Edmonds Band Rotunda
by fishandchips
The Edmonds Band Rotunda was donated to Christchurch by Thomas Edmonds and was opened on 11 Nov. 1929. It is the location of many events including a few free concerts and was converted to a restaurant in 1989. In the late 1980's it was a very chic place to go for lunch serving very nice french cuisine. Currently it is listed as Retour Restaurant and still serves french style food. Very well rated too!
The Rotunda is located near the corner of Manchester St & Cambridge Tce and looks over the Avon River near the middle of town.
In a Rugby Mad City
by kiwilingous
The Crusaders are fantastic to watch. They paly a running version of the game - not the boring 10 man, keep it in the tight, no ruck Pom version (though they are the world champs????). A warm coat and beer money are your essentials - one doesn't want to be caught short after a big win
Port Hills
by fishandchips
The Port Hills are full of interesting walks and things to do. During winter they are often covered with snow and nice to look at but very tricky to drive on. Be careful of the conditions when you go exploring around the Port Hills as bad weather can come in quick and catch you out.
This photo was taken from the central city looking past the Westpac building to the snowy tops of the hills.
More sophisticated than the four big Malls
by Kakapo2 about Merivale Mall
We had a house in the elegant suburb of Merivale for a year before I moved to NZ, and from there the Mall was at walking distance. I already liked it back then – but now this shopping mall is a lot bigger and better, and surrounded with a lot of really nice cafés and restaurants. I had to go to the physio next to the Mall for weeks and weeks at the end of 2007 and so had the chance to rediscover the Mall and the whole area.
Merivale Mall is much smaller than the big malls, and does not compare to Westfield Riccarton, Christchurch’s mega mall. But it still has about 40 shops.
I especially love the clothes shops in Merivale which are really totally different to all those chain stores in the big malls. You find clothes you do not see there, everything is more unique and distinctive, and much more personal. The focus is clearly on fashion and lifestyle.
Also the number of shoe shops is impressive. And you have Christchurch’s best camera house, a sushi bar where you can compose your own box or plate (that is why there are biiiig queues around lunchtime…), a chocolates stall, a very nice homeware shop with all my German WMF products LOL
The only thing I recommend NOT to do is to arrive around noon and plan to have lunch at one of the nice places right in or around the Mall. The cafés and restaurants are crammed at this time, and I often had no other choice than to have a coffee and a muffin at McCafé across the street if I wanted to be at the physio on time. But with some experience you can either arrange different times for your appointments, or just eat a little later when all those hungry people are back at work.
Mall hours are 9am to 6pm (Mon – Thu), until 8pm on Fri; Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 10am – 4pm.
The Tram & Gondola Combo
by Kakapo2
As the tramway in the city centre has been revived for tourists in 1995 it is not a cheap option to get around, as a bus ticket for two hours just costs you NZ$ 2.80, and you could well walk the loop the tramway covers. But it is nice and even nostalgic.
The tram has 11 stops:
Cathedral Square
Worcester Bridge
Art Gallery
Arts Centre
Botanic Gardens and Museum
Hagley Park
Cranmer Square
Casino
Victoria Square
New Regent Street
Tram Station
The ticket just for the tram costs NZ$ 12.50 and is valid for 2 days.
The tram operates 9am-6pm (April to October) and 9am-9pm (November to March).
Every night at 7.30pm is the departure of the Tramway Restaurant where you can already digest your meal while rattling on the rails... ;-)
If you plan a ride on the tram and the gondola buy a combo ticket. Whereas a single tramway ticket would cost you $ 12.50 and a gondola ticket $18 a combo ticket comes to only $25, so you save $5.50.
All prices as Jan. 2007.
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Avon River
In the comfy seats at Hoyts
Queen Victoria at Victoria Square, Colombo Street.
The water wheel is rather new.
