The Banks Peninsula is indeed very beautiful. It is the remains of a now extinct volcano, eroded over millennia, and the roads twist and climb around its jagged edges and deep inlets. The coast of the peninsula is fretted into many, many bays, some of which have little boats in. The main centre of maritime activity is this harbour at Akaroa itself, on the edge of the biggest exit to the sea. This harbour is an important home to the endangered Hector's dolphin, and we had hoped to kayak with them. Unfortunately the wind got up and it wasn't to be. Maybe another time.