January 2023

Lyttelton is a busy port town at the north western end of Banks Peninsula, close to the South Island's biggest city Christchurch. It's eclectic and well worth a visit. More than 3,000 live here and although badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake, it has bounced back with cute cafes, lots of artists, a brewery bar and an iconic Saturday Street market.

Akaroa is the jewel in Canterbury's bank peninsula's crown and just an hour and twenty over the hill from Christchurch. Highway No. 75 out of Christchurch to Akaroa is well signposted. At the end is Akaroa Village. It's on the waterfront and your starting point for harbour cruises, fishing trips, swims with Hector dolphin and close up experiences with other wildlife. Here, Orca may even cast a beady up at you!

The Arrowtown Choppers are a volunteer group dedicated to the removing of wilding pines above Arrowtown, and replanting with New Zealand native Beech, Ribbonwood and Totara, to enhance the biodiversity of the area and we love them! To Date 17,000 trees have been planted over 7 years and volunteer numbers as high as ever, it is making a huge difference to the region!

Without large scale funding and control within twenty years 20% of New Zealand will be covered with wilding pines. As wilding conifers spread across our landscapes they: reduce the numbers of plants and animals that are only found in New Zealand.