Tiny Places -
Big Stories

Birdlings flat beach

A good gift / bookshop, a pebble beach where the elements come out to play is an invitation for us to explore further.

@thegiantshouse

From the sublime of Ohinetahi to the riduously humorous. A garden where laughter is the best medicine. The quirky statutes are part and parcel of a unique mosaic garden, packed with vivid sculptures that are exuberant, interactive, romantic, fun and full of surprises.

The quirky garden style has a counterpoint in the original features of the 1880 home. The house is a grand affair, solid proportions decorated in the Akaroa French style. The artistic flair of the contemporary, the historic and the terraced site encourage visitors to explore the garden. Visitors want to find out what is that unexpected object, a piano in the middle of lawn glittering with mosaic tiles.

Ōnuku, with a historic church

Aotearoa New Zealand’s heritage is our next stop. Onuku, an ancestral house and church. Onuku’s emotional connection to the land where it rests is powerful. The picturesque Akaroa Harbour and exquisite cared Whare Tipuna (ancestral house) subtly contrasting with the contemporary wharekai (dining room) offers a glimpse into a cultural heritage that is uniquely New Zealand

There is a picture postcard church and lush peaceful grounds. The Marae describes the place as. ‘Ōnuku Marae is the place we call home. It represents the founding spirit of our past and nourishes our spirit and enriches our lives. We firmly believe that our home is who we share it with. So we welcome you to come and experience the spirit of Ōnuku.’

Cob Cottage @thecuriouskiwi

Originally built around 1864 by labourer Bentley Coton for himself and his wife Sarah Jane, Cotons’ Cottage is a cob house museum in a rural setting that tells a story of a 19th century small-holding in Canterbury. The Hororata Historical Society opens the Cottage and the nearby Museum on-site on fine Sunday afternoons. Bentley Coton and his wife bought 50 acres of land at Hororata on the Canterbury Plains. Coton built a small cob cottage that originally consisted of five rooms including an attic bedroom.

The property was subsequently purchased by the Oliver family in 1927 and it remained in the family until the 1970s. The cottage was uninhabited throughout this time, and gradually fell into disrepair. In 1971, the owners offered the cottage and a quarter acre of surrounding land to the government as a reserve. Cotons’ Cottage became a historic reserve three years later, and the day-to-day management of the reserve was transferred to the Hororata Historical Society.

@Gunyahcountryestate

In the rolling foothills of the Southern Alps west of Christchurch you’ll find Gunyah Country Estate. Visitors to nearby Mt Hutt and Methven looking to experience the mountains, scenery and outdoor pursuits couldn’t find a more central base than Gunyah.

Come and explore Gunyah’s 12 acres of gardens that are made up of expansive lawns, mature trees, NZ natives, exotics such as our stunningly coloured and perfumed azaleas and rhododendrons from Thomas Potts’ days. There is also the old and new orchard, a pond, avenues, a gazebo, a folly and more.
Spend a relaxing day out enjoying Gunyah’s gardens with their many vantage points where you can enjoy splendid views of Mt Hutt, Mt Winterslow, Old Man’s Peak, the Harper Hills, Mt Misery, Mt Torlesse and even the Port Hills. On an exceptionally clear day views can extend to Mt Somers, Four Peaks and beyond.

Lake Coleridge @d.b.thomson

New Zealand’s best drive, the inland scenic route!

You travel inland up the Rakaia River Valley to find the Lake Coleridge village on the eastern fringes of the Southern Alps.

The village is on the banks of the Rakaia River alongside the historic Lake Coleridge Power Station, 165m below Lake Coleridge. The location takes advantage of the natural altitude drop for using water from the lake to power the hydro-station.

The Lake Coleridge region was named around 1848 in honour of nephews of English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge because of their work associated with surveying the area for European settlement.

Methven Boutique Cinema Experience

Cinema Paradiso Methven is a boutique cinema located near Mt Hutt. We are one of the smallest cinemas in New Zealand able to offer the latest blockbuster movies.

