Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mall lined with phoenix palms. On either side,
South New Brighton
and
North Beach
are quieter options, as is
Waimairi
, further north.
Smaller but prettier
Sumner
is at the foot of the Port Hills, on the south side of the es-
tuary. With good eateries, accommodation and an art-house cinema, it's an easy place to
visit and a relaxing place to stay, only 12km from the city centre.
Further east around the headland, isolated
Taylors Mistake
has the cleanest water of
any Christchurch beach and some good surfing breaks. Beginners should stick to Sumner
or New Brighton.
Walking
The i-SITE has up-to-date information on walks around Christchurch. Some popular
tracks, particularly around the Port Hills, were closed at the time of writing due to rock
falls and instability following the earthquakes, so it's vital to check the current situation
before setting off (search
www.ccc.govt.nz
with the keywords 'Port Hills').
For great views of the city, take the walkway from the
Sign of the Takahe
on Dyers
Pass Rd. The various 'Sign of the…' places in this area were originally roadhouses built
during the Depression as rest stops. This walk leads up to the
Sign of the Kiwi
through
Victoria Park and then along Summit Rd to Scotts Reserve, with several lookout points
along the way.
You can walk to Lyttelton on the
Bridle Path
(1½ hours), which starts at Heathcote
Valley (take bus 28). The
Godley Head Walkway
(two hours return) begins at Taylors
Mistake, crossing and recrossing Summit Rd, and offers beautiful views on a clear day.
Cycling
Christchurch has more cyclists than any other NZ city, due to its flatness and over 330km
of on- and off-road cycleways. These are detailed on the city council's website
(
www.ccc.govt.nz
), which also has updates on the current status of mountain-bike tracks
through the Port Hills.
urb of Hornby to the Banks Peninsula hamlet of Little River. A couple of small sections
traverse roads without cycle lanes, although this is only temporary. Join the trail 20km
from Little River at Motukarara for the best of the ride.
City Cycle Hire
BICYCLE RENTAL
( 03-377 5952;
www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz
; bike half-/full day $25/35, mountain bike half-/full
day $30/45)
Offers door-to-door delivery of on- and off-road city bikes and touring bikes.
