Corsair bay

I can't believe I only just discovered this beautiful and calm bay just outside of Christchurch in Lyttelton Harbour! There are few really nice swimming beaches (it's very calm so it would good for actually just swimming) and a really nice walking trail that goes for 8 km (to Governor's Bay).

Murchison

This past weekend was a long weekend in Canterbury, so we headed to Murchison. I did some whitewater kayaking and Brad did some golfing. I also accompanied him fly fishing, and we did a short hike up a hill near the town as well. There are loads of rivers near Murchison, but it turns out that getting to the fly fishing spots is not easy- it involves walking alongside and through rivers- over some rough terrain. And once you finally get there, you have to spot the fish- which is another huge challenge!

ELDP

Since May, Brad has been working part-time for the University of Canterbury. He is the coordinator for the emerging leaders development program.
This website explains it a little bit:
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/scholarships/program/emerging_leaders.shtml

Beach Season

Well, it is almost beach season again. I say almost because although the air temperature is getting warm the water is still very chilly! (But you get used to it). I went to Waikuku with a couple other people (my favourite beach). The surf was actually good this weekend (which is rare). It made me want to get a surfboard!

Mussels at Otanerito Bay

On Sunday we went and collected some mussels from Otanerito bay near Akaroa. The limit is 50 per person- but it only takes about 10 minutes to get that many!  There are New Zealand Green Lipped mussels (endemic to New Zealand) and Blue mussels. The Green Lipped mussels supposedly taste better, but there are far fewer of them (and the blue and the green all live together). I couldn't personally taste any difference. We steamed them and put a garlic butter sauce on them!

Hinewai Reserve

This past weekend was the long weekend, and I did a whitewater kayaking course. I didn't get any pictures cause the water was high and fast so I was focusing on paddling and not capsizing. I didn't even bother taking a camera.
The weekend before I did a day trip to Hinewai reserve. It is in the Banks Peninsula near Akaroa, about an hour from Christchurch.  It has beautiful native bush, which is a rare find. That bush with yellow flowers is Gorse- and it is very invasive (from the UK) but they are trying hard to keep it out. We had 3 seasons in one day that day- snow in the morning, and sunshine and warmth in the afternoon.
Brad spent both weekends golfing of course!!

Hog's Back Track

Hog's Back Track is a mountain biking track 1 hour away from Christchurch. The track goes up and down across streams and up foothills- with the last half of the track following the top of a long ridge. It's an excellent track that is very well built- but this wasn't the best time of the year to do it. The track was entirely either mud or snow!