12:00 Stroll along the French Old Street: Stepping into the old street, it&#39;s like walking into the movie scene of &quot;Amelie&quot;. Open a croissant blind box in a century-old bakery and explore antique shops. You may find precious Maori jade. The mint green post office and lavender flower wall are great filming spots, don&#39;t miss it! 
- 15:00 Start a dolphin adventure: board the ecological cruise ship, swim with Hector&#39;s dolphins (only in summer), and occasionally encounter cute yellow-eyed penguins. In order to protect the marine ecology, remember to ban sunscreen. 
- 19:30 Enjoy a picnic at sunset on the cliff: With the gentle sea breeze, spread a picnic blanket on the cliff, taste the local cheese platter, paired with Sauvignon Blanc and fresh mussels. The lighthouse forms a beautiful silhouette against the pink sunset, and this is a hidden photo spot.

Day2: Cute animals heal time and explore the charm of volcanoes 
- 7:30 Enter Shamarra Alpaca Farm: Stepping into the farm is like being in the dream world of &quot;The Hobbit&quot;. Feed the colorful rainbow alpacas by hand and learn to shear camel wool to make commemorative balls. Let me tell you quietly that the rancher also hides the special experience of &quot;alpaca yoga&quot;! 
- 12:00 Taste lunch on volcanic rocks: At The Trading Rooms restaurant, taste the lava grilled lamb chops and unique volcanic ash salt ice cream. The basement of the restaurant also hides artifacts from the gold rush period. You may want to explore it after dining. 
- 15:00 Set foot on the Akaroa Volcano Trail: Walk along the trail, touch the ancient basalt columns, and look for rare geothermal plants. Don&#39;t forget to take a special nature class - make a natural mask with volcanic mud. 
- 18:00 Attend a French manor dinner: Put on a vintage dress, walk into the Champagne Lodge, attend a dinner in the flickering candlelight, and listen to the ancient legend of the Maori war dance. At the moment of tipsiness, Pinot Noir wine is paired with venison tartare to enjoy the ultimate taste bud feast.

Practical travel tips 
Transportation Guide 
1. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Christchurch to Akaroa, but there are many bends on the mountain road, so you need to be extra careful when driving. 
2. Be sure to experience the Harbour Air seaplane, overlooking the dolphins in the air, and feel a different shock. 
3. You can easily walk around the town, but you need to follow a tour group to go to the farm.

Food recommendations 
1. Lava Rock&#39;s grilled black abalone, a unique dark cuisine, is amazing at first bite. 
2. Ma Maison&#39;s lavender macarons are sweet and romantic, as if you took a bite of spring. 
3. Vangionis&#39;s slow-cooked lamb shoulder is tender and full of the taste of grandma&#39;s kitchen.

Pitfall avoidance guide 
1. The dolphin cruise project needs to be booked 3 days in advance, and you must choose the only 2 regular companies to ensure the experience. 
2. The alpaca farm does not open intimate interaction sessions in winter, so remember to confirm before going. 
3. The volcanic trail will be closed from October to April due to fire prevention needs, so please pay attention when planning your itinerary.

Hidden gameplay 
1. Participate in marine life rescue activities in the early morning (reservation by email in advance) to contribute to the protection of marine life. 
2. Collect 7 volcano observation point stamps to exchange for a unique lava necklace. 
3. Shoot steampunk style photos in abandoned gold mines to freeze unique travel memories.

The Bible of filming

1. Alpaca ranch: Use backlighting to make the alpaca&#39;s golden fur emit charming light.

2. French street corner: Hold a baguette in your hand, stand casually, and pretend to be strolling on the streets of Paris.

3. Volcanic coast: Use slow shutter speed to shoot the waves washing basalt, and shoot a silky dream effect.

Here, even the air is filled with the romantic atmosphere of French chanson. The most unexpected romance in the southern hemisphere is waiting for you to sign for it. Come and start this unforgettable trip!

#New Zealand Travel #New Zealand

The food was excellent, the wine was satisfying, the staff were friendly, especially the waiter, who provided excellent service, and the view was beautiful. The weather was great today, the food was delicious, and the portions were plentiful.

The taste is different from other fish and chips. The location is very good. You can enjoy fish and chips while looking at the sea view. The price is twice as expensive as other places, but it is worth it. There are always many customers in their shop.