Cinema Paradiso is a cosy 35 seat cinema showing quality movies; Mainstream blockbusters and Indie films. A licensed bar and food is available, why not come down for a bite before or after the movie and make a night of it!

Our cinema is snugly heated, with comfortable seating to ensure a memorable and enjoyable viewing experience.

• NZD 40 per person

Richie McCaw country @The Guardian

Welcome to Richie McCaw country – the town that made an All Blacks legend.

Richie McCaw is among the finest captains and players in rugby history.

His passionate Kiwi spirit has made him one of New Zealand’s most beloved sporting figures.

Vanished World fossil trail to Elephant rocks

From The Vanished World Centre to Elephant Rocks, Duntroon has a great mix of natural and cultural wonders waiting to be explored.

Discover the region’s ancient history along the Vanished World Trail in Duntroon, where you will see some incredible geological formations and sites unlike anything else. Marvel at the unique limestone formations including Elephant Rocks, or explore the interactive Vanished World Centre where kids (little and big!) will love digging for fossils in the fossil room.

There’s plenty more to discover, including Maori rock art and numerous fossil sites.

The Moeraki Boulders on the Koekohe Beach

Moeraki is now most famous for its boulders; mysteriously spherical stones scattered across a beach.

Each boulder weighs several tonnes and is up to two metres high.

Scientists explain the boulders as calcite concretions formed about 65 million years ago.

According to Maori legend, the boulders are gourds washed ashore from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand hundreds of years ago.

Ranfurly tourist information center

Check out perhaps the prettiest Check out a very pretty visitor information site This old railway station has been restored into a gorgeous i-Site building with a lovely garden complete with tables and seats for a picnic alongside the beautiful roses.” Several places for a selfie are, a rgeous Art Deco building with either yourself in frame or someone special. Got a fedora hat and cane is even better. Perhaps outside Centinnel bar (now a museum /gift shop with a ice-cream in hand

Maori travelled through the red tussock naming the area Maniototo ‘plains of blood’ on their search for pounamu (jade, NZ greenstone). The current name recognises the Fifth Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand (1897–1904). The name changed from Eweburn, when the governor turned up in 1898 on the newly opened rail route. The railway line closed in 1990.

Naseby

A cute gold mining heritage settlement complete with a pub trading since the mid nineteenth century, cute colonial buildings, museum and gift shop. A snapshot of gold mining heritage complete with the Royal Hotel serving classic pub attracts visitors interested in the sport of curling.  Proximity to Ranfurly means it is an ideal day trip for visitors exploring the area.  The town, until the 1980’s was the smallest governing body in local government in New Zealand.

WHERE TO TAKE BEST SELFIE

• Backdrop against the Watchmakers building dark green colour exterior
• Yourself learning to curl and yell encouragement simultaneously

St Bathans Blue Lake

An easy one hour walk along the spectacular cliffs and sluiced areas with iron remnants still scattered around. This track runs from opposite the Vulcan around the side of the Blue Lake.

Lose track of time in a quaint historic town that’s barely changed since the gold rush days. In 1887, Saint Bathans was a bustling town with around 2,000 miners living in the immediate vicinity. Some of the buildings from that era remain today and little else has been added since, so it’s very easy to imagine the town as it was during the gold rush.

WHERE TO TAKE BEST SELFIE

• Backdrop against the Watchmakers building dark green colour exterior
• Yourself learning to curl and yell encouragement simultaneously

Сycling the Otago Central Rail Trail, Middlemarch

Experience the wide-open skies and stunning mountain backdrops of the Dunedin hinterlands as they merge into Central Otago.

The historic and charming town of Middlemarch sits in the Strath-Taieri Valley overlooked by the impressive Rock and Pillar Range.

The rural location provides scope for a number of recreation pursuits in the area, including hiking, river fishing and cycling.

@larnachcastle

Situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula, Larnach Castle is one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions.

Lovingly restored by the Barker Family, the Castle and surrounding grounds are at the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience.

A diverse business; Larnach Castle Limited offers the castle experience, award winning gardens, luxury accommodation, event management and unique dining experiences.

Larnach Castle has received numerous national and international accolades.