Parks worth a weekend wander
Christchurch has long been known as the Garden City, its exotic trees and riverside planting creating lush surrounds for residents and visitors alike.
Aside from the obvious picks of Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens, the city is filled with hidden parks and lesser-known gardens worthy of a lunchtime trip or weekend wander.
Once a landmark of Ferry Rd, the Edmonds Factory was demolished in 1990 after more than 100 years of baking powder production. The ornate garden planted around it, immortalised on the cover of the Edmonds Cookery Book, still stands today. Mature roses and manicured beds surround lush lawns, while mature trees provide shade on a hot day.
A car park down a long driveway makes the garden and park easily accessible, while the playground and large field out the back make it a popular choice for families. Friends of the Edmonds Factory Garden tend to the area.
West across the city is Ilam Gardens, popular with students due to its proximity to the University of Canterbury. Originally the gardens of the Ilam Homestead, and featured in Peter Jackson’s early film Heavenly Creatures, the secluded haven is filled with mature plantings and grassy glens. The Avon River passes through the bush-like surrounds, with numerous bridges crossing the river in its infancy. The gardens open out to the Ilam Fields, one of the largest open sports fields in the city.
Closer to town and within the Botanic Gardens is the Heritage Rose Garden. Not to be confused with the Central Rose Garden, the smaller heritage garden is often quiet and under utilised. The area was established in 1950 and remodelled in 1999, and is regularly maintained and cared for. While at its best in November, the roses should still be in bloom through December. Expect to have the garden to yourself.
Further afield, and a family favourite, is the Heathcote Domain. Large oak trees shelter a picnic area and playground, including a rather fast and loose flying fox. Stone steps lead up to the Heathcote playing field, where cricket is played and dogs are run. The vista is dominated by the rocky hills of the surrounding valley, Mt Cavendish serviced by the Christchurch Gondola, and a line up of precipitous Mt Pleasant houses.