Introducing North Canterbury
From Christchurch, SH1 heads north for 57km through Woodend and Amberley to Waipara. From here SH1 continues northeast to Kaikoura, while SH7 branches due north to Hurunui through flat farming country and reaches Culverden. About 27km from Culverden is the turn-off from SH7 to Hanmer Springs, a thermal resort. The Alpine Pacific Triangle Touring Guide outlines things to see and do in this region. See www.hurunui.com.
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The Brew Moon Garden Café & Brewery (03-314 0830; 150 Ashworths Rd, Amberley; mains $18-30; 10.30am-10.30pm Wed-Sun) on SH75 in Amberley crafts four different beers; sample them all for $8.80. Gourmet pizzas and good value platters ($30) are also on offer.
A few kilometres up SH1, the scenic Waipara Valley is home to over a dozen wineries. Sample a Pinot Noir or riesling and stop for lunch at one of the spectacular vineyard restaurants. Waipara Springs (03-314 6777; SH1, north of Waipara), Pegasus Bay (03-314 6869; www.pegasusbay.com; Stockgrove Rd, south of Waipara) and the Mud House (03-314 6900; www.themudhouse.co.nz; SH1, south of Waipara) are open daily for wine tasting and sales, and all have restaurant-cafés.
The Pegasus Bay restaurant (mains $26-35, noon-4pm) has an old-world ambience set amid a lovely garden. A smidgen of imagination will make you think you’re in Europe. The menu takes advantage of superb local produce and suggests wines to complement each dish.
Near the intersection with SH7 is Waipara Sleepers (03-314 6003; www.inet.net.nz/~waipara.sleepers; 12 Glenmark Dr; unpowered/powered sites $20/24, dm/s/d from $20/27/40), where you can camp, bunk down in converted train carriages, and cook your own meals in the ‘station house’; the local pub and general store are located closeby.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
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