Two separate and equally spectacular roads are named Summit Road on Banks Peninsula. One runs around the crater rim on the north side of Akaroa Harbour, and the other runs around the crater rim on the west side of Lyttelton Harbour.
Summit Road Akaroa is the scenic route to Akaroa and is signposted on State Highway 75 just after Hilltop. It is a sealed road that winds around the crater rim above the harbour for about 26 km (about a 40-minute drive). Drive down to Akaroa at the intersection with Long Bay Road.
The views throughout the drive are stunning. The crater rim ranges from 400 to over 600 metres high, with mostly open views across the harbour. There are also some views of the east coast of the peninsula.
Summit Road also provides access to several of the peninsula's east and northeast coast bays, including Le Bons, Okains, Little Akaloa, and Pigeon Bay. Several walking tracks are also available, including the beautiful Ōtepātotu Reserve and Hinewai Reserve.
There are several places along the drive where there is enough space on the side of the road to stop for photos, so don’t get too concerned by the mostly narrow roadside verges.
