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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Drives

Drives.

The Canterbury Plains naturally lend themselves to good roads, and easy roads generally mean that driving is a popular amusement. Certainly no city in the Australasian colonies surpasses Christchurch in the advantages it affords for driving, both as to roads and horses. The scenery in the immediate vicinity of the city is, of course, quiet, but in fine weather, especially in the spring or autumn, if the nor'-wester is not blowing —the suburbs offer a considerable variety of pleasant drives. One delightful trip is a drive up the Fendalton Road between the high hedges, flower gardens, and lofty trees of this English looking quarter of the town; then across by Bryndwyr to Papanui and back to town by Papanui Road—about eight miles in all. Upper Riccarton, four miles from town, is easily reached, and reveals a more open landscape with well tilled fields, fruitful orchards, and luxuriant hedge rows. A drive past Templeton, along the old West Coast Road brings the tourist far into the open country, within an hour from the centre of the town. At the other end of the city, Opawa, with its drooping willows and narrow lanes that follow the course of the pretty Heathcote stream, is, in its own way, no less attractive than Fendalton. A drive down Colombo Road, through St. Martin's, and Opawa, to the Heathcote Valley, and back to town by the old Ferry Bridge, through Woolston, covers perhaps thirteen miles. Further afield, the two little watering places of Sumner and New Brighton are distant, an easy drive from town. The trip to Sumner by the Ferry Road, and the return by Opawa and Wilson's Road, is about twenty miles in all. New Brighton may be reached by a splendid road that follows the river for the greater part of its course, and gives a beautiful view of the rich grassy banks and graceful willows along the lower Avon. The return may be made along the opposite bank of the river, and through Richmond, completing a round of about thirteen miles. The northern district may be reached by following the North Road past Papanui. Kaiapoi, about thirteen miles from Christchurch, is well worth a visit. Rangiora is about seven miles further along the road, which leads through some of the finest agricultural country in New Zealand. The return from Rangiora may be made through Woodend and the Maori Pa, which is still a most interesting survival of prehistoric days. A drive to Lincoln through Riccarton and Prebbleton
Heathcote Valley.

Heathcote Valley.

page 58 enables the tourist to see more good pastoral and agricultural land, with the Agricultural College in the centre of it. The return journey by way of Tai Tapu, Halswell, and Addington, leads nearer the Port Hills, and completes a circuit of over thirty miles. Perhaps the only adventurous trip to be got near Christchurch is the drive through Sydenham, over the Dyer's Pass Road to Governor's Bay, returning by Lyttelton, Sumner, and Ferry Road. The full distance may be reckoned at twenty-eight miles. Halfway between Governor's Bay and Lyttelton, there is an interesting Maori settlement, Raupaki.

The longer excursions—the West Coast and Akaroa trips—have already been mentioned in another section. But enough has been said to show that the popular conception of Christchurch as a city with no scenic attractions in its immediate surroundings is altogether erroneous.