Aren't these views of the bay around and beyond Lyttelton beautiful????   Spring in this area is breathtakingly beautiful.   We drove through the little town, and on round the wiggly road right round the bay, and ended up half way down the other side at Orton Bradley Park.  This was one of the early settler's homes, and has some huge old trees, including Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), and a huge Horse chestnut (Aesculum hippocastum) with giant 'candles' flowering.   There is a beautiful Rhodendron walk, which is in full bloom, and some of them have the most glorious perfume, so there we were ooohing and aaaahing and smelling every flower we could.  Some of the plants are very tall.  In between are lots of the Himalayan Mountain Lily, (Crinodendron giganteum) in various stages of growth.  They will look beautiful soon, when the Rhodies are mainly over.  

There are various buildings with farm related  items in them, and are museums, and if you are technically minded which we aren't, you would find it fascinating.  There were people in there lost in wonder at it all.

It is very hot today, and at Richmond Hill Bed and Breakfast I am catching up on lots of paperwork, but had a lovely walk on the beach with a friend this morning.