Christchurch - The Garden City

We arrived like a couple of late night drunks, at 1am, searching for the key to our motel under the door mat, in the dark. The landlady came down in her nightgown, after talking to us from her bedroom window. She had obviously forgot we were arriving!

We woke up the next day to a bright and sunny Christchurch and headed into the city to explore. Christchurch is known as the Garden city and it is full of parks and gardens. It is the South Island’s largest city although very compact, built on a grid structure, with the Cathedral Square in the middle. The River Avon runs around the city, with grassy banks and weeping willows, old

oak trees, ducks and bridges, very reminiscent of its namesake. Walking along the banks you would be forgiven for thinking you were in England, apart from the cigales chirping away. No squawking parrots here, but very tuneful blackbirds, massive wood pigeons and very vocal Kokakos, like a black bird, noted for their singing ability. People were also enjoying boat trips in punts.

We sat in Cathedral Square for a while, watching the world go by, there were street entertainers, a few market stalls, and Christchurch’s resident wizard, who appears most summer lunchtimes

to cast “spells” and pontificate. We found out later from our friendly landlady that the motel we were staying in was the site of the wizard’s house which was burnt down a few years ago, in an arson attack! Small world!

Talking of small world, Christchurch has a bank which has the same logo as Lloyds Bank, the black horse, even the carpet was the same as the bank pre TSB. Ahh the memories…



We had a lovely meal in a Vegetarian restaurant, a rare treat, before walking a bit more, covering most of the city and its major sites.

The flower displays in the parks and gardens were stunning, and the Botanic gardens with its lawns and woodlands, rose and water gardens were particularly welcome, as the day grew hotter.

There is a fleet of restored trams which take passengers past many of the city centre sights.

We made our way back to our motel room, on weary legs, having walked the length and breadth of the city, made use of the free internet connection, a luxury we may not have for a few weeks, and then crawled into bed exhausted.

Next day our lovely landlady gave us a lift into town, and then met us later with our luggage, what lovely people these kiwis are turning out to be. This enabled us to have a look around the museum, housed in a part of Christ’s College, similar to England’s college of the same name, the pupils are dressed in blazers along English public school lines. The museum had an extensive display of traditional Maori society, and a selection of genuine Antarctic relics.