The rain has ceased as we reach the Country Glen Lodge - the reception area is not manned and no-one responds to the bell on the counter. As we are now anxious to use the toilet, David resorts to a continuous ring on the door bell. This brings forth the proprietor, wanting to know where the fire is. He then wants to give us the benefit of his local knowledge, but we demand access to our room instead. Room 10 is of a high standard with a large living area and separate rooms for a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and toilet. We return to the reception area to be told that the earlier lack of response to the counter bell was due to a failure to switch the device on. We now get his well rehearsed speech on places to visit without asking us what sort of things we want to do. His email confirming our hotel booking promised lots of help in booking local activities, but he dismisses our request for a hangi as "useless" and passes the phone to David when we enquire about a trip on the Steam Tug Lyttleton. Not short of a word to say, he then tells us of his problems in booking accommodation for a forthcoming family trip to the Channel Islands - overall, he gives us the impression that he is strong on talk but weak on action. From the hotel, it is a short walk to downtown Christchurch where there are a number of restaurants. Our first choice (Hay's) is full - it's Valentine's Day - but we get a good, if unimaginative, buffet at the Oxford on Avon pub

 

 

 

We begin our exploration of Christchurch by taking the City Tour on a tram that is beautifully decorated with flowers as part of the current flower festival. The restored 1905 tram makes a 2½-kilometre circuit past many of the central sights, and the ride is accompanied by an interesting commentary.

Christchurch is dominated by its George Gilbert Scott designed Cathedral, which is decorated for the flower festival. We climb the 134-step claustrophobic staircase of the Cathedral's 63-metre spire for views of the city and Cathedral Square - the latter the site of the former Post Office (below)

The spire of the late 19th-Century Cathedral contrasts with a modern sculpture resembling a huge ice-cram cone, and

the interior of the church has a mosaic commemorating one of the four ships that brought the original settlers to Christchurch

New Regent Street

Monuments in Christchurch include statues of Scott of the Antarctic and Captain Cook; and a plaque to Women's Suffrage

From near where the River Avon enters Hagley Park, we take a 30-minute punt on the river,

then visit the Botanic Garden (located in a meander of the River Avon in Hagley Park),

where we have a Devonshire Cream Tea