|
Get FREE detailed New
Zealand travel information
on accommodation, attractions, things to do and see . . .
This guide is the big picture, the overall view, but if you want detailed information on what to see, where to go, where to eat, where to stay go to my (Not quite) Complete Guide to New Zealand Travel Where to stay, where to eat, what to see. Yes, all that. But much more. It is aimed primarily at self-drive travellers and they need to know much more. The problem is how to deliver this information in a logical way - and I have decided to serve it up as the road rolls under you. That is, the information is given kilometre by kilometre for each of the state highways. It is a work in progress. And so far it has been seven years in the making. It is far from complete, but if you are touring NZ you may find it useful. Click here to visit the (Not quite) Complete Guide To New Zealand Travel. |
A New Zealand Travel Guide
12 Great Things To Do In Christchurch 12 Great Reasons To Visit This Shattered City. Just because you’ve seen all those photos showing Christchurch as a rubble-ruined red zone doesn’t mean it’s closed for business, especially tourist business. With flights available ex Auckland from $49 one-way you can take a cheap-as-chips winter break in a win-win deal – they get to rebuild their economy, you just get to have fun. So here, in no particular order, is a list of the Top 12 things still to do in Christchurch, earthquakes notwithstanding: 1: Punting on the Avon. Is there anything more quintessentially “English” than punting? Sink back into the velvet cushions of your boat as the Edwardian punter gently glides you down the lazy but pretty Avon River that runs through the centre of this very “English” city. They start at Antigua Boat Sheds, 2 Cambridge Tce. 03-366-5885. Daily 10-4 (winters) 9-6 (summer). 2: Or row your own boat – hire boats, kayaks or canoes also from Antigua Boat Sheds. It's an adventurous way to see the beautiful Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. 3: Tanks fror the memory. Fancy the idea of driving a 52 tonne Main Battle Tank? At Tanks For Everything you can take your choice out of a range of warrior wheels – from a genuine US Army Jeep to a British Centurion MBT or 42 tonnes of classic cold-war Russian armour, the T55AMT. And for the adrenalin super-buzz you can these ultimates in Bad Boys Toys to crush a car! 4: Visit Akaroa the nearest thing in NZ to a French settlement. Pretty drive of about 2hrs. Akaroa contains so many precious old buildings that the whole village has been declared an historic place by the NZ Historic Places Trust. The village was untouched by the earthquakes so you can still enjoy the cafes and shopping. 5: While you’re out there, cruise Akaroa Harbour aboard the Black Cat, which - because it started in 1985 - claims to be the first eco-tourism operator in the country. Cruise usually includes a close encounter with Hector's, the world's smallest dolphin, and glimpses of the White Flippered Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world. 6: If you're into losing money the fast way, the Christchurch Casino has opened again. Personally, I never could get any joy from watching my hard-earned dosh go down the neck of machines and tables where you know the odds make turkeys out of the players. But, hey, it's not the only viewpoint on the issue and if you enjoy a flutter then have fun. 7: Get a good look at things Antarctic without getting frostbite: The International Antarctic Visitor Centre in Orchard Rd near the airport brings the Southern Continent to the public through sound and light shows, interactive exhibits and audio-visuals. Experience the awesome beauty and grandeur of Antarctica in an entertaining and informative way. 8: Stroll around the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, founded in 1863 and now featuring one of the finest collections of exotic and native plants found in New Zealand. Towering trees, many over 120 years old, dominate the gardens, forming a backdrop to the extensive themed plant collections and sweeping lawns enclosed by a loop of the Avon River. 9: Don’t just get out of it, get high with a balloon safari from Up, Up and Away - floating silently (except for the occasional roar from the gas burner) above the patchwork quilt of the Canterbury Plains. 10: Ever had the urge to drive a harness racing horse – charging along full pelt at 50kph behind a champion pacer? Horsepower, operating from a famous Avonhead training stables, has designed dual seat sulkies and you get to drive. 11: To market, to market. Visit one (or more) of the weekend markets: Cathedral Square market – no longer, of course, in Cathedral Square, but now at YMCA carpark, Cashel St / Rolleston Ave. Fri/Sat 9-3. Christchurch Artisan Market, Riccarton House, 16 Kahu St. Sun 11-3. Ready-to-eat food stalls, art and crafts, live music and the fully licensed Riccarton House Bistro Beer Garden. Christchurch Farmers Market, Riccarton House, 16 Kahu St. Sat 9-12. Lyttelton Farmers Market, Lyttelton Main School, Oxford Street, Sat 10-1. The Riccarton Market, Riccarton Racecourse, Sun 9-2. 12: Eat out at one of Christchurch’s restaurants. Sadly some of my favourite watering holes now lie in ruins in the red zone and the promenade of eateries fronting the river along Oxford St are similarly momentarily unavailable, but there are still some posh nosh spots to be savoured. Spagalimis, 50 On The Park at the George Hotel, Cathays at Hornby for cheap Chinese, Chinwag Eathai Victoria, Cook.n With Gas, Corianders for Indian, Edesia out at Addington, JC’s Place Chinese Restaurant at Riccarton, JDV at Merivale, and if you’re out that way and prefer Thai try Merry Thai, Nobanno in Colombo St, Pescatore another highly rated George Hotel option, Rotherhams of Riccarton, Servantis in Burnside, Thai Smile, The Grand Chinese Seafood Restaurant. And finally, of course, you can just stop and stare in dumb-founded horror at the destruction visited on this beautiful city. If you previously visited Christchurch and got to love its style, its history, its self assurance then you be made of stone if you are not reduced to tears just looking at it.
A New Zealand Travel Guide is written by David Morris and published by 148 Hillsborough Rd, Hillsborough,
Auckland 1042,
New Zealand. Last updated 24 July 2011 [Return to the top of A New Zealand Travel Guide] |
