Banks Peninsula and the picturesque town of Akaroa are about an hour's drive south east from Christchurch. It was formed from a volcanic eruption about 9 million years ago.

We took the more scenic and twisty route towards Akaroa. One thing Richard and I both like about the road signage in New Zealand is that on bends there are sings suggesting the maximum speed you should take the bend. Very handy when in a campervan with pots, pans and a hob clattering about.

We got the first glimpse from the Hill Top Café before heading down to our campsite at Duvauchelle. French town and street names are widespread in the area because in 1840 it was initially colonised by the French, just before Britain took over the whole of the country. The peninsula was also one of the first places settled by the Maori.

I expected the landscape to have darker soil and volcanic rocks like Tenerife. But it was the usually lush green rolling hills with sheep, a few trees and lovely turquoise water.

Our campsite was right on the tiny harbour of Duvauchelle looking over the water. Sounds and looks lovely but by god was it windy. Although that can be said for a lot of New Zealand, I can see now why many of the shops sell specialised clothing, you either need something to protect you from the wind, or the rain, or the sun, or sometimes all three.

We'd glanced at the weather forecast on Al Jazeera TV while cooking tea in the campsite kitchen. It predicted fine weather for the early morning with cloud and rain coming in the afternoon. So we had a prompt start and drove round the rim of the volcanic crater, then into Akaroa.

Akaroa is the prettiest town we've seen so far, in a bay sheltered from the wind around. Boats in the harbour, people kayaking, rowing boats, and trips to swim with dolphins. I didn't fancy the swim with dolphins, it sent shivers up my spine, especially when I read the advertisement which stated free hot showers and warm drink afterwards. No thank you.

We ate our homemade cheese and piccalilli sandwiches and basked in the sun watching the goings on in the harbour. What more could you want? A night out in Sunny Beach actually!

Katy