Janet Abbott spoke at the Christchurch Art Gallery last weekend about the baches at Taylors Mistake and surrounding bays. I was transported back to a time when life was simple, and fish were plentiful. Janet's family bach 'Rosy Morn' is a sweet little dwelling we often lunch beside during our walks. Here are some of her stories I most enjoyed.

Early settlers were attracted to this area because of the abundance of fish and rabbits. Hobson's Bach was build in 1879 by John Hobson, an eager fisherman with 9 children (8 of them sons). The family would enjoy a days fishing then stay in the caves over night. Before long they had build bunk style beds into the back of the caves and shelters over the front. Check out the picture below, probably taken from on of the bunks. Hobsons Bay was soon filled with cousins and aunts and uncles and many happy times.

Picture this: its the early 1900's before cars were around much. After a long walk over Scarborough Hill, you are invited for dinner in no less than a cave mansion set inside a cliff overhanging the beach - The Hermitage (built in 1906). When you step inside, fresh moki is served on a 3 meter long oak table, followed by a few songs beside the piano!! Can you imagine how a piano was transported in by boat and lifted up to then reside in a cave dwelling. Many songs were sung at the Hermitage, and parties could often be heard across the bay. It was not the only piano in the bay either, one of the neighbours brought in a baby grand!

I also loved the story of Jim Comer, who brought a bach for £15 and named it Belle Vue. He left it with a friend and went to fight in WW1, only to find his friend did not expect him to return, and put his stakes on the place. This left Jim with the choice to 'burn the bugger out out or rebuild', so he built himself another bach a few caves around. Jim fought again in WW2, now in his 50's he had to lower his age to his 40's, as he wanted to ‘visit some of the old places’. The bach changed hands several times after Jim passes it on, at one point for a box of beers. It was substantially restored in the 1970’s, the refurb included a detailed floor plan with snugs, and the exterior was painted in red and yellow, typical of this era. The key was left out for people to use, and fill the visitors book. Poets and writers, along with surfers would use it, until 1978 when the bach was was destroyed by a big storm.

The line of baches at Taylors Mistake, known now as 'Rotten Row' had as many as 30 dwellings in 1911. Two train carriages were brought in to end their days as baches, and for many years family's spent their summers here. As we know, the 1960's were a particularly social decade, and this was certainly true on Rotten Row. Birthdays were celebrated with gusto, and if you had a birthday at any other time of the year, not to worry, you could just nominate a day and the Row dwellers would through you a party.

Janet's description of growing up holidaying in her Bolder Bay bach falling asleep with the sound of waves makes for an idyllic childhood. Wishing bach owners in the area all the best of luck in their appeal to keep the remaining baches for future generations to enjoy.

On our walk last week we stumbled upon this quaint little cabin, perched all alone on the hill top. Sitting pretty on it's timber platform, freshly painted with chocolate brown trims and white railings, and a little stairway leading up to a roof-top platform. Who has put this little building here and why?! It turns out to be a slice of NZ history worth knowing about. The Cabin, or 'Bill's Cabin', was originally build in Norwich, England for the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913, and traveled all the way to Antarctica! Instead of being put up there, it then went to the port of Lyttelton, and was hauled up Clifton Tce in Sumner, and set up in the garden of expedition agent Joseph Kinsey. There on Kinsey Tce it stayed as a haven for Antarctic adventurers and their families, and successive owners, for more than a century. Some of its impressive inhabitants included: - Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his wife Kathleen who spent their last days together at Kinsey's property, before the explorer left on the ill-fated expedition to the South Pole. - Scott's right-hand man Dr Edward Wilson (nicknamed 'Bill' the cabins namesake) and his wife Oriana. Awaiting his return, Oriana learnt of Wilson's death in the Evening Post, a year after his passing. - Russian dog driver Demetri Gerof, who shared the hut with Kinsey's gardener and his lead Siberian husky Osman (ending up in Wellington Zoo when Gerof returned to flight WW1). The Kinsey Tce home was purchased in by David and Valerie Crichton in 1974, who looked after Bill's Cabin for 40 years, before the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes red zoned the property. Although the house beside it was lost, the hut survived the carnage, and the couple went on a mission to save the historic building. With the help of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Christchurch City Council, and DoC (who put up the $100,000 required for its for its relocation and restoration), it now sits proudly on the hill above Boulder Bay. The Crichtons helped choose the new site for the cabin, where it was relocated this year, preserving its links with Sumner and Lyttelton. They now hope it will be used as a place of learning, a retreat for artists and heritage lovers, and a shelter where walkers like us can stop and eat lunch on the deck.

So there you have it, a beautiful little piece of NZ history, and the perfect place for us to pause, take a breath, and appreciate the splendid view.

Leading up to Mothers Day it was my pleasure to guide a walk with a lovely group of mums, out to explore the stunning vistas Banks Peninsula has to offer, and enjoy a day out together. Fitting in a 14km hill walk between school drop off and pickup is no mean feat!

