Paul and Jean's Blog: New Zealand South Island (Day 2)

DAY 2 CHRISTCHURCH Sunday 4.2.07

Very slow start by the travelers today. Didn't get going till 12pm when we were off to pick up the limo from Thrifty. Asked for confirmation that the booking was for a Lexus SUV but ended up with a Nissan mini of some sort with possibly the smallest boot in history. The girl at Thrifty (in pure Sth Island dialect) gave us a few ideas as to places of interest to visit (Sumner & surrounding area). Asked her for directions to Whykickamoocow. She said "Are you serious?"
The stunned look on her face was priceless.

Sumner was easy to find and a very pretty spot. Features in the area were magnificient homes on brilliant hillside lots offering ocean views. The hills were steeper than anything you are permitted to build on here but no trouble for them to put in roads and build up there. About time we realised that these are to areas we should be using for urban development and keep the flat stuff for agricultural uses. Had a drive around one of these hillside residential estates - Fantastic how they have done it.

Realised we hadn't eaten since lunch at the Breakkie Creek the day before and it was now after 1pm NZ time. Found an attractive restaurant in a converted old stone building and ordered the first thing I saw - roast pork, apple sauce & veg - bloody beautiful!

After lunch we drove on over to Lyttleton (a port town) which was where the first four English ships landed creating the settlement of Christchurch. Winding roads cut into the edge of cliffs made the drive down into Lyttleton Harbour white knuckle interesting (mainly because of the way the locals drive over here) and featured great views.

Kiwi drivers have a death wish with the way the drive these type of roads that have no guard rails between the edge of the road and the drop. Motor bike riders are even crazier - overtaking on blind corners at about three times the recommended speed. I'm told they have half the population of Qld but twice the death toll. I would have thought after this experience it would have been a worse statistic so I guess this just means they are better drivers.

Drove around this part for a while with nice little settlements and bay views at Corsair, Cass and Governor's Bays. Retraced our path back up the mountain to the crossroads so we could take on the famous Summit Rd scenic drive. A very winding road with great views. Every corner a new breathtaking vista though it was a bit hazy that day.

I have a new respect for Kiwis now and understand a lot better where their competitive spirit comes from. The mountains are covered in walking tracks and bike trails. Seeing someone ride over the edge of a mountain and go down a 45 degree slope on a winding one foot wide dirt and rock path on a bike was a sight I won't forget in a hurry. Obviously there isn't a bitumen road in NZ too steep for bikes as you pass them everywhere. Some of them would be travelling at 50 to 60 mph downhill at times and on winding roads at that.

The Summit Road has great views out over Christchurch on one side as well as back over Lyttleton Harbour from the other. A gondola ride also takes views up from Heathcote to the gondola station high above Summit Road for those who don't want to tackle the drive. At the end of Summit Road is a cafe known as "Sign of the Kiwi" at which we turned off and drove back into the city and on to our motel.

Our motel was well positioned with lots of restaurants within easy walking distance. Dinner that night was at some overpriced swanky little clipjoint. Great meal but the main course was in the high $40. Highlight though was a waitress whose laugh was like a stallion who had just been hit on the balls with a jigger.

Doesn't get dark here at this time of the year until 9.15pm with still some light at 9.30pm. A leisurely stroll back to the motel via the corner pub for a nightcap ended a very pleasant day.

View: www.christchurch.org.nz