There’s also the emerging reality that things that were once intended as temporary like the container-centre pop-up mall and the Cardboard Cathedral now have such substantial public affection that they look like staying. They tell an integral part of the city’s modern-day story and in time, its history too.

Beyond Christchurch I visited the port of Lyttleton – a town seemingly entirely in the shade and without afternoon sun. It was confronting and compelling in equal measure and is notable for its atmospheric turn of the century bars. Then it was to historic, photo-friendly Akaroa on Banks Peninsula for a night at Noel and Sharon’s art-work adorned, 1878-built luxury B&B Beaufort House.

Akaroa is the South Island’s equivalent of Russell in that it is just about as old as European history in New Zealand gets. It also has the added twist of almost becoming a French colony with the British winning the flag-raising race by a matter of days back in the 1840s.We were treated to 5-star luxury at Beaufort House and with Noel’s sailing yarns, his explanation of the house’s heritage and artworks, it was fun accompaniment to some outstanding home-grown wines (the backyard doubles as a mini-vineyard). The next morning’s breakfast in the Beaufort House grand dining room was suitably epic too.

From Akaroa it was a four-hour drive to Tekapo where we stayed at the Church House as part of the Braemar Estate collection of properties. Cosy rather than fancy, we had the closest accommodation to the Church Of The Good Shepherd – the mightily cute stone church that sits on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Built in 1935, this is reportedly the most photographed church in New Zealand and when you see the views of the lake and the surrounding snowcapped peaks you understand why.

Even better were the views from the summit of Mt John which we were fortunate to enjoy during both the day and at night. Travelling with friends Shayne, Nikki and Richard, local legend Graeme Murray provided not only our accommodation but also the passes for the acclaimed Earth And Sky nighttime tour. Earth And Sky is one of several tourism ventures in Tekapo that Graeme has been involved with over many decades and such is his devotion not only to tourism but to conservation that he was awarded a Queen’s Birthday Honour this year (Member of the New Zealand Order Of Merit).

With the Mt John Observatory in Tekapo internationally recognised as one of the best sites in the world to view the night sky, we had our minds blown seeing Saturn through a telescope on a cold, still, completely clear night. It’s hard to articulate why looking at something you’ve seen a million times on TV or in books could spark such an emotional reaction when you see it with the naked eye (and a massive telescope) for the first time. There it was – rings and all – more than 80 times the size of Earth and so, so far away. It almost looked fake and as a result, all the more incredible.

Hope you like the photos and keep a look out in both the New Zealand Herald and Let’s Travel magazine for further articles about the trip. Huge thanks once again to Noel and Sharon at Beaufort House in Akaroa and Graeme at Parkbrae Estate and Earth And Sky Tours in Tekapo.