Three weeks in New Zealand - 4/12 - 5/4/2024

Day 16-Breakfast and  Avon River-4/26/2024

We asked around and everyone told us to go to C1 Espresso for Breakfast.  Apparently, the locals love this place and C1 Espresson is known to have the best coffee in town.

So here we are, heading to C1 Espresso and on the way we saw a prominent large-scale portrait of the former New Zealand rugby league coach/legend, painted on the side of a building right at the corner of Lichfield and Manchester Streets in central Christchurch.  It was created by the street artist Mr. G (Graham Hoete) in 2017 as part of a Rugby League World Cup celebration.

David Kidwell is a respected Kiwi rugby league coach and former player, Kidwell has been involved in various national and international teams.

The mural is a striking, monochrome portrait that brings local sports history and street art together.

C1 Espresso is an iconic Christchurch café located in the central city, located in the old High Street Post Office after the original premises, established in 1996, was destroyed in the Canterbury earthquakes. C1 Espresso renowned for their pioneering espresso, big breakfasts, and vibrant atmosphere.

This historic building sits at the corner of High Street and Tuam Street, and it's hard to miss with its grand façade and distinct architectural details. The coat of arms above the entrance is the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, which signifies that the building once served as a government facility and in this case, a post office during the early 20th century.

The building was constructed in 1932 in a stripped classical style with Art Deco influences.  After the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, the building was extensively restored and reopened as C1 Espresso, famous not only for its coffee but for Pneumatic burger tubes that deliver food through the ceiling, and also for a strong focus on sustainability and heritage.

Owners Sam and Fleur Crofsky managed the redesign without a professional firm, every element, from rimu & kauri tables salvaged from the old café to lighting fixtures sourced from the Arts Center and Town Hall, was personally curated. Here you can see on the ceiling Pneumatic tube that whiz food  through tube from kitchen to tables.  Too early for burgers so we did not see how the Pneumatic tube works.

Cappuccino for me and cafe latte for Hoa.  Their coffee is indeed very good.

Portion is huge so we shared a Bacon with two poached eggs on a toasted multigrain bread.

So glad we stopped by here.  The food and coffee are delicious and we also really like the cozy ambiance.

Avon River

Next we are heading to Antigua Boat sheds site  for a fun activity called punting on the Avon.  Punting involves being gently guided along the river by a punter standing at the rear of a flat-bottomed boat, using a long pole to propel and steer.

The Avon River is one of the defining features of Christchurch both geographically and spiritually. It gently meanders through the city, creating a green, tranquil ribbon of water that weaves together nature, culture, and daily life.

Passing by the Park of Remembrance.

We are now at Antigua Boat Sheds, they were built in 1882 and have been continuously operating ever since, making them one of the oldest surviving boat sheds in New Zealand.  The boat sheds survived earthquakes, floods, and fires thanks to careful preservation and are now listed with Heritage New Zealand.

.Located just off Antigua Street, beside the Avon River and near Christchurch Hospital and the Botanic Gardens, the sheds are a classic Victorian-style timber structure painted in green and white stripes—a distinctive riverside icon.

As you enter the main entrance of the Antigua Boat Sheds, you're greeted by one of the most picturesque views in central Christchurch. The charming old boat sheds frame your sightline toward the peaceful Avon River, which flows just steps away, glistening under the trees.

The river here is serene and narrow, with clear spring-fed water reflecting overhanging willow trees along the banks. Just next to the boat sheds is the small pedestrian bridge that crosses the Avon, this is the Antigua Street Footbridge. It’s a charming old iron-and-wood bridge with elegant railings and views up and down the river.

View from the bridge over the river.

The view above the bridge looking down at the river is very scenic and tranquil.

The flat-bottomed boat is  gliding slowly back toward the Antigua Boat Sheds, guided by a punter in Edwardian dress standing at the stern with a long pole.

As the boat reaches the landing area, you’ll notice how the punter gently steers it into place, aligning with the timber dock that extends from the sheds over the Avon.

 View of the Antigua Boat Sheds from the opposite bank of the river.

On the opposite bank of the river, people relaxing on the lawn, some sitting with friends or families enjoying a bite to eat, reading a book, or simply watching the punts go by. It is a favorite picnic spot for locals with easy access the Botanic Gardens, the Arts Centre, and nearby cafés.

Antigua Boat Sheds also offer kayak and paddleboat rentals.

This is Cassidy the one-legged duck, a beloved and quirky resident of the Avon River near the Antigua Boat Sheds. Cassidy is a real duck who became something of a local celebrity in Christchurch for having only one leg. Despite his disability, Cassidy has been spotted swimming, waddling, and balancing with surprising skill, often near the Antigua Boat Sheds and Botanic Gardens stretch of the Avon.  Antigua Boat Sheds provides the food for him and whenever he is hungry he just hopped of the wood deck and people will feed him.  He is very friendly and very gentle when I fed him.

The river is also home to Native ducks that are swimming freely.

Long black eels in the Avon River are likely longfin eels (tuna kuwharuwharu), they're native to New Zealand and are an important part of both the ecosystem and Māori culture.  These eels are found nowhere else in the world. Māori connection: Eels are considered taonga (treasures) in Māori tradition. They were once a staple food and are part of many ancestral stories, especially in Waitaha and Ngāi Tahu culture.

These eels can live over 60 to 80 years and they spend most of their lives in freshwater rivers like the Avon, but eventually make an epic migration thousands of kilometers into the Pacific Ocean near Tonga to breed, then they die after spawning.  They are Protected because the Longfin eels are considered at risk/declining due to habitat loss and overfishing in some areas, so it’s great to see them thriving here

Ok it is our time to go on a boat on the Avon River.

NEXT... Punting on the Avon