Jen was away for the weekend so I thought that it would be rude not to utilise her car and go exploring. I decided to venture further a field cos I’m brave like and go to Lyttelton, which is just a 12 km drive south east of Christchurch. I toodled off with the radio blaring, onto State Highway 74 and to Lyttelton. The town is nestled on the other side of the Port Hills. The easiest way to get there is via the 2km long Lyttelton Tunnel, which “ejects you right in the heart of the town” (Rough Guide description), and surprisingly quite accurate!! Lyttelton is described as being “a world apart from Chch” and is located on the rocky walls of the drowned volcanic crater which forms the harbour and working port.
Lyttelton is the place where numerous European migrants arrived via boat and set foot on land, and after a small journey over the hill, would start their new lives in Christchurch.
Surprisingly there are no car parks, so I had to just find a side street to park on. This is truly a port town with all the streets named after places – maybe of home. There is Dublin St, Oxford St, Norwich Quay, I parked on Exeter St. I walked down and the main street, London St, which had quite a few nice looking little cafes. I think that I will go back there for breakfast or lunch one day.
Lyttelton is the place where numerous European migrants arrived via boat and set foot on land, and after a small journey over the hill, would start their new lives in Christchurch.
Surprisingly there are no car parks, so I had to just find a side street to park on. This is truly a port town with all the streets named after places – maybe of home. There is Dublin St, Oxford St, Norwich Quay, I parked on Exeter St. I walked down and the main street, London St, which had quite a few nice looking little cafes. I think that I will go back there for breakfast or lunch one day.
The weather was forecast for the day was overcast but the sun managed shine it’s way through the clouds and gave me a glorious but cold day to enjoy. I wandered down on to the harbour and watched the huge containership being unloaded. The next thing that caught my eye was an old steamship docked on the wharf, I admired it and took some photo’s and then they stoked and fired up the coal powered engines, as the camera was still out I managed to get another touristy photo.
The town’s main attraction is the Timeball Station, which can be clearly seen from all round town and here is a fact for you – was built in 1876 built by prisoners. The Timeball Station was used by mariners to recalibrate their on-board chronometers on the descent of a large black ball down the pole on the roof. The ball is hoisted up its pole everyday at 12.57pm and at precisely 1pm it descends. There is a museum there and I did make the 1km steep walk up to the Station and was going to visit. The guidebook said it was an entry fee of $2.50, it lied as it was actually $7. I decided not to visit (I am a cheapskate) but decided to sit in the garden and enjoy the totally beautiful view (while getting my breath back as I really am unfit). I never seem to bore of the views here. There was a flag pole in the garden and after reading the sign, I worked out the 4 flags spelt out AHOY !!!!I came back via the back roads and just followed my nose home and am learning my way round. I was quite proud of myself for that. I did enjoy Lyttelton – nothing much to write home about – so a blog entry will suffice, but I would like to sample the tea and cakes another day.
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