Lyttelton

About

Lyttelton was served as the harbour for the first European settlers coming to settle Christchurch, and has remained an important port ever since. It saw Ernest Shackleton set out for Antarctica on his Nimrod Expedition, and handles 61% of the South Island’s imports by value. While the town still has that gritty atmosphere common with old port towns, in recent years it’s been experiencing a hip revival. Leading the way is the British Hotel, a brick art-deco building that’s been re-purposed into a micro-business hub. In the basement, the Hellfire Club pays tribute to the hotel’s seedy past, and even preserves the bloodstain on the ceiling from a knife fight between Russian sailors, while upstairs you’ll find a vintage clothing shop and plant-based food package business. If you’re hungry, just stop by the caravan outside and you can get some of Sherpa Kai’s Nepalese food. Then there are the scrumptious bakeries, hip cafes, and quirky shops that have been popping up around town to delight bohemian sensibilities.