NZ's French-inspired village

About as far as you can get from France, on Banks Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand, chef-couple Ant and Lou Bentley often turn up at work in the morning to find basil or some other fresh herb on the doorstep, left for them by friends and local producers.

The couple behind Akaroa Cooking School feel lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of local seasonal produce – from berries growing wild in hedgerows to fresh fish from Akaroa Harbour.

During their classes, Ant and Lou share recipes, cooking ideas and entertaining secrets with small, intimate groups of up to 16 people, sharing healthy nutritious meals that are quick, easy – and most importantly, fun.

The couple set up Akaroa Cooking School on the waterfront eight years ago, swapping a home in the city and corporate jobs for a new life. Lou, a trained chef, says they knew if they built something amazing, people would come. More than 800 classes later, they have – and from all around the world. The cooking school has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 places in the world to learn to cook local cuisine.

There has been extended-family involvement too as Lou’s mother has played an instrumental role in the business, moving to Akaroa to help look after the couple’s two children, Chloe and Oscar.

“We used to holiday over here as children and loved it. Mum always used to say, ‘I would love to retire in Akaroa’. When we said we were thinking of opening a cooking school [in Akaroa], she put her house on the market and started looking [for a property] over here,” Lou says

Classes are themed – from French, Thai, Italian cuisine to tapas and canapés, and generally run from 10am to 4pm. Ant, who worked as a finance manager before they set up the school, enjoys the change of pace and being able to take their kids sailing on the harbour after work.

The charming French-inspired village of Akaroa is a picturesque 90-minute drive from Christchurch and the perfect place for relaxing and recharging.

Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront or indulge in some retail therapy while canvassing an abundance of galleries and artisan gift shops.

Take in the natural beauty of the harbour aboard a sail boat, or get up close and personal with its marine life by swimming with the dolphins or visiting New Zealand’s largest onshore blue penguin colony.

Top it all off by checking out the village’s enticing cafés and restaurants, serving fresh local produce and seafood.

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