Southern Destinations: October 02, 2017

4
NOVEMBER 2016
ASHBURTON/WINCHESTER
Many Christchurch people will
remember Kavanagh House in
Winchester as a wonderful stopover
enroute to the south. They were
therefore delighted when the imposing
house reopened as a café and
garden centre last year. Renamed
“Miaflora” the current owners John
Grieve and Bruce Wright say the
response has been overwhelming.
As well as the appealing character
of the property and the wonderful
gardens, the location of Miaflora is
a convenient distance from both
Christchurch and Dunedin and just a
few minutes drive from Geraldine.
After relocating from Perth where
they owned an award winning garden
centre, Miaflora combines John’s flair
and expertise as a pastry chef and
Bruce’s profession as a landscape
Experience a tiny hearing aid that
outperforms normal hearing in
challenging listening environments*
A virtually invisible German engineered hearing aid that
enables wearers to understand speech in difficult listening
situations like busy restaurants, and reduces listening
effort throughout your day.*
Easy to operate with excellent sound quality and audibility.
For further information or to book an
appointment for a free hearing screening
and hearing aid demonstration
FREE PHONE: 0800 72 73 66
Completely disappears
Merivale Hearing Clinic
24b Church Lane, Merivale. Call: 356 2324
Greg Foote, Audiologist
gardener. Their shared aim was to
provide quality café food throughout
the day either inside the neo-tudor
house c1910 or in the adjoining
landscaped courtyards, and develop
a garden centre, gift shop and gallery
on site.
The garden centre has a large
selection of garden supplies, plants,
ornaments, garden features and
items suitable for gifts or decoration.
Bruce also stocks the types of plants
that grow well in the local climate like
New Zealand natives, mature maples,
cherry trees, rhododendrons, camellias
and other cottage garden varieties.
The gallery allows John and Bruce to
source the work of local artists, while
local and international sculptures are
a unique feature of the beautifully
established gardens.
Miaflora’s licensed café is open from
9am-5pm Thursdays to Sundays and
on public holiday Mondays and offers
a varied lunch menu with an emphasis
on fresh local produce and all day
coffee and cake. While bookings for
groups up to 24 are advised, “we
especially cater for “call-in” customers
looking for a relaxed lunch or a
welcome break in their journey with
time to browse” says John.
Visitors have been particularly
impressed with the interior
refurbishment of the house and the
exquisite garden setting which also
encompasses rural and mountain
views.
Miaflora is a divine destination with
food for the appetite and the soul.
Hearing Clinics available: Christchurch, Rangiora, Ashburton and West Coast
(Hokitika, Greymouth and Westport). Consultations by Appointment only.
*Clinically proven in two independent studies to provide better than normal hearing in certain demanding listening environments.
*Special conditions apply
Just an hour south of Christchurch,
across a patchwork of plains you’ll
find an impressive range of things to
see and do. En route, Rakaia boasts
the longest bridge in New Zealand
(1.8km) and a reputation for some of
the finest salmon fishing in the world.
Stop at Salmon Tales for some tasty
local delicacies available in the café.
Ashburton is the busy heart of the
region. Visitors frequently admire the
exquisite gardens, browse the Ashford
Art and Craft Village and make
time to explore the town’s clutch of
specialist museums, among them the
Plains Vintage Railway and Historical
Museum and the Aviation Museum.
Sunday
breakfast?
Come visit MIAFLORA Cafe
& Garden Centre, Gift Shop &
Gallery @ Kavanagh House
Open Thurs to Sun 9am-5pm
Also Mon of Public Holidays
MIAFLORA
Cafe & Garden Centre
@ Kavanagh House, Winchester
Phone John or Bruce on 03 615 6150
TO MID CANTERBURY
The Plains Museum is home to a
wide range of exhibits spanning
the history of mid Canterbury
since European settlement of the
area. The Vintage Railway section
comprises 3 operational steam
locomotives and a working Vulcan
Railcar, while the Historical Village
incorporates the old Waterton
Anglican Church, former Chertsey
Railway Station and a collection of
rural farm machinery.
Situated at Ashburton Airport the
Aviation Museum boasts over 20
aircraft on display in the Two Museum
Buildings. Among them you’ll find
a Vampire FB5, Harvard, Benson
Gyro Glider, Weihe Glider, Hughes
Helicopter, Harrier GR3 and a Tiger
Moth. The Museum is also home to
the Southern DC3 Trusts Historic Airliner
ZK AMY .Our latest acquisition is a
Thompson Refueller, one of only nine
on display worldwide.
For a delightful picnic or
promenade, detour to Lake
Hood, the location of Ashburton
Aquatic Park. Take a wetland trail
and boardwalk or treat yourself
to a delectable snack, lunch
or beverage at the Lake House
restaurant and bar.
Against a backdrop of the
Southern Alps, bordered by braided
rivers and crystal clear lakes, Mid
Canterbury is also a paradise for
outdoor enthusiasts; skydive from
12,000 feet, white water raft the
Rangitata River or check out the
many mountain biking options
at Mt Hutt Bike Park or Hakatere
Conservation Park.
High country lakes lure avid fly fishers
and keen trampers, while hot air
ballooning or a scenic flight provides
a bird’s eye view of the varied
landscape. Enjoy jet boating, horse
riding or challenge yourself at Terrace
Downs, one of New Zealand’s best
international golf resorts.
Whatever your budget or the
length of your stay, a range of
accommodation options ensures a
warm welcome to mid Canterbury
and traditional rural hospitality.