Day One: ARRIVE AUCKLAND early in the morning. After completing customs transfer to the domestic terminal for the flight to Christchurch arriving there late morning. You will be met and given all documents and vouchers for the remainder of your trip and assisted with the transfer to your accommodation. Christchurch has many good restaurants. Your hosts at the B&B will probably have the most up to date info for you however, there are a number of nice places on Oxford Tce between Hereford and Cashel across the road from the Avon e.g. All Bar One 130 Oxford Tce. I've heard The Vault at Cashel Mall is good. Hays Café at 63 Victoria Street also has a good reputation. Strawberry Faire 114 Peterborough for something light.

ACCOMMODATION: DOROTHY'S BOUTIQUE HOTEL  

2 LATIMER SQUARE, CHRISTCHURCH
011 64 3 365 6034 FAX: 011 64 3 365 6135

Day Two: AT CHRISTCHURCH. Do visit the Botanical Gardens, especially for the lovely old trees, Arts Center and, Cathedral Square. You can go punting on the Avon River. Pick up a rental car in the afternoon and visit Mona Vale, an old estate with lovely gardens on the banks of the river. Private gardens close into town include: Will and Jean Cumming "Bloomfield House" 03 384 9217, small formal, Les and Renee Dick,03 322 7389 Small garden packed with flowers, Barbara Kerr 03 351 8698 small and more eclectic. Very nice lady. If you want to go further afield you could go over to Governors Bay to Sir Miles Warren "Ohinetahi" 03 329 9852. Lovely large, old garden but you probably won't have enough time. There is often a good local performance in the Arts Center in the evenings.

Day Three: TO MT COOK. (201 miles) Drive out of the city making a stop at the airport to visit the Antarctic Center. Many of the international Antarctic bases, including the US, have their headquarters in Christchurch and the museum is worth a visit. Continue along the Canterbury Plains through small towns like Ashburton. As you enter Ashburton visit Allan Trott's garden on Racecourse Road. There is a sign to it on the main road. Turn right on Racecourse Road and go down about 2 miles. Its on the left. Very large garden with formal and informal areas, some fantastic iris, rhododendrons etc. Its easy to find and close to the highway so shouldn't be missed. Good place for lunch after the garden is the Ashford Factory. Nice café with good fresh baked food. Head west through Fairlie and into the foothills of the Alps. You will be driving past sheep and cattle farms and some deer farms. Stop in Tekakpo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd. (great photo op). Continue past Lake Pukaki and on up to Mt Cook National Park. If the weather is good stop at Glentanner for a scenic flight before you enter the park. There are many nice trails up at Mt Cook Village. Be sure to stop at the visitor center also.

ACCOMMODATION: THE HERMITAGE, MT COOK
PH: 011 64 3 435 1809 FAX: 011 64 3 435 1879