New Zealand: Canterbury Treasures

By Contributor - October 2, 2012

  • Exquisite meals and picture-perfect views.

    Exquisite meals and picture-perfect views.

  • Situated amid the alpine splendor of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, The Hermitage overlooks glacial valleys and the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

    Situated amid the alpine splendor of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, The Hermitage overlooks glacial valleys and the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

  • Alpine memorabilia covers the walls of the Old mountaineers Café in mount Cook Village.

    Alpine memorabilia covers the walls of the Old mountaineers Café in mount Cook Village.

  • The aptly named panorama room at the Hermitage hotel offers diners both.

    The aptly named panorama room at the Hermitage hotel offers diners both.

  • A view from The Hermitage hotel toward Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.

    A view from The Hermitage hotel toward Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.

  • On the tasman glacier with mount Cook ski planes.

    On the tasman glacier with mount Cook ski planes.

  • A view of Otahuna Lodge from the surrounding gardens.

    A view of Otahuna Lodge from the surrounding gardens.

  • Pan-roasted breast and confit leg of duck with estate-grown vegetables and quince, in the dining room at Otahuna.

    Pan-roasted breast and confit leg of duck with estate-grown vegetables and quince, in the dining room at Otahuna.

  • One of the seven suites at Otahuna Lodge, a historic property in tai tapu, outside Christchurch.

    One of the seven suites at Otahuna Lodge, a historic property in tai tapu, outside Christchurch.

  • Fresh produce from the potager-style kitchen garden at Otahuna Lodge.

    Fresh produce from the potager-style kitchen garden at Otahuna Lodge.

  • The Canterbury museum.

    The Canterbury museum.

  • A punter at Christchurch’s Antigua Boat Sheds.

    A punter at Christchurch’s Antigua Boat Sheds.

  • Restart, a pop-up mall made of shipping containers, has brought business back to downtown Christchurch.

    Restart, a pop-up mall made of shipping containers, has brought business back to downtown Christchurch.

  • Owners bruce and Carol Hyland at maison de la mer.

    Owners bruce and Carol Hyland at maison de la mer.

  • The nautically themed boathouse suite at maison de la mer in akaroa.

    The nautically themed boathouse suite at maison de la mer in akaroa.

  • Christchurch’s Cargobar.

    Christchurch’s Cargobar.

  • Driving past akaroa’s 19th-century lighthouse.

    Driving past akaroa’s 19th-century lighthouse.

  • Boat sheds in akaroa.

    Boat sheds in akaroa.

Click image to view full size

THE DETAILS

 

Canterbury

GETTING THERE
Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com) flies daily to Christchurch from Singapore; from Hong Kong, there’s a daily connection to the city via Sydney on Qantas (qantas.com).

WHERE TO STAY
Though most of Christchurch’s city-center hotels are out of commission, there’s still some good accommodation available. On the outskirts of town, Peppers Clearwater (Clearwater Ave., Northwood; 64-3/360-1000; doubles from US$206) is a golf resort with waterside villas and suites overlooking a duck-filled lake. Closer to the action, the Classic Villa (17 Worcester Blvd.; 64-3/ 377-7905; theclassicvilla.co.nz; doubles from US$150) is an upscale B&B within an easy stroll of the botanic gardens and the Canterbury Museum; it occupies a historic house with 15 rooms decorated in a period style. Or base yourself at Otahuna Lodge (224 Rhodes Rd., Tai Tapu; 64-3/ 329-6333; otahuna.co.nz; doubles from US$876, all-inclusive, except lunch), a 20-minute drive from town.

Akaroa’s most charming billet is Maison de la Mer (1 Rue Benoit; 64-3/304-8907; maisondelamer.co.nz; doubles from US$298, including breakfast), while in Lake Tekapo, your best bet is Peppers Bluewater Resort (State Highway 8; 64-3/680-7000; doubles from US$195). Travelers wanting to break their trip into the Canterbury high country with a round of golf—or a seriously meaty dinner at Hunter’s Steakhouse —should aim for Terrace Downs (Coleridge Rd., Windwhistle; 64-3/318-6943;  doubles from US$294), which overlooks Mount Hutt and Rakaia Gorge. In Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, it’s all about The Hermitage (Mount Cook Village; 64-3/ 435-1809; hermitage.co.nz; doubles from US$135).

WHAT TO DO
Canterbury is at its most thrilling amid the alpine wilderness of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, where you can land on the Tasman Glacier with Mount Cook Ski Planes (64-3/430-8034; skiplanes.co.nz; flights from US$322 per person) or explore the glacier’s terminal lake with Glacier Explorers (64-3/435-1641; glacierexplorers.co.nz; tours from US$115 per person). That said, few things could be more pleasant than a morning on the water with Akaroa Dolphins (64-3/304-7866; akaroadolphins.co.nz; day cruises from US$70 per person), or a night of stargazing in Lake Tekapo with Earth and Sky (64-3/ 680-6960; earthandskynz.com; US$83 per person). –CPH

Originally appeared in the August/September 2012 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Canterbury Treasures”)

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