Canterbury & Christchurch The road to Darfield © Getty Images BELOW LEFT: View from Mt John over Lake Tekapō © christchurchnz.org.nz INSET: Hector’s dolphin, Akaroa © Black Cat Cruises
5 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF
Canterbury
DON’T STOP UNTIL YOU’VE SQUEEZED OUT EVERY LAST DROP OF CANTERBURY’S BEST BITS. SWIM: WITH HECTOR’S DOLPHINS When the sun shines on Akaroa, the water is a blinding shade of blue and easily the best place on Earth to live. Or at least that’s the opinion of the Hector’s dolphins that populate the shoreline. Akaroa Harbour and Banks Peninsula host the highest number in one location, and swimming in the water beside them will put a long-lasting smile on your dial. PHOTOGRAPH: THE MILKY WAY The whole of Canterbury is a photographer’s dream day out, but the fun doesn’t stop come nightfall. The Mackenzie Basin hosts the largest dark sky reserve – the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve – meaning the stars shine spectacularly here. The Milky Way is best photographed in winter when it sits higher in the sky. Take the perfect shot from the deck of the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.
SWIM WITH HECTOR’S DOLPHINS IN AKAROA TASTE: ARTISAN ICE CREAM A mere skip from Sumner Beach, enter through a small wrought iron gate and find yourself in Utopia Ice, complete with its pretty courtyard and swing seats. The ice creams, of which many are vegan, include flavours such as elderflower and Greek yoghurt, made from ingredients grown in the owners’ own garden. Welcome to the sweetest seaside setting in existence.
PACK: A DRY SET OF CLOTHES This one rule will see you right on a multi-day hike. For long treks, pack a spare set of dry clothes in something watertight. Rain is always a possibility and while walking in wet gear is bearable while your body’s warm, you’ll cool down rapidly when you stop. Arrive at your hut, or back at base, with a dry set of clothes to immediately change into. And don’t forget dry socks.
PAY: YOUR RESPECTS It’ll leave a lump in your throat, but the 185 empty white chairs arranged near Christchurch’s Cashel Street represent the 185 lives lost following the 2011 earthquake. It’s a powerful reminder of the city’s anguish, with each seat representing the type of chair its victim would have sat on: wicker chairs, stools, beanbags and perhaps most confronting – a baby’s car seat.
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