One story was of of particular interest on this day, was the phenomenal journey of the bar-tailed godwits, so I thought I would post some more information about them. These amazing birds migrate from Alaska each year to the Avon-Heathcote Estuary, which we pass on the way from Christchurch City on two of our Crater Rim Walks.

The godwit migration is the longest known non-stop journey for any birdThey travel more than 11,000 km over 8 days, averaging 60km/hThe birds enjoy the New Zealand summer, rest and double their weight

Their annual arrival in September has great significance to Christchurch residents, marking the beginning of spring. An farewell is hosted to the godwits each year at the beginning of March, to see them off on their journey back via the Yellow Sea in eastern Asia to their breeding grounds in Alaska.

When you are not on a Crater Rim Walk with us, here is a fabulous way to spend a day in the beautiful garden city of Christchurch. All of these activities are FREE, and within a short walk from each other, leaving your pockets full to spend on filling your tummies!

Start the day with a coffee at Bunsen, then head to the museum for a couple of hours. Take a stroll around the gardens located beside the museum to work up an appetite for lunch at either Universo or Lux Expresso. After lunch head to the Art Gallery, and CoCA beside it, then have a look through the Art Centre and finish up with a drink at Fiddlesticks – a perfect day! Here are the details:

1. Canterbury Museum

Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central (https://www.canterburymuseum.com/)

This really is a treasure to Christchurch, so many wonderful rooms to wonder through. Start your day here and learn all about NZ history, art and the natural world.

2. Christchurch Art Gallery

Cnr Worcester Blvd and Montreal St (https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/)

A peaceful treasure trove of interesting art. Before you step inside take a moment to appreciate the sculpture out the front. This is Graham Bennett’s Reasons for Voyaging.

3. The Art Centre

The Arts Centre is just opposite the museum on Worcester Boulevard (https://www.artscentre.org.nz/)

A collection of heritage buildings rich history that the people of Christchurch are very proud of. It is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment and well worth a look.

4. CoCA (Centre of Contemporary Art)

66 Gloucester St (http://www.coca.org.nz/)

A curated art gallery showcasing contemporary art to provoke new thinking and conversations.

Our Favourite Cafes

Bunsen, 2 Worcester Blvd in the Art Centre (https://www.facebook.com/BunsenLtd/) Universo - the café in the Art Gallery (https://www.universo.co.nz/)Lux Espresso – 66 Gloucester Street, on the ground floor of CoCA (https://www.facebook.com/LuxEspressoBar/) Fiddle Sticks – Cnr of Worcester Blvd & Montreal St (https://fiddlesticksbar.co.nz/)

While you are in Christchurch make sure you book in for a stunning guided walk in the port hills with Crater Rim Walks, available from September 2018.

An interesting piece of history and a remarkable set of coincidences I thought I would share with you. Not only one but THREE Captain Taylors are thought to have mistaken this beach for the Lyttelton Harbour entrance and ran aground here, all within the short space of 9 years.

1. In 1853 Captain Davidson on a barge named the Gwalior was sailing to Lyttelton, however suffering from Delirium Tremens (due to sudden alcohol withdrawal) he threw him self overboard, and control was passed to Chief Officer Taylor who is thought to have ran aground on the beach.

2. In 1858, Captain Taylor, no relation to the mate on the Gwalior, made the exact same mistake and wrecked his

vessel the Volga.

3. Even more astonishing, yet another Captain Taylor on 1864 repeated the same mistake in the American

schooner Catherine.

Perhaps anyone with the name Taylor should avoid the area...!

Taylors Mistake was previously known as ‘Te One-Poto’ by the Maori, which meant short or little beach, and is now popular with locals as a good surfing spot.

Fine tuning our walks today; we took on the Anaconda track which did not disappoint. 360 degree views, lunch at Boulder Bay and hardly a soul in sight. Crater Rim Walks is gaining a momentum of its own, all set for our Spring launch!

A few pics from today's Sunday walk, a stunning spring day in Christchurch.

This beautiful whale was spotted grazing by the kelp just below the walking track not far from Taylors Mistake this week. Stunning and breath taking for anyone on the walk that day, what a treat.

Today we took the ferry to Diamond Harbour and walked from there to a beautiful scenic bay nearby. Plenty of time for crab hunting and paddling for the children walking with us. For private excursions like this please get in touch for more information.

It was a stunning spring morning for a walk out of Sumner this morning, we were even treated to some mumma sheep feeding their little ones along the path. Happy days.

If you are wondering where to stay in Christchurch, consider Sumner. Two of our four walks begin here, and there are many cafes and restaurants to explore, not to mention the beach and its surrounds. Here are a couple of pictures I took on my stroll this morning.

Stunning walk from Sumner beach over to Taylors Mistake this morning. After some wet weather the track has a bit of drying out to do, but the blue sky and fresh air made for a great start to the day.

Are you a skier or snowboarder? If so July is a great month to visit Christchurch. When you are not walking the Crater Rim with us, you can be at Mt Hutt Ski-field in under 2 hours, or Porters Heights in even less. Here are some shots of me and my family enjoying a bluebird day at Mt Hutt. Today we watched the sun rise and set over our city, it was absolutely stunning.