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New Zealand
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Lyttleton
 Lyttleton
is a busy port and harbourside town. The harbour offers
a safe anchor for the largest of ships, from
freighters to cruise liners which call regularly and
has a range of watery activities, with yachting, water taxis, a
ferry to Diamond Harbour and boat tours to watch
dolphins and explore local history such as the
harbour defenses created during the past world wars.
The wharves have very limited
public access, although it is not so long ago there was free and
uncontrolled access, which was great for fishing and admiring the berthed
ships and today casual visitors are confined to the town which still makes an ideal excursion from
Christchurch.
 Fancy
a sailor? there is an excellent though small maritime museum with the
history of Lyttleton and fine replica of the liner The Queen Mary. The
streets have plaques with snippets of local history and you will find the
oldest Anglican Church in NZ.
There are several interesting bars, the Lava Bar is popular in the
evenings and cafes like No 6 London street are popular for daytime meals,
tea and coffee. The
Hourbourlight entertainment venue is one of Christchurch's best kept
secrets. Housed in the old Harbour Light Theatre building, built in
1916 as a Cinema and Live Theatre. It ceased to be a cinema in 1982 and has
in 1992 evolved into the Harbourlight Licensed Entertainment & Function
Venue. The building is a striking old theatre from the outside, and although
transformed on the inside, it still reflects it's past.
There is a small selection of shops, some of which specialize in
catering to the needs of passing ships crews and a small range of
accommodation.
 To
drive from Central
Christchurch, take either the direct road tunnel, or
go past the estuary to Sumner beach and over the port hills with views of
the city and harbour, and down to Lyttleton. For the fit, take a
gondola bus and walk the pioneer trail over the hill. For the fit,
this is an hours walk each way, and for those who like the exercise
but not to much, the port is served by city busses and there is a
frequent ferry service to Diamond Harbour.
Governors Bay
The village
of Governors bay is a cluster of houses with a cafe, a hotel and a
pier that's popular for a stroll, as is the walk along the
waterfront below the village. From central Christchurch, take Colombo
Street south and over the Port Hills to Governors Bay
or From Lyttleton, take the harbour side road south to
Governors Bay with it's jetty, recently saved from
demolition. This haven of green forested residential
land is a contrast to the grass covered hills. There
are some harbourside and forest walks.
From Governors
bay, the road continues to Teddington and Charteris
Bay with golf it's course, and Orton Bradley Park,
picnic and recreation area with access to Mt. Herbert
a good 3 - 5 hour return walk with a climb of 919
meters and Mt. Bradley 835 meters, with longer walks
into the Kaituna Valley and the
Akaroa highway.
Continuing beyond
Charteris Bay to the lifestyle village of Diamond
Harbour. This
is a popular destination for our Sunday drives, to
sit and take refreshment in the afternoon sun and to
walk the pathways to the jetty and safe harbour for
yachts.
The roads beyond
require more attention as you drive out onto the
peninsula, to Port Levy, Pauri, Pigeon Bay, Kakupa,
Little Akaloa, Okains Bay and to Akaroa. This road can be a great adventure for
the experienced driver.
Other activities
include Port Hills walks. Swimming, Boating, Horse
Riding. Yachting, Hang Gliding, Gliding. |
