Naomi Rowley pulls on the wetsuit and braves the waves at a surf camp.

Claire Trevett saddles up and travels from Rawene to Pouto Point the old-fashioned way.

Now rapidly developing as a tourist destination in its own right, Akaroa retains a definite Gallic flavour.

One moment, I'm floating face-down in the water on the lookout for any sign of Flipper. The next, 40-odd dusky dolphins overtake me