http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11646
You can of course use the gondola to go up to the ridge of the Port Hills at any time during the day, and the views over the city, or down the other side to Lyttelton Harbour, are superb. And hiring a bike there to speed back down is a thrill, albeit a mild one by NZ standards. But getting up there just before dusk, in time to see the sun set across the plains and the city lights come on, well, it’s romantic enough to bring a tear to an All Black’s eye. And the food is worth staying for too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11646 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11645 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11645 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11644 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11644 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11643 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11643 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11589 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11589 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11588
Situated behind the Arts Centre in tree-lined grounds, it’s the perfect place for an afternoon pint of their own brew while sitting outside in the sun.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11588 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11587
Located in a gaudy red and yellow art deco building, with cheap formica tables and Mex-influenced menu, the Volcano and its Lava Bar buzz with an energy lacking in most city centre eateries. Maybe Lyttelton is where Christchurchians go to get their groove on.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11587 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11586
Check out the stale-beer carpet, or decor seemingly designed with fistfights in mind. Don’t even think about the food.

All of which make The Bohemian, by the banks of the River Avon, all the more enjoyable to discover. The beech and brick decor create a warm atmosphere, the food is delicious (the antipasto plate is superb), and you can even sit on the street outside in the summer.

How very continental.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11586 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11585
A swinging band provide the thumping beat, and salsa dancers bump and grind on the packed dancefloor. Let the cerveza and salsa flow.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11585 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11584 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11584 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11583
Dining on good solid fare while the old Victorian tram makes its stately progress through the streets and parks of Christchurch is about as far from extreme as you can get, and all the better for it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11583 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11582 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11582 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11581 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11581 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11580
This place is hidden away down a dead-end street, so it’s one of those Swingers-style places that you need to be in-the-know to find. The music is pretty swinging too, and it’s buzzing at the weekends.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11580 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11538
The atmosphere is warm and friendly all through the week, the food is small and tasty, and the wine list is copious. The prices are a little higher than the pub round the corner, but it’s a case of chalk and Camembert.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11538 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10859
A cheap painted sign over a metal door leads into the less-than-salubrious interior of the restaurant. But once you get over the decor (or lack of) you’ll notice that the place is packed with locals – a sure sign that the food is what matters there. And it does.

Scallops, crab, the freshest of fish, Pisco, and the ceviche...a hidden treasure.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10859 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10798
The trains run at slightly odd hours, and when you get to the nearest stop (Benicarlo) there’s no information or even a bus. It leaves instead from a stop a good 15-minute walk away in the town. By the time the bus gets within view of this medieval walled city that juts out into the crystal blue Mediterranean, however, you’ll forget all that hassle.

Take as much time as you can to wander through its narrow cobbled streets, take in the views from the castle, eat lunch in one of its many restaurants, have a swim or a sunbathe. Just leave enough time to do the bus/walk/train back to the city.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10798 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10797 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10797 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10796 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10796 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10795 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10795