| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
blenheim - christchurch BLENHEIM - KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH Driver Information With so many wineries and award winning restaurants, your stay in Blenheim will have hopefully been a gastronomical delight and you are now rather conversed in New Zealand wines, cheeses and local culinary delights. From the surrounds of vineyards your journey today will take you out to the azure blues of the coast for an invigorating self-drive trip along this stunning stretch of the South Island's coast as you meander into Kaikoura, a top eco-tourism village, made famous for top marine mammal viewing, including close-up encounters with whales. The journey from Kaikoura to Waipara on State Highway 1 is part of the South Island's Alpine Pacific Triangle touring route and travels through a diverse range of scenery, including rugged coastal ranges, farm land, the vineyards and olive groves of Waipara and the surf beaches on the outskirts of North Christchurch. We suggest you spend some hours in Kaikoura and take the opportunity to go whale watching if weather permits! Some notable stops along the route to Christchurch include: LAKE GRASSMERE SALTWORKS KAIKOURA WHALE WATCH MAORI TOURS KAIKOURA DOLPHIN ENCOUNTER KAIKOURA WINERY PEGASUS BAY WINERY CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch is very visitor friendly and it is easy to navigate around the inner city and botanical gardens on foot, or else hop on the historic Tram which runs a circuit throughout the day past the inner city and popular Arts Centre, Gallery, etc. Accommodation is plentiful in the city and surrounds, from swanky inner city furnished apartments to motels, quaint B&B's, luxury hotels and the typical hotel chains. You wont go hungry either! The Strip and South Of Lichfield (SOL) are both popular areas, which are just restaurants, cafes and bars. Highly recommended Christchurch tourist attractions include... Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Established back in 1863, today the gardens are a haven for roller blading, walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog walkers! 30 hectares of park-like gardens surrounded by the Avon River and a diverse range of gardens and flowers throughout… and it’s free! Cathedral Square - Located in the heart of the city, the Visitor Information Centre is located in ‘the square’. A multi-cultural feeling exists in this exciting part of town, always popular with tourists and lunch time dwellers. Be entertained by buskers, grab a coffee from Starbucks, or just watch life colourfully go by! The Arts Centre - During the weekends you can sample all the international flavours from the different food stalls, including popular and some rarer ethnic culinary delights while strolling amidst the markets, bustling with the sights and sounds of artists, craftspeople, musicians, buskers and more. Situated in the historic buildings of the original Canterbury University College, the Arts Centre is one of Christchurch's most significant cultural attractions. Christchurch Gondola - Enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Lyttelton Harbour and Pacific Ocean. Christchurch Tramway - The ultimate inner city tour that lets you experience the magic of the central city onboard a beautifully restored tram. The 2.5 kilometer track takes about 25 minutes to complete and allows you to take in many of the "must see' attractions. These include Cathedral Square, Aquarium of Discovery, The Arts Centre, The Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Punting on the Avon, New Regent Street and Cathedral Junction. Punting On The Avon - Sit back and relax custom built punt as your friendly boatman guides you past the sights of the central city as you meander along the Avon River. |
Travel distance is approximately 313kms (196 miles).
Just past the township of Seddon you will see the towering hills of salt from the saltworks. During summer the ponds turn a pretty coral pink. Makes for an interesting stop and not something you see everyday!