Christchurch
More than four years since I wrote this post I couldn’t believe the mess Christchurch’s CBD was still in. My friend Caitlin, who spent the first 20 or so years of her life in Christchurch finds it challenging to navigate without the buildings she knew. Amongst the building sites, funky street art, food trucks, rubble and empty lots there are gems of Christchurch’s resilience like C1 Espresso, RE:START Mall, The Cardboard Cathedral and the remains of the Christchurch Cathedral and square. 185 Empty Chairs – painted by Pete Majendie as an act of remembrance and are on display on Madras Street where a Baptist Church once stood. They serve as a poignant reminder of the lives lost in February 2011.

Photo by Caitlin Eves
Hanmer Springs
The highlight of Hanmer Springs is the Hot Pools. It was busy even at opening time on a crisp June morning where it was still only 2 degrees at 10am out of the pools. Freezing if you’re stuck in the line for the lockers. The 38-40 degree pools were gorgeous to relax in with the views of the snow capped mountains. Pro tip: take jandals (also know as thongs or flip flops). Your feet will freeze as you walk from pool to pool without them!
Marble Point Winery
We stopped at Marble Point Winery on the route out for wine tasting and a platter and each ended up buying at least one bottle of wine.Kaikoura
On our final morning we watched the sun rise (at the very reasonable winter time of 7:30am) over Kaikaura. Around 26km up State Highway 1 is a colony of baby seals. There are heaps of them, somehow amounting to only 10-20% of their original population due to poaching. They’re friendly, playful and very cool.

I love a good roadie! I haven’t spent much time in the South Island, and
your post has prompted my partner and I to have a chat about planning a South Island roadtrip of our own
Awesome Meagan! The South Island is so different to the North Island, great for exploring.