Daily Photo – Akaroa in Afternoon Sunshine

By the time I’d made my way down through the hills of Banks Peninsula back to Akaroa township, the weather was starting to clear. Eventually, the misty, heavy cloud cover gave way to bright sunshine. The bays sparkled as the entire area seemingly came to life in the warm afternoon light.

I strolled through bays with names like Children’s, French, and finally, Glen. Filled with boats and wharfs, the harbor was a hive of quiet activity; tourist cruises came and went, and sightseeing tours disappeared around the point at the far end of Glen Bay, the gateway to the wider harbour and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean. I strolled and strolled, my pace matching the slow-natured feeling of the afternoon. Near the Akaroa Lighthouse, I found a weathered wooden bench overlooking the calm, blue water. I watched the town’s colonial charm sharpen under the clarity of the light. The white timber cottages, with their bright trim, looked like something out of a storybook set against the dramatic, emerald-green backdrop of the surrounding hills.