Banks Peninsula

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Horomaka or Banks Peninsula is a large peninsula immediately South East of Christchurch. When you look at a map of New Zealand Horomaka is the big bump half way down the right hand side of the island. The peninsula was first settled by Waitaha, followed by Kāti Mamoe and then Ngai Tahu took over in the 17th century. In the 19th century came European whalers and sealers followed by loggers and farmers.

There are a few CouchSurfers living on Horomaka but no easy way of locating them. You can only find them by looking through all the Christchurch CS profiles.

The Peninsula is of volcanic origin - Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa Harbour are old craters. The peninsula has a rugged coastline with many deep bays and the two large harbours. Many beaches ranging from boulder to shingle to sandy.

Akaroa is a beautiful town 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch. A popular holiday town it has a good sized permanent population. Settled for a short time by the French the town plays up to that by having French street names and a faux-Frenchness about just about everything.

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