Christchurch : The good things about it

Why Christchurch ?

Christchurch is a wonderful place to come to.

When you are away, what do you miss the most?

In winter you can go cycling along the Summit Road and see the lovely view of the snow topped Southern Alps with only a small number of cars go by. There are wonderful sea and mountain views, nice beaches and open spaces.

First thing you do when you return?

It is recommended that you get a coffee from WAC’s café on Ferry Road ( 1016 Ferry Road ) on your return back from the airport. In the summer when you have got rid of your bags you can go to Taylor ’s Mistake beach. It is one of the best surfing beaches at Christchurch . The sound of the waves characterises the raw beauty of New Zealand ’s South Island .

Best place to stay?

In the summer it is advisable to stay in the beach suburb. Here there is a vibrant surf vibe and have a good number of cafes, shops and a number if restaurants that serve wonderfully cooked salmon with some great New Zealand Chardonnay. To accompany the beaches there are some amazing walks in the surrounding hills. To see an exquisite sea view go to the Cave Rock Guesthouse (16 Esplanade, Sumner; 0064 3 326 5200; www.caverockguesthouse.co.nz; doubles from £50), or there is the Sumner Bay Motel and Apartments ( 26 Marriner St , Sumner; 326 5969; www.sumnermotel.co.nz; from £45). They have a wonderful designed interior and are found in the centre of Sumner. You will also find it easy to rent a house for a couple of nights through an online accommodation website, like www.holidayhouses.co.nz

Where to meet friends for a drink?

in the centre of the town you will find some good bars called Ciao if you like your cocktails ( 131 Victoria St ) and for beers try the Twisted Hop ( 6 Poplar St ). It is a good new bar that is round the back of the High Street and is the trendiest part of Christchurch . In Sumner Wakefields ( 29 Wakefield Ave ; 326 7230) is worth a visit.

Where to go for lunch?

Despite the fact that it is not is the most wonderful of places, however it is one of the good places called Under The Red Verandah ( 502 Worcester St ; 381 1109). It is set in an old colonial style building that serves home-baked delights, from muffins to quiche. You would need to book during the summer months. If you want a mouth-watering food and some amazing views over the city and the Alps , take a drive out to the Cup ( 127 Hackthorne Rd ) in the Cashmere hills suburb.

And for dinner?

There is a superb Asian food that can be found in Indochine (209) Cambridge Terrace; 365 7323). There are inexpensive and more modest is the Bodhi Tree ( 808 Colombo St ; 377 6808) here they serve Burmese delicacies that are offered in tapas fashion. Here some dishes that are worth a try are the shredded chicken, the pork dumplings or the raw marinated fish salad.

Where would you send a first-time visitor?

When it is a nice sunny day it is recommended that you take a trip up the Christchurch Gondola. It provides an all-round view of the city, the beach and south to Lyttelton Harbour . On the other hand if it is too windy for a gondola, you could go and see the same views on a drive along the Summit Road from Cashmere to Sumner.

What would you tell them to avoid?

The Cathedral, even though it is lovely and the fact that the Cantabrians are very proud of it. But while there are not many that have the views to rival this one from the Summit Road , there are lots of Cathedrals all over the world.

Public transport or taxi?

When it is not rush hour in Christchurch , it has no traffic problems. For a quick way to get around there are buses that uncrowded. The taxis are economical if you are used to the UK prices. If you are looking for a novel way to get round the city, why not take a tram. And for those not in a hurry, there is always a punt that is ideal.

Handbag or moneybelt?

In New Zealand there are not any security worries.

What should I take home with me?

You can take home some of the usual Kiwiana, like the sheepskin rugs, but you can also take home some paua shell or greenstone jewellery. This you can get from the Red House ( 186 Main Road ) in Redcliffs or at L’Estrange Art Gallery ( 53 Nayland St ) in Sumner. Now Merino and possum clothing is proving to be popular, you can get this from Christchurch ’s leading department store, Ballantynes (City Hall).

If you only time for one shop?

For some exquisite New Zealand fashion labels like, NomD and Zambesi, impact, John Warburton-Le and Alamy go to Plume on High Street.