#創創動計劃分驚萬現金 

👍Recommendation reason: A landmark lighthouse full of retro style, the best check-in spot overlooking the harbor!

📍 Akaroa Lighthouse is located on the harbor side of the small town of Akaroa on the South Island of New Zealand. It is a 19th-century wooden lighthouse. It was originally built on the cape on the east side of the peninsula. It was later dismantled and moved to its current location. Although it is no longer used as a navigation lighthouse, it is still one of the landmarks of Akaroa. Standing here, you can overlook the entire Akaroa Harbor and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the blue water and the volcanic peninsula in the distance!

📖 Online rumors VS real experience
🧐 Some travel notes on the Internet think that this is just an ordinary lighthouse, nothing special. But if you really take a trip, you will find:
✅ The lighthouse is full of historical sense! This place witnessed the sailing age of Akaroa. The wooden structure is well preserved and the retro style is full 🚢🏚️
✅ It is an excellent harbor viewing point! Climb up the small hill, the view is wide, and you can see the magnificent view of Akaroa Bay 🌊🌅
✅ Suitable for leisurely strolls &amp; taking pictures! The red and white color scheme of the lighthouse is very photogenic. Next to the bay, any photo taken is postcard-level 📸

⸻

📅 Travel Guide: Best Time &amp; Suggested Itinerary

⏳ Best Time to Visit

📌 All year round - Akaroa has a mild climate, and you can see beautiful scenery no matter which season you come!
📌 Sunset 🌇 - The most recommended time period, the sunset shines on the sea, and the silhouette of the lighthouse is super romantic!

📍 Suggested duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour

🔹 Check in at the lighthouse &amp; view the harbor - suitable for a leisurely walk and enjoy the scenery of Akaroa Harbor 🌊
🔹 A photo spot - the retro red and white color scheme of the lighthouse + the unbeatable sea view, suitable for concave shape 📸
🔹 Stroll nearby - walk to the harbor, look at the moored sailboats, and feel the French-style town atmosphere 🚶&zwj;♂️

⸻

🍽 Food guide: What to eat near the lighthouse?

📍 Ma Maison 🍷 &mdash;&mdash; Sea view restaurant, very close to the lighthouse
✔ Recommended: Mussel soup 🦪, lobster pasta 🦞🍝

📍 The Brasserie ☕ &mdash;&mdash; French restaurant, suitable for coffee and dessert
✔ Recommended: Croissant 🥐, handmade jam toast 🍓🍞

📍 Bully Hayes 🥩 &mdash;&mdash; Suitable for sea view dinner
✔ Recommended: Black gold abalone 🐚, New Zealand steak 🥩

⸻

🏨 Accommodation guide: Recommended hotels near the lighthouse

🏡 Akaroa Waterfront Motel 🌊 &mdash;&mdash; Very close to the lighthouse, the room can directly see the sea 🌅
🏕 Onuku Farm Hostel 🏞 &mdash;&mdash; Suitable for hiking enthusiasts, stay in the camping site on the peninsula, and watch the stars at night 🌌

⸻

💡 Other Tips

✔ How to get there?
🚶&zwj;♂️ Walking: Walk about 10-15 minutes from the center of Akaroa town, and you can see the lighthouse along the bay 🌊
🚗 Self-driving: There is a parking lot near the lighthouse, suitable for self-driving tourists 🅿️

✔ Notes
⚠ The interior of the lighthouse is not open to the public, and can only be visited from the outside 📷
⚠ There are many mosquitoes after sunset, it is recommended to bring some mosquito repellent spray 🦟

⸻

⏳ Summary: Is Akaroa Lighthouse worth going?

✅ One of Akaroa&#39;s landmarks, with a long history, the red and white lighthouse is super retro! 🏚️
✅ The best viewing point overlooking the harbor, the sunset is super romantic! 🌅💙
✅ Very close to the center of the town, suitable for a relaxing walk and taking beautiful photos! 📸

📍 If you come to Akaroa, you might as well walk to the end of the harbor, see this lighthouse that witnesses history, and feel the tranquility and romance of the town! 🌊🚢

A very pleasant evening. The food was excellent, the service was attentive, but not crowded. The dishes were beautifully presented, cooked to order, and tasted great. Although a little expensive, you will feel that you get what you pay for.

The Artist's Palate

Reviews of The Artist's Palate