Akaroa

In 1838, French whaling captain, Jean Langlois, liked Akaroa, the 'long harbour' on the Banks Peninsula of New Zealand's South Island so much that he purchased 30,000 acres of its land from local Maori chiefs.

In a case of getting a taste and wanting the whole pie, Langlois returned to France encouraging investors and obtaining the King’s approval to make a colony.

In 1840, 80 French colonists set sail for New Zealand. Unfortunately they arrived a few months after the British annexed the South Islands. However, Langlois was able to confirm and ratify his agreement with the Maori so although they couldn't be a French colony, they were able to stay on.

Today Akaroa still has that decidedly French feel about it.