Just a short time ago, I took my family to a park for some annual photos in the daffodils.  While the seasons are reversed between the northern and southern hemispheres … it’s still a great thing to make a tradition of something as simple as taking photos during the relatively short daffodil season.  It’s handy to have annual photos of the kids growing up, and while birthdays, Christmas or school photos are great, sometimes it’s good to have something scenic in the frame as well.

Christchurch, New Zealand is known as the ‘Garden City’ because of the abundance of beautiful gardens ‘everywhere’.  The photo below was taken in Hagley Park, a 165 ha (407 acre) park in the heart of the city.  While the Botanic Gardens are worth a visit too, these daffodils are common along the river banks … generally being best in September.  There is a wide range of activities you can do at the park, including a 9 hole golf course, lake for model yachts, rugby and cricket, netball and tennis courts, plus much more – you can get an idea of the scale of this part at this map of Hagley Park.

As noted in the photo caption, it’s much better to travel with those you love.  So, while sometimes it may be easier to travel through challenging foreign environments by yourself, it is better and safer to travel with someone else …. however, it’s much more fun to travel anywhere with your loved ones (especially once the kids are a little older).

Dad’s Recommendation:
Make some simple annual  family traditions, and capture them on film.  (To kids – a tradition is anything they liked, and which we’ve done at least once.) Try to get some photos in the springtime, when the flowers in the background can help make everyone look a little happier.

Travel Tip: While visiting Christchurch, The Avon River is a great place to spend a couple of hours or a day during the spring or summer. There are also free guided tours at the Botanic Gardens, October to April at 1.30pm daily.  And you can go punting along the Avon River.