ASHBURTON Ashburton is ‘big’ town that punches above its weight but has the feel to a visitor of a ‘Christian’ town with very conservative values. No fault with this observation. Ashburton is slowly and increasingly becoming a dormitory suburb of Christchurch. Ashburton is a strong and proud community and the evidence of the place is everywhere.  Gardens, flower baskets and the care of Ashburton's heritage are on display everywhere. Ashburton covers a quite long north south travel of 5kms and is a flat township without any landmarks. Something the place needs. The town is laid out around two central squares either side of the railway line and main highway, Baring Square East and Baring Square West. The west side being the ‘desirable’ preference. Ashburton services a primarily wealthy community of all of the necessary services and Christchurch as a provider is a call that is avoided. Shop at home is the Ashburton credo. Ashburton is a very dry climate and experiences a greater range of temperatures. It is not uncommon to record temperatures greater than 35°C in summer winter will have regular frosts and the potential for a snowfall. Ashburton has two museums; the ‘vintage car’ museum from the southern approach is poorly signed after turning left, but it is there. The cbd museum is a class presentation. The Aircraft Museum at the local airfield is a world class offer that has big plans for the future. Three of Ashburton's churches are of a cathedral dimensionn. The treatment of all of the War Memorials is outstanding. Ashtburton does not have any hotels on the west side of the tracks but does have the classic hotel proposition. Ashburton is a must visit town