Student’s Guide to the Gateway to the South
If you’re in Canterbury, you need to head up the Port Hills. Source: Rosie Leishman.
Ōtautahi is the gateway to the South. If you like a swim, a hīkoi, hike, surf, ski, or just a scenic drive, Canterbury can cater.
As UC students, it’s our special slice of heaven. It’s important to make the most of it by venturing out of Ilam and exploring the Garden City – and beyond its borders to the rest of Te Waipounamu.
In my two years thus far, I have made it a mission to venture South. The memories made on those afternoon, day, or week-long trips have been the highlight of my university experience. Here’s a brief guide to the gateway of my top spots I've found so far, to inspire you to embody your inner explorer amongst the study grind.
First off—
Close to Ilam, we have the famous central parks:
Hagley Park
Botanic Gardens
Riccarton Bush
Mona Vale
These are your best local go-to’s for a quick getaway and refresh after a hectic uni week or dusty Sunday stroll. The trees, the Avon streaming, the blossoms springing, autumn leaves, and ducks to befriend, these spots are places of comfort whenever you need it most. Early in the chilly mornings or as the sun is setting, it’s this Fab Four that crowned Christchurch as ‘The Garden City.’
A little further but within the borders, we have–
Sumner & Taylors Mistake:
Surf and swim
Godley Heads walk
Fish and chippies on the beach
A good thrift shop or two
If you come from the North, it might feel hard to beat those beaches you know and love back at home. However, Sumner and its friendly neighbour Taylor’s Mistake are hotspots in Christchurch, perfect for any sunset swim, surf, or stunning walk around Godley Heads. En route, you pass through Woolston and Toff’s – Christchurch’s top-tier op-shopping spots. Not too far away, but enough to give you a quality afternoon outing, these beaches are hubs for a hit of that summer feeling you miss in the chilly months and grey Ilam days.
Port Hills mish:
Go up to Vic Park
Sugarloaf Reserve
Harry Ell walk or Crater Rim tracks
Sign of the Kiwi for coffee and a scone
Adventure park for those Mountain biking feigns and Cashmere kids
Going up to the Port Hills is a rite of passage for any UC student. A scenic drive and picnic at Sugarloaf is a must-do to see the best views of our student city.
There’s a heap of hikes in the hills, from shorter, accessible but beautiful staples like Harry Ell, to steeper ones like Rāpaki or any of the Crater Rim tracks, you can find something to suit any fitness level with some of the most stunning scenic spots.
The Sign of the Kiwi is famous for its delish scones and good coffee once you reach the end of the Harry Ell track or turn up the steep road to Sugarloaf. And if you’re striving for that Cashmere kid aesthetic, or are a bit of a thrill seeker, mish off to the Adventure Park to get involved with all those sendy mountain biking feigns.
Quail Island remains a classic. Source: Rosie Leishman.
Lyttelton area:
Lyttelton markets on a Saturday morn are super quirky and cute
Can’t beat a more underground and high-quality Lyttleton gig
Quail Island ferry
Corsair Bay & Cass Bay or Governor’s Bay Area
Lyttleton is that one step further away, but always worth your time for a touch of that left-field artsy energy the city can sometimes lack.
The strip of cute shops and cafes have great food and trinkets, but the Saturday morning markets always provide a lovely activity to start your weekend on the right note. Lyttleton also provides a different night out, frequently offering the most talented artists visiting Ōtautahi in cool hotspot venues like The Loons and Wunderbar.
Some of my best memories have come from trips to Quail Island. For the day or overnights in the hut, Quail Island is the destination. After a brief, fun, ferry ride over from Lyttleton, you can walk around the island in a few hours, swim, or hangout in the powerless hut to have an easy getaway. How good!
Keep driving around the road to cute shoreline spots like Corsair Bay, Cass Bay or to Governor’s Bay area for chill swims, picnics, beach days, and some serenity where the hills meet with the sea. Bliss!
Beyond borders but worth the trip–
Akaroa:
French markets, kai, cafes and restaurants– it's all very quaint
Any venture around the Banks Peninsula area offers stunning views
Lots of walks around the area
Akaroa is a postcard French township plotted right on one of the Banks Peninsula shore lines, with the sweetest cafes, best fudge, and lovely day trails. Its rich history, colourful culture and cute cottages make it one of the best day-trip getaways for any of us students needing a taste of that Euro summer we dream of in the colder months.
Mt Hutt:
Skiing, snowboarding or sledding for the masters or the rookies
As winter approaches, an early morning drive to Hutt is a must. Although it’s more on the pricey side of the spectrum, getting on the snow is the best way to clock off for a day out with your mates and a guaranteed entertaining yarn on the car ride home.
Whether you’re a pro shredder or a novice, Mt Hutt serves up a lot of fun. It’s worth sparing a bit of that student loan for a good time on the slopes.
Skiing at Mt Hutt. Source: Rosie Leishman
Hanmer Springs:
The Hot Pools
Forest walks
It would be offensive to forget Hanmer Springs. Hanmer Springs is an institution in the Canterbury region for a day away. Those age-old hot pools now have a new slide on offer and the hypothermic walk from the hot pools to slides is well worth the twenty-second thrill. But don't worry, the classic slides still stand strong.
Along with the pools, the Hanmer forests are magical, with lots of trails for walkers, hikers, and bikers to explore.
Castle Hill:
Big cool rocks! (some people even love to play a hectic game of hide and seek there)
Even more slopes to ski and hills to hike
Every time I speak with a Christchurch local, they rave about their memories at Castle Hill. My first time going was on a Sunday, when I was overwhelmed and stressed with university work and all I needed was a reset and escape. Castle Hill was the cure!
It’s a breathtaking and unique spot nestled in the mountains that is a pretty spectacular part of Te Waipounamu. There are also lots of tramps and club ski fields nearby for the pros out there.
Far away but got to be done–
Tekapo
To conclude, I thought I'd suggest my favourite special Southern spot, far but not too far away for a top-tier weekend mish.
A mere three-hour trip, Tekapo is stunning. The little church, the bright blue lake, the stars, the skating, the snow and a mandatory Fairlie pie en route, a trip to Tekapo is a must-do while living south.
Although it might not be known to have the most diverse population, Canterbury is a diverse playground for any sort of outdoor pursuit and we are all lucky enough to call it our very own!
So get out there and enjoy!