Summer lingers just a little longer here. The evenings arrive cooler now, wrapping the harbour in calm gold light, while mornings carry that first crisp hint of autumn in the air. By afternoon, the sun still stretches generously across the bays, inviting one more swim, one more walk, one more slow coffee with a view.
Around the peninsula, leaves are beginning their quiet colour change, painting hillsides and gardens in shades of amber, russet and soft gold. It’s a season that asks you to slow down and notice things.
March in Akaroa & the Bays is sunshine without the rush, warmth without the crowds, and landscapes gently turning the page toward autumn.
Le Race
21 March 2026
The legendary bike race is back, serving up winding roads, big climbs, sweeping coastal views and serious bragging rights. Take on the full 100km challenge solo on road or mountain bike if you’re feeling heroic… or tag-team it with a friend and tackle the course in two perfectly manageable halves, swapping riders at Little River Domain.
Not chasing a podium? Perfect. There’s also a prize for best costume, because nothing says Peninsula spirit quite like superheroes, tutus or inflatable wildlife powering up a hill.
Epic scenery. Big effort. Plenty of laughs.
RAWA 2026
Readers and Writers Akaroa 6-8 March
A biennial festival that is hosted by a small group of volunteers who believe in the power of literature to influence lives in joyful and meaningful ways. Our aim is to bring together a community of readers and writers in an intimate regional festival where people can engage with, and learn from, the very best authors in Aotearoa. Limited tickets still available.
The summer crowds ease, the cafés slow to holiday pace, and suddenly there’s time to linger. Sleep in. Wander the waterfront. Watch the mist lift off the bays with a coffee in hand.
Wake Up to Autumn in Akaroa & the Bays
Akaroa Lavender – hilltop views over the harbour in Duvauchelle
A La Villa – perfect for larger groups in central Akaroa
Bellbird Guest Accommodation – set in stunning gardens in Duvauchelle
Akaroa Waterfront Motels – right on the waterfront
Lavericks Bay – off the beaten track on a private farm
Akaroa on the Beach – apartments in “the Glen”
Weekend Vibes
Need a little spark for your weekend plans? Dive into hidden gems around Akaroa and the Bays with these suggestions;
Akaroa Farmers Markets – Saturday’s from 9am-1pm
Akaroa Beach Trail – discover breathtaking views on all-wheel drive electric scooters and a curated trail guide.
Fishermans Bay Garden – drive out to this slice of paradise and take wonder in their dramatic landscape and established gardens.
The Seventh Generation Tours – Take a take a journey with local French descendant Marie, learn about our history and our important historic sites.
Landscape Group March Meet – Friday 6th March. Bring your own kit and lunch, En plein air.
Coming up …
Easter – April 3rd to 6th
Annual Arts Council Easter Exhibition
Akaroa French Festival – October 2026
Plan your Akaroa and the Bays adventure
Lovely Le Bons Bay
Tucked between rolling farmland and rugged headlands, Le Bons Bay feels beautifully unchanged. Wide skies, a long sandy beach, and the steady rhythm of waves create one of Banks Peninsula’s most peaceful coastal escapes.
Early Māori travelled and gathered food along this coastline where the the river provided a variety of food sources for Māori. Fish species included īnanga (whitebait), pātiki (flounder), aua (mullet) and tuna (eel). European settlement arrived in the around 1857. By the late 19th century, Le Bons Bay became a busy working settlement, driven first by timber milling. Dense native bush was harvested and shipped from the bay, supporting a small but thriving community, you can still walk the old wharf road today thanks to local conservation efforts.
As milling declined, farming took over. The Le Bons Bay School, opened in the late 1800s, was once the social heart of the valley. Generations of local children were educated there, with school events, sports days and gatherings bringing families together across the surrounding farms. Nearby, the Le Bons Bay Cheese Factory played a vital role in early rural life. Local dairy farmers supplied milk which was processed into cheese for shipment beyond the Peninsula, connecting this remote bay to wider markets. Like many small rural factories, it closed as farming practices modernised, but it remains an important chapter in the bay’s hardworking heritage.
Today, Le Bons Bay is a small, close-knit community of farms, holiday homes and families who value its quiet, unspoiled character. It’s the perfect destination for a family day at the beach, with plenty of room, public toilets, a playground, sports courts and a flying fox.
Discover more from Akaroa & the Bays
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