March 17, 2018 Akaroa

Today the weather is supposed to be 67 degrees F and cloudy. A lot like yesterday.

Akaroa is a tender port. After breakfast we went to the Savoy dining room to get our tender tickets. Within 10 mins we were called and went down to board the tender. It was a 20min ride and the sea was very calm.

Our first visit was scheduled for a visit to a farm to have morning tea and watch a sheepdog demo and sheep shearing.

On the way the driver stopped at the top of a hill to take photos of the view, sheep and cattle.  The driver then drove down to a small town, Little River, where we stopped to stretch and use the rest room.

Nest stop was the stop at a Canterbury farm, Manderlay farm.

https://www.manderley.co.nz

We went into the owner’s home to have our tea, coffee and sausage roll and cookie. Then we went to the paddock to hear about sheepdogs and then watch the dog herd a herd of sheep down the hill into the paddock. The dog responds to both voice and whistle commands.

Here is a really good Youtube video of the tour experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhqS1dB-Z84

Then the owner, Ross, got a lamb and demonstrated how to shear a sheep.

When it was done we walked around the farm.

Next stop was the Akaroa Giant House.

http://www.thegiantshouse.co.nz

The Giant House was bought by an artist 18 years ago and she created a lot of ceramic mosaic  figures larger than life size and arrayed them all around her tiered garden.

She also redid the interior of the Home and displayed all her paintings and figurines throughout the house.

Our tour was over and the driver left us off by the pier. We went to the Akaroa fish house for fish and chips.  The food was good but I thought it was expensive - $32.50 NZ. Catsup cost $.60 a packet.

We spent a little time walking around before we got in the tender line to return to the ship.

Tomorrow is our last port.