1.1.2018: Harbor cruise and Maori show

On January 1st, probably few people set an alarm clock, but we have no other choice. No sleeping in, instead we have to get up at 7:15 am. We want to try the Akaroa Harbor Cruise again. We keep an eye on the weather suspiciously; it's supposed to clear up in the afternoon, but we can only make it to the 11:00 tour in time. At least it takes place despite overcast skies. We can't even see the mountain peaks anymore; they have disappeared behind the clouds and due to the lack of sunshine, the sea is not as turquoise as usual. Well, as long as we spot dolphins, we can probably overlook the small weather-related shortcomings.

We secure a place on the top deck with an unobstructed view of the sea. It doesn't take long and we spot the first Hector dolphin, which is exclusively native to New Zealand. They are much smaller than other dolphin species, measuring up to 1.50 meters, and have an interesting coloration with their white belly and various shades of gray. Every time we spot a fin, everything else is forgotten and everyone waits for the little guy to surface. In fact, it is more than difficult to take a usable photo, because often you only see the fin sticking out of the water or the dolphin only surfaces for a second to take a breath. Since I don't want to see the funny creatures solely through the camera, I almost always blindly take a shot. This results in dozens of crooked photos of the water surface without dolphins.

But of course, the harbor cruise has much more to offer. We also see seals, a salmon farm, waterfalls, a blowhole, and sea caves. It was beautiful and fortunately I didn't get seasick.

Before we head back to Christchurch, there are three stops on my list: St. Patrick's Church, the Childrens Bay Walkway, and the colorfully painted boathouses in Duvauchelle. The latter is actually a 3-hour circular walk, but we only walk until the large metal rhino appears. From the hill where it stands, you can enjoy panoramic views of Akaroa Harbor. Then we head back to Christchurch.

We don't have much time to relax at the hotel, because there is still a big event ahead of us today. Eric wants to enjoy a Maori show including dinner before he leaves. We booked the tour a few days ago.

First, our group has to choose a chief, who accepts the gift of the Maori tribe and thus shows that we come in peace. Then we are allowed to pass through the entrance gates. Now we are divided into smaller groups that go through different stations. We are shown how traditional fishing was done, how our dinner is prepared in an earth oven, and we are introduced to a common skill and concentration game.

Next, we enter the Marae (meeting house) and learn about New Zealand's creation story according to Maori mythology, where the Maori originally come from, and how they came to New Zealand. This is accompanied by songs and dances. The audience also has to participate. First, it's the women's turn. We learn a small choreography with two balls hanging on strings. Then the men learn the Haka, the traditional war dance of the Maori, which the All Blacks also perform before their rugby matches to intimidate their opponents and motivate the team.

Time for dinner. We start with bread and three different dips as an appetizer. For the starter, we can choose from two soups, with Eric choosing the seafood and me choosing the sweet potato soup. For the main course, we can choose from a variety of salads, vegetables, and meat. I try a little bit of everything, but nothing beats the lamb with mint sauce! A culinary delight! I would have loved to take a part of the buffet with me. For dessert, there is Pavlova with ice cream. Eric waits in vain for there to be something left on my plate.

And so an eventful day with many impressions comes to an end, and unfortunately, also Eric's trip to New Zealand.