Driving from Christchurch to Lyttelton through Heathcote | Canterbury | New Zealand | 4K

Categories: Canterbury Region

Tags: canterbury, christchurch, driving, new zealand

Added: 2 years ago

Driving from Christchurch to Lyttelton through Heathcote, in the Canterbury region on the East Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Christchurch is full of world-class attractions, including the International Antarctic Centre, Orana Park, and Willowbank Wildlife Park. The City is called the "Garden City" due to its many trees and beautiful gardens.

Christchurch is the most populous City in the South Island. Christchurch is also home to an excellent hospitality sector with many cafes, bars, and restaurants. Popular Canterbury destinations such as Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs, Lyttelton, Sumner, Akaroa, and Mt Hutt are all under two hours from Christchurch. The City is an excellent destination for those looking for city attractions and comfort.

Christchurch is a city where urban transformation and heritage flourish. The City is forever evolving. This constantly gives locals and visitors alike new things to explore. Street art, innovative projects, a thriving hospitality space, and many beautiful well-established green spaces.

The City is intersected by the Avon River, giving the city environment a natural feel. The river flows through the central City and disrupts the regular rectangular layout of the city streets. Christchurch's rich English heritage shows in many older buildings, especially in the cultural precinct along Worcester Boulevard from the Avon River towards the west, where most heritage buildings remain.

The City makes a great basecamp for exploring the South Island, with the Banks Peninsula and Akaroa within a short drive, together with the Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains.

Lyttelton is located on the sides of an extinct volcano above the Lyttelton Harbour. The town is named after Lord Lyttelton. Driving from Christchurch to Lyttelton is about 12 km through the road tunnel that runs through the Port Hills. The tunnel opened in 1964 and is the longest road tunnel in New Zealand.

The town has significant historical importance for the region as the landing site for the first four settler ships from England. Lyttelton was a town of about 300 in 1850 when the location of Christchurch was still bare plains. However, Christchurch overtook Lyttelton in the 1850s. The town's role as a regional port was assured when the rail tunnel opened in 1867.

In 1877 the Lyttelton Harbour Board established the inner harbour. Later in the 1920s, large reclamations for petroleum storage tanks took place. In 1965 the Cashin Quay container was established with the berth ensuring the port's importance. A new container terminal was opened in 1977.

The town is well known for its Saturday market. Quail Island in Lyttelton Harbour is excellent for nature lovers or those looking for adventure. Quail Island was a quarantine station and a leper colony island. The Island is easy to access by ferry and makes for a great day with beaches, history, and walking tracks.

The town has many biking and walking tracks, with the Bridle Path being the most popular. The Bridle Path was used by the first European settlers to get over the hills to Christchurch. For a more laid-backed experience, the town is well-known for its many boutique shops and great cafes.

The town has many historic and quirky homes. Some of these are very old with their own individual stories. The town is the only one registered as a historic town in New Zealand. The Heritage walk provides an excellent opportunity to explore Lyttelton and learn about its long history.